Camp NaNoWriMo

For eight years, I've participated in National Novel Writing Month in November.  I've only passed the 50,000-word finish line for the last few years, but regardless, I find the experience a great motivator to getting me to write every day.  I also love the community of writers that forms through the experience.

The Office of Letters and Light, the organization that hosts NaNoWriMo, kicked off an event last summer that they called "Camp NaNoWriMo", which was a novel-in-a-month event, but in the summer.  It's geared toward people who either can't wait until November's event or who don't have the ability to participate in November at all.

They're doing it again this year in June and August.  You can sign up at the official site, and there you will eventually be assigned to a "cabin" with 4-6 other writers to cheer each other on, you'll have access to the word count trackers we're familiar with in November, and you'll have the epic motivation that comes from writing a novel in a month with a bunch of other nutcases.

I've signed up to participate in June.  I need to get some first drafting done and this seems like as good an excuse as any.  I hope all of you will consider joining me on my first summer in Camp NaNoWriMo!

Grandma's Taters

My grandma was born and raised in the hollers of West Virginia. Likewise, my mother was born in an unplumbed log cabin just across the Ohio River. From the two of them, I have heard folklore, legend and tall tales throughout my lifetime. I often use much of this material in my writing.

Grandma is no longer with us, but in her stories she lives on. Grandma also left me with some beautiful memories, most especially my recollection of Christmas mornings. The whole family – aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings – all congregated at Grandma’s for the festivities and we started our day off with a big, hearty, West Virginia breakfast. Eggs, sausage, bacon, buttered toast, doughnuts, and the potatoes - ah those potatoes! Grandma’s Taters, we called them.

Grandma's Taters (A Facsimile)

My friends who know me will not be shocked when I tell you this: I hate to cook. Love to eat, mind you…just hate the cooking part. I know many women (and a couple of men) who genuinely love the whole cooking business – and are pretty darn good at it, to boot! (Our very own Michele D. being amongst them!!) Sadly, the cooking gene skipped right over me.

I don't care where he's going...I'm gonna follow this guy there!

Luckily for me, however, finding delicious food is not quite as labor-intensive as it was back in the hunter-gatherer days. I only have to drive a block or two to be offered over a dozen tasty choices! And lucky for you, our next COSTOWRIMO write-in is going to be held at Der Dutchman Restaurant!

Der Dutchman Restaurant, Bake Shop and Gifts!!

And in case you were wondering – they do have some really delicious potatoes there, almost as good as Grandma’s Taters!

Serving up home cookin' since 1969!

Join us Thursday, 2/9 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm:

Der Dutchman Restaurant

445 S. Jefferson (Route 42)

Plain City, OH  43064

(614) 873 - 3414

Have you had your Whoopie today?

Ready, Set, Write!!!!

We are now only two days away from our very own version of writing a novel in a month. Personally, I'm very excited about this opportunity, as I am not able to participate in November.

Currently, I have been working on revisions for a novel I completed entitled Only The Chosen. For this writing challenge I plan to finish a novel entitled A Matter of Conviction.

Here's the opening line:

Only two things stood in the way of Cassie Donovan’s freedom. One was the nine-foot chain link fence with spiraled barbed wire crowning the top. The second was a six-foot wall of a man, sporting a sleeve of tattoos, and wearing some type of delivery uniform.

What do you think?

So, What Type of Work Do You Do?

As I hope you all know by now, Fiction Flurry is busily preparing for COSTOWRIMO (Columbus Area Story Writing Month) – our very own version of NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month)! To that end, we are planning both on-line and in-person get-togethers and write-ins.

During the preparation for one of these write-ins, a group e-mail was circulated with ideas and suggestions for meeting places. One of our very own writers, Colleen, wrote that we should consider having one of our gatherings take place at Panera Bread. Colleen wrote, “I’ve been working there most Monday evenings.” This piqued my interest! I love Panera and wrote back to tell Colleen this.

Here is my confession: it took me an embarrassing amount of correspondence before I realized that Colleen was not working as a barista, a cashier or a “sandwich artist.” Nope. In fact, Colleen – who is a marvelous and gifted storyteller, I might add – was “working” on writing!

This is not the type of “work” in the sense that I believe most of us think of. You know, spending 40+ hours per week residing in Cubicle 107F, Soulless Mega Company, USA. This is work that is done out of passion, as a choice, not out of obligation or necessity to pay the electric bill. This is taking your writing seriously, realizing that it is “work” and should be honored and respected as such. It is realizing that in order to go from writer to published author, you must dedicate yourself and a portion of your time to this endeavor – in other words, work!

So I wonder, what type of work do you intend to do on your journey to publication?

PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR COSTOWRIMO

OUR FIRST WRITE IN WILL BE ON

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

FROM 11:30 TO 2:30

AT THE MARYSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

231 S. PLUM STREET, MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040

And please come visit me at:  bethnbijoux

CoStoWriMo Countdown Clock

Check out the new countdown clock we've added! Keep an eye on this so you don't miss the opening of CoStoWriMo, a second chanc NaNoWriMo in February.

Here at Fiction Flurry, we're sharpening our pencils and gathering our notebooks (not really, we mostly use our computers, but it's a fun visual) in anticipation of February 1st.

Get your story ideas ready - if you've always wanted to write a novel, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!

The concept is simple: 29 days, 50,000 words.

Can you do it?

Happy NaNoWriMo!

Today started National Novel Writing Month, one of my absolute favorite times of the year. And even though I'm writing some novel or another at any given time, I use NaNoWriMo as license to shut my inner editor down and to be completely ridiculous. Anything is fair game. If I want a duck to walk through a subway stop for no apparent reason, then a duck will go chill with the subways. Whatever.

This is my eighth year participating and hopefully will be my third time winning.

Any of you guys participating in NaNo this year? Good luck to any of you that are!

(And, as a treat, here's a song for the occasion, by one of my favorite nerd bands, ALL CAPS. Fun fact: Kristina Horner, the girl singing in the video, is the model for my main character in the novel I'm currently querying.)

My First NaNo

"So," I announced to my husband with a flourish, "I've signed up to do NaNoWriMo this year."

Pulling his attention (reluctantly) away from the TV, he asked, "What's that?"

As I explained the concept of National Novel Writing Month, and my personal reasons for participating, I began feeling anxious - and overwhelmed - about the commitment. I went on about how I would need my computer free in the evenings and why I had to get dinner over with in a timely manner, but I could see his eyes glazing over.

"Okay," he said when I sputtered to a stop and went back to watching TV.

This was my first clue that I was starting to obsess about National Novel Writing Month.

This is my first year for NaNo. Last year, several members of my critique group participated, but I did not. And I felt that I had good reasons for my decision. I was several chapters into my first novel and I didn't want to stop the momentum to start another story. Also, the Thanksgiving holiday is something that doesn't happen just once in my family - between my husband and I, we have a large family requiring our presence at 2-3 family functions. Then, of course, there's Christmas shopping and decorating to do (I like to get it all done early). So I felt justified for holding out.

But, what I realized - as I watched other people (people I knew) participate in NaNo - is that none of my reasons were really valid. Everyone has lots to do at Thanksgiving and everyone has Christmas shopping or something equally as important. My real reason for not participating was plain, old-fashioned fear.

The final straw, so to speak, was the wonderful Guest Blog posted by Urban Fantasy author Laura Bickle. If you haven't read it you can find it here. She talks about her experiences with NaNo and the two books - both now published - that she completed during the month. After reading about her success, I realized that I needed to face my fears.

Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of being ridiculed. These fears have ruled my writing, crowding my head with "What ifs" and "You can't say that" thoughts. Participating in NaNo is about facing these fears and moving forward with my writing.

I also have other compelling reasons to participate.

First, I need to learn some habits as a writer. Umm...make that GOOD habits. Most important of these is to write every day. I have a lot of excuses for NOT writing - and I'm really good at deploying them. Web-surfing, FARMVILLE, my favorite TV program - all of these have kept me from my writing goals.

Second, I have to learn to write without editing myself. My Inner Editor is a cold-hearted, evil bitch with no compassion whatsoever. She delights in ripping my efforts to shreds - before the words even hit the page, if possible. I sit, staring at the blank page, desperate to find a word - any word - that's suitable to type.

And finally, I really need to finish something. I'm good at starting a story, but not so good at sticking with it. Halfway through (or before) I've already decided that the story I'm telling is overdone, my writing sucks and the ending I'm working towards is garbage. So I quit. The story I was in the middle of last year at this time (the one I didn't want to put away) now languishes on my computer - stuck on Chapter 8.

So, I made the plunge. Headfirst dive, no safety net - just me and a blank page. I've locked my Inner Editor in a closet and bought my fears a one-way ticket to Antarctica. You'll have to check back to see how it goes.

If you have a moment to spare from your own project, I would love to hear your experience with NaNo. Is it your first time? Have you participated before and if so, what are your thoughts on the experience. If not, why not? All comments are greatly appreciated.

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

Holy cow!  Less than a week to go now before National Novel Writing Month begins and I feel woefully unprepared.  I have no idea what plot, characters, or setting I'll be using for my novel.  And the time...where am I going to find the time to do this?  This time of year, I can barely write 1,600 words a month, let alone 1,600 words a day.  Between work and kids, writing 50,000 words in November will be a miracle.

This is just my second attempt at NaNoWriMo.  Last year, I wrote less than 15,000 words.  Pitiful, yes?  This year, I'd like to better prepare myself for the challenge.  Even if I don't hit the 50,000 word mark, I'd like to make a respectable showing this year.  So, here's my To Do list that will get me off to a good start:

1.  Have a basic plot outline.
2.  Prepare a brief biographical sketch for each of my main characters.
3.  Bribe my husband so that he doesn't kill me for dumping the kids on him the entire month of November. 
4.  After the time changes this weekend - we "fall back," right? - I'm going to keep getting up at my usual time, foregoing the extra hour of sleep, to write.  So, I usually get up at 6:00, but I'll set my alarm for 5:00 and my body will still think it's 6:00 because of the time change.  Am I making sense?
5.  As much as I hate staying in the office over my lunch break, I will, just so I can write.
6.  I will not permit myself to edit as I go along, like I usually do.  That pesky self-editing is what keeps me working on the same four chapters I wrote for NaNo last year without progressing any further.
7.  I'm clearing a spot at home to write where there is no TV and no phone. 
8.  I will not log onto the internet during a writing session.
9.  If the husband bribery works (see number 3), I will attend the Saturday write-in sessions my writers group is hosting.
10.  Apologize to family and friends in advance for my lack of time to chat, socialize, go out, etc.  (Who am I kidding. I live a really boring life as it is.)

If you have never given NaNoWriMo a try, you should.  Check it out at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ 

Good luck to all!  I'll see you on the other side of November...

Laura Bickle - Guest Blogger

Today at Fiction Flurry, Urban Fantasy author Laura Bickle talks about her experience with an annual November tradition. Nope, it's not Thanksgiving.  We'll let Laura tell you more about it.

But first, we want to say a big THANK YOU to Laura for hanging out with the Fiction Flurry crew this week. We've had a lot of fun working with Laura and hope she'll come back again soon - maybe when her new book ROGUE ORACLE is released?  What do you say, Laura? 

Followers, if you want Laura to return, please make her feel welcome by commenting generously.  As an added bonus, anyone who comments (on any of Laura's posts this week) will TRIPLE their chances of winning Laura's newest book, SPARKS. Laura is giving away an autographed copy of SPARKS to one lucky winner this week.  See the Contest Tuesday post for additional details. (and if you missed it, check out Laura's interview here.)

So now, the moment you've all been waiting for....Laura, the blog is yours.

Why I Love NaNoWriMo

The blank page is the most intimidating force in the universe to me.

It says nothing, and it's likely to say nothing. I fight against all that white space, trying to fill it, wondering how a ream of blank paper becomes a book. I used to take years to finish a book. I'd pick it up, put it down. I'd ignore it for weeks or months. I'd lose my place, go back, get sucked into editing. I'd wander into internet research, never to return. I had no deadline, nothing external to make me finish.

A friend in my writer's group mentioned National Novel Writing Month. I wrinkled my forehead and asked her:

"What's that?"

"It's an online challenge to write fifty thousand words in a month."

"No kidding?"

That sounded like a complete impossibility. After all, it took me YEARS to finish a book. How could anyone possibly do fifty thousand words in A MONTH? In a month, with a full-time job and other commitments?

"Sure. You should try it."

"Um. Okay."

I was doubtful. Really skeptical.

But I gave it a shot.

And I learned more in that crazy month than I did in years of plinking around with the same book. Laundry piled up. Sleep was at a premium. But I learned the most important secrets to writing a novel that contributed to me becoming a published writer:

•  Integrating writing into my daily life. NaNoWriMo requires that one keep a pace of around 1600 words a day. It became easier and easier for me to fold that into my life, to keep the momentum going.
• Suspending the dreaded inner editor. My inner editor can become quite vicious. NaNoWriMo allows me to hold her at bay for weeks, allowing me to get the skeleton of a story down on the page.  
• NaNo taught me to finish. Completing a manuscript is the most important thing that a writer can do to further her career. And doing it again. And again.

My 2008 NaNoWriMo novel, DARK ORACLE (under my Alayna Williams pseudonym), was published in June 2010 by Pocket Books. My 2009 NaNoWriMo book, ROGUE ORACLE, will be published in March 2011.

I use the skills I learned in NaNoWriMo in all the novels I write. I've learned to write quickly, to write daily, and to complete a story over and over. At the end of NaNoWriMo, I certainly don't have a complete eighty thousand word manuscript. But I have the skeleton of a book, something that I can build upon.

And I'm no longer facing the terror of the blank page. I know that it won't be blank for long. Within a few weeks, I'll be on my way to something wonderful.

Well said, Laura! For more information on Laura and her books, check out her website.

So tell us, are planning on participating in NaNoWriMo?  Have you participated in the past? We would love to hear about your experiences.