NanoWrimo 2010

I am sorry to report that I will not reach the 50,000 word finish line today for NanoWrimo 2010. I could say that work was absolutely insane this month, I've been too tired to write everyday, and my Thanksgiving feast claimed my attention, but those all feel like hollow excuses.

I am surprised by how disappointed I am not to reach this goal. I did start, though. I did write a lot of those days when I didn't feel like it, too. Currently, I'm sitting at 25,025 words. My husband suggests that I give myself an extension until December 15th, which I think I will do. But I won't be able to upload my document to the site and get that awesome certificate that tells me I am a WINNER!

I guess I have learned my lesson. Next year I will take it more seriously.

In the meantime, I am back in the habit of writing regularly, which is one of the goals I hoped to accomplish this month. I also have another really fun novel in the works which I will continue to work on until I get to the end. And to me, that's something.

Inspire the Imagination

About a month ago my husband and I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. They have a beautiful facility and it was extremely busy, probably because it was also a holiday weekend. But the hangars are so spacious I didn't feel crowded at all.

The first thing you notice when you enter is the SR-71 Blackbird. It's sleek, black, and impressive. You can tell right away that it's something awesome. The fastest jet in the world travelling at 2124 miles an hour. Just cool.

They have some other really fun stuff on display. They have the space shuttle Enterprise, one of the Concords, various other planes of historical significance, and lots of missiles and rockets. We spent 4 hours there and I can't wait to go back for more.

I walked away with my imagination effectively sparked. And I was ready to sign up for flying lessons.

The point is, your imagination needs nourishment. Your mind, like other parts of your body, needs food and exercise. Your imagination should have a chance to soak in some things from the real world. So, get out and have some fun!

Life Distracting

Well! Where have I been!?

I'll tell you... life sort of got in the way of life. I do event planning, among other things, for my job and I had a huge event last weekend. It was a big deal and ridiculously stressful to the point that I was completely engrossed for two weeks straight. I thought about it all day at work, worried about it all evening at home, dreamed about it a night, woke up nervous in the middle of the night, then started worrying all over again. I am pleased to report that it went really well and all my superiors were happy with the results. I'm just glad it's all over. And I'm happy it went well.

So then it took me an entire week to feel like myself again. Now it's been three weeks that I haven't hardly thought about my novel. I was good in some ways. I emailed it to some trusted readers so they had time to read it without me pestering for feedback. I also had a great break from it all so I can come back with fresh eyes. The problem, however, is that I'm having a difficult time getting back into the swing of things.

I have decided to start today. I am posting here for the first time in a while, besides my Monday quotes, and I'm going to pull out my manuscript again.

Gotta start somewhere, right?

Motivational Encouragement

I simply love my sisters. The three of us have always been close, we rarely bicker, and we have similar interests. This last weekend they were in town along with one of my brothers (love you, too, kiddo!) and we had a great time ice skating, watching movies and the Olympics, and hanging out. We also had some time to sit outside in the lovely Arizona weather and talk. Since all of us, at one point or another, have been interested in writing it came up in conversation.

My youngest sister is probably the most solid source of support for writing in my life. We often talk about the stories we're working on, the characters we can't seem to get just right, and where the plot's going next. I always feel more motivated to keep working after I've talked to her about my projects. And I get really excited to read the books she's writing, too.

My younger sister is one of those creative types who is constantly coming up with great ideas, hilarious stories, and amazing music. While we were talking this weekend she told me that she had enjoyed my NanoWrimo project from 2 years ago. I know how picky and opinionated she is about books, music, and movies so this was a great compliment. She told me she thought I should polish it up and move forward on getting it published. She actually self published a book of monologues several years ago so she has some idea of the possibilities. She also mentioned that Mom also liked that one, too, which is an even bigger deal since I don't remember the last work of fiction my mom read.

After that short conversation I felt energized and enthusiastic about my writing. I'm now in a hurry to finish edits on my current project and then get back to my old one, too. My fingers are just itching to mark up the manuscripts with all those lovely red notations and then take the next step.

Having people in your life who support your writing is so important! They can be a great source of encouragement and motivation as well as a source of feedback. Who do you have in your life? Is there anyone you can talk to about your work in progress? How have they affected your writing habits?

There's Work to be Done!

Ever since the holidays I've cut back a little on my Twitter time and blogging. For some reason I just had trouble getting back into the swing of things after coming back. But I do want to continue to post here and I have finally gotten back to editing my work in progress.

In the midst of trying to cut down the number of unread posts in my Google Reader (over 400) I came across a post by Bonnie Kozek called Under the Influence: Writers and Depression and Choices Chosen written last March (thank you Publetariat). Having just surfaced from a minor bout of depression and having realized the effects it had on my writing, I read this article with interest.

Everyone has ups and downs, good days and horrible days. I have struggled with depression throughout my life but thanks to strong religious beliefs, loving family, and wonderful friends it has never become a serious problem. I often tell myself that without the low days I wouldn't have the high days so in the end it's worth it.

I don't know why but I've always associated this with my inclination to write. They are not really connected but I've felt that my experiences gave me more to draw on for realistic characters and situations in my fiction. Or maybe I just bought into the tortured artist stereotype that Kozek describes. My desire to create is usually not diminished despite my moods until recently. Insecurity is the enemy of creativity because it makes you question the worth of your work.

Fortunately, I've pushed aside my doubts with my desire to write. They aren't gone, and I'm sure they'll surface again, but for now I'm going to try and get as much done as I can. I've got editing and research to do. I've got characters that need polishing and plot lines that need ironing. There's work to be done! There's no time for insecurity!

The Real Work Begins

Just a quick updated on my own writing. I finally finished my story that I started for NanoWrimo! It is such a great feeling and I was so excited.

According to the editing guidelines I posted last week I took a short break to have lunch after I finished then I started my first round of editing. This entails typing up my second draft because I always write my first draft with pen and paper. There is something magical about forming letters, words, and phrases with a writing utensil on the page. I write much better first drafts this way rather than typing.

I am madly trying to get all the 55,020 words into a word document so I can keep the momentum going with this project. Yesterday I realized that this is where the real work begins. Revising, reworking, rewriting, and manipulating what I originally had into something that could really be called a novel. It is going to be hard work and I can see that there is the potential for a lot of frustration and discouragement.

Yet, I'm still excited about it! And that, to me, is what makes writing fun. It's hard work, but I know it will be rewarding in the end and I will have a great time along the way.

Looking Back: Writing Journal

I was not paying attention and missed my 300th post! I also missed the 2nd anniversary of Book 'n' a Mug back in March which I did not realize until I went back to find an old post I'd written on keeping a writing journal.

So, in honor of this anniversary I am reviving the aforementioned post because I want to start keeping a writing journal again. Below are Gregory Martin's 5 things to include in a writing journal entry from the April 2007 issue of Writer's Digest.

1. Date and time when you are sitting down to write. This will help you track your most common times for working and help you see the times you are most productive.

2. How long will you work? Set a goal to work towards. This can be a length of time or a certain number of words, if you'd like.

3. What you plan to work on. The more specific you are the easier it will be to stay focused and accomplish what you need to during your session of work.

4. How it went. When you are done be sure and describe how it went. Do you feel good about what you accomplished? Was it difficult or did it flow smoothly?

5. When and for how long you'll work tomorrow. If you set another goal for the next day you will be more likely to write. This will, in turn, help you build up a momentum to keep writing every day.

I tried this method for a while a couple years ago but when I stopped writing regularly I forgot about the journal. Now that I want to start writing every day again, I think that this will be a great tool to help me keep that goal.

Do you keep a writing journal? What do you include in each entry? How does it affect your writing?

Breakup and Makeup

It has been over a week since the end of NanoWrimo and last night I finally sat down to work on my novel again. I reached the 50,000 word goal but still have a couple of scenes to go before it's finished. After last night I am really wishing I hadn't taken that week off from writing...

My characters are a little upset with me. They felt abandoned and stranded in a stressful and climactic situation. So they're not talking to me.

On top of that, my inner editor is banging on her cage and I am tempted to let her out. I can't wait to go back and start editing this project to see if there is anything good there and find out how to make it better. I've grown attached to these characters and I want to work on perfecting them and their story.

Why oh why did I let it sit for a week? Because I was celebrating my success in reaching my word count goal. I got bogged down and crazy busy with work. I ran out of clean dishes after a month of not cleaning them and I had to clean my house. These are valid reasons!

Yet my novel won't listen to reason. "You found time to write almost every day of November even with other distractions. You didn't really have anything to celebrate because I'm not done. You really did not have 10 minutes to spare in the last 7 days?"

I hang my head in apology - I am sorry. I'm back now so can't we be friends again, my dear novel?

Link Line-up

Coming up on the end of the year and we've past the end of Nanowrimo so here are some links to keep you going right up until January 1, 2010!

Do you have to sacrifice a great deal if you want to be a great writer? John Scalzi says you just have to give up an hour of television a day and you'll be off to a great start. And you don't necessarily need to suffer for success, either.

Need some tips or just some motivation to keep going? Marelisa Fábrega give us 54 Tips for Writers, From Writers over on her Abundance blog. I love the quotes from Annie Dillard and I am totally going to go read that book.

I hate writing dialogue because I feel like it is never as witty or quick moving as the novels I read. Laura Cross lists 12 Characteristics of Great Dialogue that helped me see how to improve so I'm working on getting better. This post is geared toward screenwriting but I think it applies to any dialogue you're writing.

Writer's block, dare I even say it, haunts all of us. Dani Shapiro gives us her thoughts on writer's block and they definitely drove the rain cloud from my window! "If writing is, as I believe it to be, an act of courage--the daily triumph of faith over doubt, willingness over insecurity, hope over cynicism--then the inability to do so for days on end is a failure not of character, nor of biochemistry, but of nerve."

I know this time of year we are usually thinking about pie rather than cake, but these 17 Amazing Sci-fi Themed Cakes really take the... well... you know.

Frustration to Revelation = Writer for Life

Today is the 24th day of November which means that at midnight tonight I should have written 40,008 to be on track for the 50 mark next Monday. *Groan* Next Monday... that is way too soon. My little beauty currently sits at 34,508 words. It's not impossible, I know - I would only have to write about 2,600 words a day to make it on time. That's not so bad, right?

Except that I have no idea what I'm going to write after the scene I came up with last night.

It has certainly been a roller coaster ride so far. Life always seems to get in the way of our goals and set us behind schedule. My husband has been out of town a lot this month, which was great alone time for writing but I wanted to spend the weekends with him while he was home. There were several days that I missed writing even one word and that is definitely something I regret. Even just a couple of sentences would have helped, I think. It's about balance, though, and I don't regret spending time with my husband.

He asked me a couple weeks ago how it was going - yes, he's very supportive - and if I was having fun. I had not thought seriously about it since the first couple of days so I thought out loud with him for a minute. Here's what I realized:

"It's going pretty good and even though I'm behind I don't feel hopeless yet. The first few days were great because I was so excited and the story flowed really well. I still feel good, though. I feel like I'm accomplishing things and working toward a personal goal I set for myself. I am happy when I'm writing. I love this feeling."

I have always wanted to write. When I was 4 years old and getting ready for kindergarten I would fill pages and pages on a legal pad with M's and W's. When I was in sixth grade I wrote a story about a white rabbit named Snow White. It was 100 pages long and everyone in my class was in awe. The desire and drive has come and gone over the years but then I did NanoWrimo 2006. I did not make 50K but I actually finished a story. It was huge for me. I won 2007 but got bogged down in editing and let it fall by the wayside. 2008 was a train wreck. And this year has been an epiphany.

I feel more like who I want to be personally when I am writing. I am happier, I feel motivated and excited, I accomplish great things, and I enjoy it even when I'm discouraged.

I think I can officially say I am a writer for life.

Link Line-up

So here are some new links for ya'll. Considering it's still November I tried to give you NaNoWriMo related type things. Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Motivation
Jeffrey Tang has a guest post up over at Zen Habits of 12 ways to Defeat Burnout and Stay Motivated. Some of these are really helpful for me while I'm trying to stay on track with NanoWrimo.

Inspiration
Waiting around for inspiration to strike? Seth Baker tells you to get out there and start working in The Secret to Creative Inspiration. For those of you working diligently on your Nano projects, there is a reason the inspiration is flowing so fast...

Tips & Advice
I usually consider myself a rather fast writer. Some scenes are faster than others and sometimes it's hard to get going. Dean Rieck gives us 5 Ways to Double Your Writing Productivity and increase your S.P.E.E.D.

Hone Your Skills
I've noticed while I'm furiously scribbling words down for my novel that I am lacking in the dialogue department. How do you give your characters voice? How do you create interesting and dynamic conversation? Fortunately, Laura Cross over at About A Screenplay says that "creating effective dialogue is challenging for many writers. But crafting good dialogue is a skill that can be mastered by anyone." Then she gives us 12 characteristics of great dialogue.

The Cherry on Top
Some of these photos submitted for the National Geographic International Photography Contest 2009 are absolutely amazing - they get me thinking of stories almost immediately.

Now, it's back to writing!

NanoWrimo Status Report

Week 1 is over and it has been a roller coaster ride.

Day 1 was great - I woke up early and immediately started thinking about my opening scene and how to introduce my characters. I couldn't go back to sleep so I grabbed a pen and my notebook and just got started. I got down a couple of scenes before I felt I needed a break and reached the 1,667 word goal before I knew it. I felt awesome and so excited.

By day 3 I was still on track but my writing session that evening was hard work. The words weren't flowing and it was difficult to reach the word count goal. The next day was a little better since I had an action scene coming up that I was excited to get to.

I spent a half an hour on day 5 jotting down some thoughts about where I wanted to go next. This isn't something I normally do - usually I don't stop to outline or think ahead, I just keep writing. But it turned out taking this pause was very helpful. It gave me a little direction and boosted my motivation. I got home that night and busted out the action scene.

Friday I lost my momentum. After a long week and figured I deserved some veg time. Problem is, once you stop it's so hard to get going again! I didn't write Saturday and I haven't gotten a word down today (Sunday) yet either. The day is not over yet, however. There is still time to get back on track. Plus, I have Wednesday off from work for Veteran's Day and I'll have the house all to myself - it will be a major catch up day.

Lessons Learned
- Sometimes it helps to pause and think about where you're going next. Don't be afraid to take a break to outline for a bit.
- Keep up the momentum once you get going.
- Don't get down on yourself if you fall behind. If you start feeling like it's hopeless you'll never get back on track. Stay hopeful, stay focused.

Goals for Week 2
- Write everyday.
- Stay on track with the 1,667 words a day schedule.
- Don't be afraid to talk about what you're doing with friends and coworkers.

How are you doing? What have you learning in the first week that will help you the rest of the month?

You Are So Creative!

What does creativity really mean? What defines a creative idea or what makes a person creative? Are we all creative or are there certain people who are inherently more creative than others? And why do we all strive to be creative?

With NanoWrimo only a few days away I've been thinking about planning and writing a lot. And the start of any creation is an idea. And before the idea is creativity.

Writing that sentence just now I see that the root word 'create' says quite a bit about what creativity is and what makes someone or some idea creative. I believe we, as humans, all have a desire to create. We all need some way of expressing ourselves by building and creating something from our mind using our hands. And that goes a long way to answer my last question above - we want to be creative because it means that we are building, contributing, and creating something new.

My sister is the most creative person I know. She has many interests but she's also very opinionated about the things she likes and hates. Her musical talents have been her main medium of creation and although she hasn't 'hit it big,' she still finds the time and joy in writing and singing her music. Although she's stuck with a boring secretarial temp job right now she is already planning her next adventure. I'd always hoped she would get a job where she could write ad jingles or slogans because she'd be so great at it. And because I have such a high opinion of her creative view I was flattered to tears when she praised a story I wrote a few years ago (my first NanoWrimo attempt, actually).

We admire creative people and strive to find creativity in ourselves. We all want to be unique. We all want to have a great idea we can be proud of.

So how can we cultivate creativity in ourselves and others? While you're thinking about that, let's give you more to ponder:

Mark McGuinness asks "Is Everyone Creative?" and includes Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk as well as quotes from Gordon Torr. Do you think we're all born creative or are there special creative people out there?

If you've decided that we can learn to be more creative, read on. Mary Jaksch of Write to Done gives us a fantastic overview of the Directed Creativity process developed by Paul E. Pisek. It outlines four phases: preparation, imagination, development, and action. This is how I'm going to start being more creative.

Want more things to work on to become more creative? Request approved. Dean Rieck illustrates 11 Traits of Highly Creative People at CopyBlogger. At first glance it makes sense that creative people have these traits. But at second glance, when you decide you want to develop some of these traits, it seems overwhelming. So, let's take it slow and start at the first one: "Have the courage to try new things and risk failure." I think NanoWrimo is the perfect vehicle to improve on this... Maybe we can move on to the second one in December.

Or maybe we should start with a simpler list. Leo Babauta gives us exactly that in his post "The Little But Really Useful Guide to Creativity" on his blog Zen Habits (which is a great one, by the way). The list is helpful, simple, and, most importantly, motivating. Let's go be creative!

And, since I usually do things in fives, my last creative creativity link. In your quest for fantastic and amazing ideas, think about where they come from. Dustin Wax of Stepcase Lifehack writes: "What separates the creative from the not-so-creative isn’t so much the ability to come up with ideas but the ability to trust them, or to trust ourselves to realize them." The rest of his post offers answers to the question "Where Do Ideas Come From?" and I must say they are rather good answers.

So what do you think? What do you do to increase your creativity? Where do your ideas come from? What are you having for dinner tonight? Just leave a comment, any comment.

National Novel Writing Month MANIA!

The web is all abuzz with NanoWrimo and we've only got a few more days to go. The purpose is basically to write an entire 50,000 word novel in the month of November (see the site for more rules and details and to sign up). As you can see, I am a participant this year (rachiez - feel free to friend me) and although I am very excited to get started, I'm also glad I still have a couple of days for planning. I'll be doing a fantasy novel this year (can't seem to break away) that I've been thinking about for a while now. It just seemed like this is the time for this story so we'll give it a try.

But why, you ask? Because everybody else is doing it! I'm attempting it again this year, my fourth year participating, because it gets me writing like nothing else does. Because I have decided to do it and I've been proud of what I accomplished in past years. Not good enough? Fine. Here's what others are saying about National Novel Writing Month:

Maria Schneider at Editor Unleashed points out that "NaNoWriMo forever changed the limitations I had previously placed on myself as a writer. NaNoWriMo taught me that there is more time to write in a day than we might think, and that discipline is the greatest weapon against the internal critic perched hungrily in my mind." (See the entire awesome post here).

Joanna Penn says "It is such a great idea because it gives you a short period in which to really focus on your Work In Progress." (Her post is here).

James Scott Bell over at The Kill Zone shows you why you should write fast, like, in a month... "When you write your first drafts, write as fast as you comfortably can. Even force yourself past the comfort zone on occasion. Whether you're an outliner, a seat-of-the-pantser, or anything in between, when you're getting those first pages down, burn rubber. Why? Because there is so much good stuff in your writer's brain that needs to climb out of the basement and sniff the fresh air. You have to put your head down and butt the inner editor who stands at the basement door, telling you to be careful, slow down, don't make a fool of yourself."

Are you persuaded? Wondering how on earth you even start something like this? Here are some helpful things to get you started and get you through November:

Jodi Cleghorn gives us 9 ways to prepare over at Write Anything and they are good ones. Explore your expectations, strengths and weaknesses, habits, creativity, sources of stress, time management, and your calendar for November. Also be sure to treat yourself kindly and get the support you need. Better get on these quick, though, cuz there's only a few days left...

Need an idea? Jennifer Blanchard of Procrastinating Writers gives you some resources on coming up with a great idea. She is also offering an email newsletter for 30 Days of NaNoWriMo Tips that you should sign up for.

And Learn to Write Fiction also has some great links and must have tools that will help get you through with a smile.

Last, Barbara Samuel lists 10 ways to survive November, stay healthy, and not get too obsessed (Writer Unboxed). I know I will definitely be taking some of this advice.

Do you have more suggestions I might have missed? Leave a comment and share your ideas or a link to your post about NanoWrimo. We are, after all, in this together now!

Squeeze in Your Writing Time

This is a post I needed this week so, once again, I'm writing as much for my benefit as others.

With NanoWrimo quickly approaching I've been considering my time and trying to figure out where I'm going to squeeze in time to write. Here are some things to think about when considering your time and setting some aside for writing.

Get organized so you know exactly what you need to do. If you have a list of tasks you can select one from the list according to how much time you have. And then you can feel so satisfied when you get to cross a task off the list!

You may not be able to set any aside so take it where you can get it. Take your writing with you, whether on a flash drive or your notebook, and work on it whenever you can. Even just a couple of minutes here or there can add a sentence or two. Use your lunch break, use any time that you're just waiting.

If you really want time to write you're going to have to give up some other activities. Do you really need to spend that time watching TV? Think about what you watch - isn't your writing more important to you than that? If not, then try giving up something else. Other entertainment, social time, sleep (this one is particularly difficult for me), or how about some of the time you spend reading?

If, however, after examining your life and finding that you have nothing you can give up there are still some things you can do to squeeze writing into the cracks. Talk to yourself out loud and record it if possible. Talk about your ideas, characters, or problems you've hit in your plot. Even in a five minute drive you might make some progress. Even if you don't talk out loud to yourself (I understand, my husband would tease me no end) you can keep your story in the back of your mind and let it simmer. Then when your mind wanders and discovers something interesting you can connect it to your work in progress for later consideration. But you'll have to remember to be observant of things and people around you. I've been amazed at the things that happen when you're just paying attention.

How do you find time to do the things you want to during your busy day? Are there things you've had to give up? Do you have other sneaky tricks to finding time and energy to be creative?

More great ideas and thoughts on making time to write:
5 Ways to be a Writer When You're Not Writing from Head Above Water
Making Time to Write by Andy Shack
Use Your Time Wisely by Angel Booth
What Will You Give Up to Write Your Book from The Creative Penn

What Really Matters

I've been struggling recently under the pressures I've placed on myself. I've set goals to post here more often, I've committed to doing NanoWrimo next month, and I have promised myself that I will not give up on the project I've been working on for the last year.

And underneath it all there is a part of me arguing that I don't really have anything to say, that no one really wants to read what I write.

I found several new blogs to follow today and while I was reading through them I came across a short post from last Friday on Confident Writing. Joanna Young quotes from Writing Down the Bones, a book that I read or started recently but don't remember much. But this quote really brought it home:

"Our lives are at once ordinary and mythical.

We live and die, age beautifully or full of wrinkles. We wake in the morning, buy yellow cheese, and hope we have enough money to pay for it.

At the same instant we have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrow and all our winters we are alive on the earth. We are important and our lives are important, magnificent really, and their details are worthy to be recorded.

This is how writers must think, this is how we must sit down with pen in hand. we were here; we are human beings; this is how we lived. Let it be known, the earth passed before us. Our details are important. Otherwise, if they are not, we can drop a bomb and it doesn’t matter.” ~ Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

Our seemingly insignificant and boring lives really do matter and it is through our writing that we discover exactly how much they matter. You do have something worth saying! You have something to write! Because you really matter. And so do I!

Link Line-up

There's such great stuff out there it makes me want to share it with you!

Motivation
Are you a digital fiddler? Are you easily distracted by all the options and fun things on the internet? Well, stop it get back to writing! Mary Jaksch hears ya and gives us some ideas on how to stop digital fiddling over on Write to Done.

Getting Started
Do you take yourself to seriously as a writer? Try relaxing and having some fun. Joanna Penn gives us some ideas on how to work hard and have fun while doing it over at The Creative Penn.

Tips & Advice
Here are 5 tips on how to be a better writer from Mason Hipp on Freelance Folder. I like this because it applies not only to creative writing but to all the writing we do during the day.

Editing
Maria Schneider gives us 5 things to keep in mind when editing your manuscript. But be sure you don't turn on that inner editor until your first draft is done. (From Editor Unleashed)

The Cherry on Top
Wanna see where other writers create? Where I Write is a collection of just that - rooms where writers write. And Kyle Cassidy rocks, too.

More on Passion

As a follow up to my pep talk post yesterday I wanted to share this article I found via Publetariat by Andrew B. Clark about how you shouldn't ignore your passion. Find it and live it.

GO TEAM! Pep Talk

I was in desperate need of a pep talk earlier this week. I felt worn out and bogged down with all the things I've been worrying about. Work has been stressful to the point of craziness this week which really saps my motivation for anything else. I missed a couple of days here on the blog, I procrastinated Nano planning, and I convinced myself that I had nothing worth writing. I'm feeling better now, but I really could have gone for some positive reinforcement. So for all those of you out there who just aren't feelin' it, this one's for you (and me)!

Have a day job? Yeah, me too. Here are some tips on how to keep it from killing your writing career from David Anaxagoras. The blog is geared toward screenwriting, but I think his advice is helpful for all kinds of writing. His tips include knowing what you want, setting goals, taking daily action toward your goal, making your day job seem smaller by starting and ending your day with writing, washing the day away, and structuring your life around your writing.

Find some passion. You know those people who get so excited about one subject or another? And the people who enjoy the life they're living because they found something to be passionate about? Be one of those people. Leo Babauta outlines how to infuse your blog with passion over at ProBlogger, but his advice is perfect for writing in general, too. Write what you're passionate about, or find something to be passionate about if you don't really have a passion yet. Put some music on, get yourself a beverage, write passionately, and read others who are passionate. There's nothing like a little passion to get you motivated!

A post at Pimp My Novel on persistence that made me smile. And let's face it, a smile is one of the best ways to start feeling uplifted, hopeful, and motivated to keep working toward your dreams.

Is your inner critic making you depressed? Feel like you have nothing worth saying and that no one will ever care what you write? I know, he's so mean! Read this from Allegra Goodman on how to calm that critic and get back to work. Concentrate on your writing, love your material, and tell your story as only you can.

Shake off the negative feelings, leave the weight of the world and worries behind just long enough to write. You can do it, you should do it, you will do it. Go, now, and overcome all those doubts and fears. May the force be with you.

Yay! Go Team!!

Get in the Habit

I've been thinking a lot about Nanowrimo recently, partly because I'm excited and partly because I'm a little stressed. I haven't done nearly as much planning as I think I need to have a successful November. I've decided that the first step is to get back in the habit of writing everyday and get back into the mindset of creating.

First step: I've been trying to write everyday. I started with baby steps by posting more regularly here on the blog and it has been fun but it also takes commitment to put something up every day. Which leads to...

Second step: set goals and then commit to working towards them. I decided I wanted to write everyday and I decided I wanted to make more of an effort to update my blog. Ta-da! Now I need to set my goals for creative writing and planning for Nanowrimo. To reach 50K words for the month I'll need to write 1,667 words a day. Throw in the fact that since I like to write my first draft with pen and paper and I'll need some time to type it up for verification and I am hereby setting my goal to write 2000 words a day in the month of November.

Third step: be observant and look for ideas to spark creativity. If you remember to look for sources of inspiration and things that will enrich your creativity, you will find those things everyday. I saw a picture online today that the Hubble telescope captured of galaxies speeding through space. For some reason I never even considered that galaxies actually moved through space so this idea really got my creative juices flowing and I started thinking of all these situations and stories that could grow out of that. The National Geographic website is a great place to find inspiring photos, by the way.

Fourth step: tell stories to anyone that will listen. At one of my previous jobs I had a friend that I shared an office with and we had a lot of fun telling each other stories. It started because it would get so quiet in there and in an effort to make the time go faster I would find anything I could think of to say. I always started by saying "So..." which I didn't realize what I was doing until she pointed it out to me. Eventually it became a game - "Tell me a 'so' story" she would say. And I would bust out something short, simple, and usually very random. But it sure was fun! This will also help you form mini stories and practice articulating beginnings, middles, and endings.

Last step: Build a support network. Fortunately, with Nanowrimo you have an automatic network of friends who will support you in your goals. The forums are a fantastic place to either find support and motivation or kill some time when you need a break. They are also a great place to share those 'so' stories and get some good ideas. But for the rest of the year it is still important to have at least one person you can feel totally safe and comfortable talking to about your writing. I find that an open conversation can be a great cure for writer's block. And there's nothing better for your motivation! Find a writing buddy who gets your style and will always be up for giving you a pep talk.

I'm excited now, are you? Do you have any other suggestions either for getting back in the habit of writing or to prepare for Nanowrimo?