November 21

Dear Friends, I'm still here.
Just immersed in my novel.
No worries. Love, Me.

November 20

L&O is on.
It's my biggest temptation.
Why must I give in?

NaNoWriMo update

You can see to the right where my word count is for NaNo.  I update it regularly, so it's probably accurate.

I'm not where I wanted to be by today, but that's okay.  In addition to working on pieces for clients, I've been busy at my other job.

I'll have this weekend to catch up, as well as the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Since Hubby and I are not traveling for Turkey Day this year, I'm hoping the weekend will be nice and relaxing for us.  And since Gma P7* and Auntie M-- will be here, I'm guessing I'll have Bean-free moments I can use to write.

I'm really enjoying writing this novel, but I also know it's one I'll probably never revise or really work with again.  The story is fun and pretty easy to write, so when I do get a bit of time for NaNo, the words come easily.

To be honest, I'm eager to get back to my coffee house book, as well as brainstorming a few other ideas I've had (although my coffee house book is the priority project beginning December 1).  Once NaNo has passed, I'm going to spend December tweaking my website, working on my new and improved writing goals and schedule, which will be broken down month-to-month as well as week-to-week.  Then, beginning January 1, 2010, I'll be jumping full-force into fiction scribbling (when I'm not playing the role of a Fforde Ffan, that is).

I really think 2010 is going to be an exciting year for the Coffee-Stained Writer!



*For info on my family abbreviations, go here.

November 19

Stream of consciousness,
purple prose, new characters,
perhaps a flashback?

Keeping a personal journal

You already know it's important to keep a writing journal, but you may also find it helpful to keep a personal journal.

The purpose of a writing journal is to keep track of ideas, background information, bits of dialogue, setting, or whatever else that might be useful in your writing.  The purpose of a personal journal, however, is different.  People keep personal journals to remember what's important in their personal lives: relationships, events, thoughts, people, etc.


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November 18

New character time:
Description, background, quirks.
Should pad my word count.

Writing prompt a la Cassy

Oh happy pig. So content as you wallow, far from sorrow in the deep cool mud. Roll. Delight yourself with the rich dark liquid. Never take pause and give thought to what lies ahead. A white marble counter top. A glistening knife poised mid-air. Possibilities may be endless, but don’t matter. Now matters. Now makes sense. So dip piggy toes in the froth while you can. Soon is a distant thought. Soon has no meaning.

Writing Prompt Response

My heart sister Dana has decided to use this week's writing prompt.  Apparently, my word choices tempted her too much.

Be sure to meander over to the cantina and check it out.

If you decide to use a writing prompt, post it on your blog and link it to me, or send me your scribbling and I'd be happy to post it here!

November 17

Dear NaNoWriMo,
I think we need to break up.
It's not me. It's you.

Why television is helpful to writers

Nathan Bransford has an informative and fun post up about publishing that's definitely worth reading, if not bookmarking.

I bookmarked it.  You should, too.

Shifting my writing focus

I love freelance writing.

I love that I can write about different topics and work with different clients.  I love that the pieces I write are shorter so I can jump around when I write.

But my heart will always be in fiction.  And I've been really neglecting my fiction pieces lately.

NaNoWriMo has reminded me how much I really love writing fiction, so beginning on January 1, 2010, I will have a new and different set of writing goals for the year.  I am shifting my writing focus back to fiction where it belongs.  I will still be doing freelance, of course, but the bulk of my writing time and energy will be devoted to getting my coffee house book back on track, as well as making sense of the other ideas floating around in my head.

If I can write a novel in November for NaNo, there's no reason I can't get my coffee house book written and edited (or at least in the editing phase) by May 2010.  So that will be my goal, and when I sit down to create my writing goals for 2010, that's what I'll have in mind.

And in the meantime, I'm filling pages by breaking up compound words, not using contractions, adding flashbacks.

Happy scribbling!

Your mid-month NaNoWriMo pep talk

Half the month is over already, and you should be about halfway through your novel.  If you're following the writing plan that gives you the goal of 1,667 words a day, you should be at 26,672 words by the end of the day today.

I'm here to tell you, though, that no matter what your word count, you're doing great!


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Having trouble boosting your wordcount?

Take a hint from InkyGirl!




Debbie Redpath Ohi is posting a new comic every day for NaNoWriMo.  Thanks for the encouragement, Debbie!

This Week's Task List

Monday:

• Finish up articles to send to a client
• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Tuesday:

• Start working on next set of articles for a client
• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Wednesday:

• Continue working on next set of articles for a client
• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Thursday:

• Continue working on next set of articles for a client
• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Friday:

• Finish working on next set of articles for a client
• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Saturday:

• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

Sunday:

• Write at least 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo

November 16

It's "manic Monday."
Can I get paid for NaNo?
That would be awesome!

November 15

We've reached halfway now.
Goal: 25,000 words.
I'm a bit behind.

November 14

Sticking to my plot.
Trying to keep up the pace.
Must. Avoid. Twitter.

November 13

Dear NaNoWriMo,
Why am I so addicted?
I hate you. Love, Me.

Writing in public

During November, writers are out in full force.  Between official write-ins and free time to write, it's likely that coffee houses and bookstores are home to "WriMos" every day.

Whether you decide to go to any of Orlando's write-ins or just go somewhere and write on your own, there are  a few things you need to keep in mind before you set up your laptop (or open your notebook) and boost your word count.

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November 12

Dear NaNoWriMo,
Why am I so addicted?
I love you. Love, Me.