Category: novel planning
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NaNoWriMo Day 24: Thankful for what I’ve learned in NaNoWriMo 2022
I am reading about people on Reddit, Twitter and other social media platforms who have decided to stop NaNoWriMo. That’s okay. I’ve had my years where I just wasn’t into it. But I have never subscribed to the thought that someone who doesn’t finish NaNoWriMo, doesn’t win. Everyone wins at NaNoWriMo, even those who don’t…
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NaNoWriMo Day 23: Rules
Last day of work until December 5th. I’m a little behind on NaNoWriMo, but I intend to spend my free days in November finishing my NaNo and getting to 50k words. My story arc is complete, but I won’t be writing the entire story out as a narrative before the end of November. That always…
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NaNoWriMo Day 22: Starting with dialogue
When I start a scene, if I’m not sure what to write to start things off, I go to my default: dialogue. Then I add in some physical actions followed by interior thoughts and emotions. Then I layer in some description – I make sure the reader knows what the characters look like as close…
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NaNoWriMo Day 21: Think before I write
Still on par for my word count, but I’m not ahead. I only wrote a couple hundred words yesterday. It was very cold out and I was lazy all day. I am finding the benefit of planning out my scenes before I write them. One last thing I do before I actually write a scene…
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NaNoWriMo Day 20: A 6,000-Word Day. Not.
In his book No Plot? No Problem!, NaNoWriMo founder, Chris Baty, suggests getting ahead in your word count by “harnessing the power of 6,000-word days.” I tried it. I got to 4,000 words for Saturday and I decided I was far enough ahead and to stop for the day. It just wasn’t fun anymore. I…
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NaNoWriMo Day 19: From Regular to Rebel
What I like about the four steps I used this month for NaNoWriMo is how they can be used in both Preptober and NaNoWriMo. Ideally, the writer can use Preptober to develop the characters. Once that is done, they can start using the four steps; the only question is which step to start NaNoWriMo with?…
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NaNoWriMo Day 17: The Big Conversion
My writing process for NaNoWriMo 2022: Step 1: Write one complete sentence summarizing each scene. Step 2: Turn each sentence into a five sentence paragraph. Step 3: Turn each paragraph into five paragraphs. Step 4: Turn the five paragraphs into a narrative. Now that I’ve reached step four, I’m converting everything to Scrivener. Up to…
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NaNoWriMo Day 14: Half Way There
I finished the third step of my writing process for NaNoWriMo 2022. My writing process for NaNoWriMo 2022: Step 1: Write one complete sentence summarizing each scene Step 2: Turn each sentence into a five sentence paragraph. Step 3: Turn each paragraph into five paragraphs. (I’m writing step 3 in red to help it stick…
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NaNoWriMo Day 13: Go ahead; write those flashbacks
One way I’m building up my word count for NaNoWriMo is by using flashbacks. My main characters have a complex backstory (don’t they always?) and I’m finding it’s a great way to keep me on top of my daily statistics. But using flashbacks can help in other ways. They can move the story forward. They…
Andrew M. Friday 