Yes, it's Week Four.

You know how I said don't panic last week? I've changed my mind.

PANIC.

Go insane. Yell! Go on a coffee and chocolate binge. Pull your hair. Talk to the cat. Or the dog. Or the parakeet.

Done...? Good.

Now let's get back to business. This is the final stretch of NaNoWriMo, and it's time to buckle down and go for the win. Unless you're already a winner, in which case - well done, but why are you reading this? Make room for the rest of us panicked fools! The link to the congratulatory post will come next week, you can go wait for that!

Over the past few weeks I've given advice on how to write, overcome muse problems, so on and so forth. This week I've decided to do something a little different. I'm not going to tell you how to write to get through this week. Instead, I'm just going to give you a reason to find that will to finish in yourself.

I'm going to remind you of why we started doing this in the first place.


1. You Want To Write A Novel
For most of us, that's why we started - because we want to write a story and we want to get to the end and say "Look, I've written that. I wrote a novel, and I wrote this draft in only 30 days!". It's a badge of honour - tiny, for many insignificant, but for us who are doing this for the first (or second or fifth time even) it holds great personal meaning. We want to write a novel, and we are going to!


2. You Love Writing
I've said it before and I'll say it again - if you don't love it, why are you writing in the first place? What you need to do as you sit there, wondering why on earth you started this madness, is to remember just how much you love it. How much you love sitting down every chance you get and, instead of doing something else, you write. You bleed your thoughts, your emotions, stories that have to be told, onto the page. And you love it - even when you hate it. That love is still there - just take a few minutes and remember it.


3. Because You Are A Writer
It's what you do. It's all you want to do. And if you are writing, for NaNo or any other time, and you can't stop, then you are a writer. "If you wake up in the morning, and writing is the first thing you can think about - then you are a writer!"


4. To Express Your Creativity
Maybe you are just feeling very creative. Maybe you have a story you want to tell, or a thought you want to express. Then just think back to the first moment you had your idea, remember how inspired you felt in that moment, and how desperately you wanted to get it onto a page - even if the only person who ever read it was you.

Now go write.


5. Insanity
Yes, that counts. Just about every writer I'v met happily agrees - we are not sane. It's pretty much the first requirement on the list of 'What It Takes To Be A Writer'. So people may see us as odd, unstable, maybe a bit disturbed. And that's ok. Comes with the package - be proud! And if it's that insanity that made you start NaNoWriMo this year, then revel in it!


Yes, there are many reasons why we can or should write, but that's not what matters. The only thing that matters is why you chose to write, why you chose to do NaNoWriMo. And when you finish, you will still feel that sense of accomplishment. You might not have the best document in history, you might barely have finished. But you did finish. And if, in the process, you remembered just how much you loved doing it, then my job is done.

May you always find your love of the written word.

Right now I feel trapped in a cold dark place - it doesn't feel nice and safe, like the start of the month when you know you have plenty of time, but it doesn't feel quite like the panicked rush of the last week either. Do you know what this place is called? I'll tell you.

'Just after the halfway mark - The Point of No Return.' Otherwise known as, 'How the heck did I get here, and where is the pause button!?'

Thankfully, I've been fortunate enough to have plenty of support through the cold sweats, sleepless nights and coffee filled writing drives. This has resulted in a semi acceptable word count and something that resembles the scum covered, back end of an excuse for a first draft of a novel! And yet, despite how horrible it is, I AM DAMNED PROUD OF IT!

Why?

Because I'm writing. And any writer will tell you, the hardest part of writing a novel is 'Writing The First Draft'.

Since I'm so proud of this forming first draft, I've decided I want to share some of it. Below you will find a short excerpt from the novel I am currently working on called 'The Hellfire Club'.

I hope you enjoy it!

   Mary cradled the little bundle closer to her chest as she softly sang a lullaby. Little Jack was such a quiet baby - her special boy. It didn’t matter who the father was. All that mattered was that it was in the past, and that she and Jack were safe.

Mary smiled as the baby continued to stare up at her with soft blue eyes, never blinking and reminding her of Jack Senior. She couldn't help but wonder if she would ever tell him about his father.

“Hush, little one, time for bed.” She whispered, walked over to the bed to lay him down.

No, she decided, she wouldn't tell him. He didn't deserve to know about everything that had transpired up to the point where she had fled that club. Maybe she would make up stories for the boy, give him a wonderful father. A kind, caring man. The sort of man who would travel the world, caring for others. Jack didn't need to know any different.

Mary tugged the soft blue blanket around him. There was a loud knock downstairs, and a few seconds later she heard a voice calling up.

“I will get it missus Mary!”

Annie had been a blessing, taking good care of her and little Jack. The kindly maid had been an angel during the pregnancy, and her cooking was mana to a pregnant woman with cravings. Annie had also raised several children and grandchildren of her own, and her experience was invaluable to Mary, who was still slightly frightened of being a mother.

After a few minutes of silence she turned to stare at the door of the bedroom.

“Who is it Annie?” There was no answer.

“Annie?” she called again.

When there was still no answer, Mary frowned. Annie was always very vocal about who came visiting and why. She seemed to sense that Mary wasn't very fond of strangers, and made sure to announce any arrivals quickly and loudly.

Mary carefully detached herself from her little one. With soft steps she walked across the landing, adjusting her gown to appear more appropriate.

“Annie, who’s at the…” she stopped abruptly as she caught sight of Annie’s lifeless eyes staring up at her from the floor of the foyer. There was no blood, but her skin was as pale as death himself.

Next to her body was a black shoe. A very familiar polished black shoe. Mary gasped, and slowly she looked upwards, instinctively taking a few steps back.

Piercing black eyes stared at her, as the man in black smirked at her toothily, his sharp teeth glinting in the candlelight.

“Hello Mary. Missed me?”

Well, that's that. As always, feedback is welcomed and much loved. I'd also love to hear about any lines from your own works that you are proud of! Leave your feedback, comments, thoughts or own snippets in the comments below!

It's Week 3!

If you're anything like me, this generally is the point where we start panicking, where doubt falls on your shoulders like a laser guided missile and you begin to wonder "Why am I doing this?". I'm not going to tell you why you should be writing - that's up to you - but here are a few tips as we enter the next milestone in this WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!

1. Just Write!
I know, it sounds much easier than it is. You feel like banging your head against the typewriter or keyboard every time you sit down, and nothing seems to inspire you to write. But sometimes it isn't so much about the muse and the inspiration - it's about remembering that you committed to doing this (for yourself!) and that you have everything you need to complete your story. To quote Stephen King - "The Magic is in you."

And if you still have your doubts, then think about it this way - just write one word at a time.

2. Don't Plan Too Much
It's an easy trap to fall into. Every time you hit a wall you think "Back to the drawing board, I need more planning!" Or worse, you do a ton of research and try to work all of it into your story. This is a weakness of mine - I LOVE doing research. And once I have pages and pages of juicy facts that have sweet-bugger-all to do with my story, I keep trying to find ways to work them in. The fact is that too much planning can keep you stuck in front of the drawing board and away from writing, and too much research can boost your word count but slow your story down so much that you get bored writing it.

Keep it simple!

3. Eliminate Distraction

“There should be no telephone in your writing room, certainly no TV or videogames for you to fool around with. If there’s a window, draw the curtains or pull down the shades unless it looks out at a blank wall... You could do worse than strip your television's electric plug-wire, wrap a spike around it, and then stick it back into the wall. See what blows, and how far. Just an idea.” - Stephen King

Yes, yes, I know I quote him a lot, but can you truly think of a better way to say 'Avoid distraction' than 'Blow Up Your TV'? I didn't think so. I know it's tempting to watch your favourite series, or play your favourite game. So make it a bit easier - take the distraction out of the equation completely. For a gamer like myself, being on the computer typing is temptation enough. I'm only lucky I don't have a television to blow!

4. Accept Bad Writing
You are writing a novel in 30 days - Give yourself permission to write badly! I've reminded you before (and I'll do it every time I post until NaNoWriMo is over) that the point of this madness is to get your first draft on paper. It's not easy, hell, sometimes it's downright painful! Especially when you take a minute or two to quickly read what you've written. Some of us can even feel our eyeballs bleed as we read the horror that our story has become!

But that's not the point.

Dig, dig, and for heaven's sake, BURY that inner editor so far down that you have to go Editor Hunting (a close relative of Muse Hunting) once your story is done. Right now, just enjoy the flow of words as you get them down, and reward yourself for that step.

Allow yourself to write badly!

5. Sometimes You Need a Break
It's true. It sounds horrible, especially here in Week 3, but if you keep pushing yourself to the limits, you might find yourself starting to hate what you love. That's normal, of course, and bound to happen at some point. And there are times when you need to push through and past it. But there are also times when you need to settle down with a hot cup of coffee, some good music and a great book.

Reading is actually a great way to take a break - ask any published author, and they will tell you that they read quite a bit themselves. It's not only a good way to relax, but also a way to get inspired and learn a few tricks from an author you admire for free!

6. Most important - "Write For Yourself, Write To Be Happy."
Write because you LOVE it. Write because it's the first thing you think of when you wake up, and you can't imagine yourself doing anything but write for the rest of your life. Don't write to be famous, don't do it for money or recognition and fame. Maybe that will come, maybe it won't. But every time you sit down to write, feel the bubbles of joy (or love-hate, whichever) inside you as you imagine the world your about to create.

If you do that, then nothing can stop you!




What are you going to do to get yourself through this week? Are there any things you like to do, things that inspire you? How do you feel when you write?

Let me know!

37 More Hours to Go!

We're counting down the hours to the start of NaNoWriMo, and nerves are running high. If you are anything like me, you are running around like a headless chicken wondering which methods to use, which ones not to use, and how to get ready. We are all scrambling to do just a little more prep-work, or to find an idea that doesn't totally suck, or desperately hoping that someone sees that poster of your missing muse and brings her back.

Of course, there are those of us who are also so naturally gifted at writing that the calm and coolness you exude just serves to freak us out even more as we wonder, "How in the blazes? What are we doing wrong?"

Next thing you know, panic starts to set in, your breaths become shorter, your heart fast...



When the panic attacks start coming, the cold sweats, the dread and the doubt, the time has come to take a breather. Time to remember why we're doing this - for the love of writing. If you're doing it for any other reason... Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but you're in the wrong place. And what better way to remember how much we love writing than by actually writing!

Here are 6 Ways to Both Calm Down AND Get Some Writing Done:

1. Read Something. Anything. As long as it's something you love. It can make you laugh or cry, it can be a flash fiction or a full blown novel, or even just a magazine. It doesn't matter. I tend to go back to Stephen King, and I will issue a warning right now - expect to see a lot of quotes from him! In fact, here's one for you right now:

“Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ― Stephen King

I know not everyone would agree - but you have to admit, after reading that favourite story or magazine, you're itching to write something yourself, to become part of such a world or build your own. It's inevitable.

2. Chat With Someone. It might not inspire you to write, but it will calm those nerves. Nothing is more soothing than ranting and raving at your wonderful support buddy, who will then pat you on the back and tell you how everything will be all right.

They also make great sounding boards. Keep chatting, and when you suddenly find yourself talking about a topic that makes you so excited that you can't shut up, well, then you know what you're going to be writing about, don't you?

3.  Do Some Coffee Stalking. Or Tea Stalking, whichever. Don't know what that is? Let me enlighten you. Coffee/Tea stalking is when you go to your favorite little coffee shop, go sit in the little nook in the back, get a cuppa, and start watching. That's all. Just watch. You'll see the stories soon enough. Like the tired looking woman and her young child that just came in. She looks harried and her eyes are constantly roaming, like there's someone she's looking out for.

What's her story? Did she just get off a late night shift and wants to treat her daughter to a little time together? Or is she an abused wife on the run with her child? Or maybe she's part of a kidnapping ring. The possibilities are endless. Your imagination is the only limit!

4. Sit Back And Listen To Some Music. I find music can be a great inspiration. Any genre - it's up to you, and what you enjoy. Maybe the next song on your playlist will be the love song that will give you an idea for that romantic adventure you've been wanting to write. Or maybe it's a heavy metal song with lyrics angry enough to make you want to write an axe murderer scene.

I find it best to just toss every song I have in my library into the playlist, scramble it around, and wait until something strikes a cord. Sometimes it's the first song, sometimes inspiration only strikes 4 hours in. It might take a while, but it never fails.

5. Look Up Random Images.  Do a Google search, browse Pinterest, or go to an art gallery. There are so many works out there, photographs, drawings and paintings, that can inspire anything from a piece set in 30's New York, to a futuristic space age novel. Personally I love using this generator: Flickr Picture Prompt Generator. Sometimes it takes a try or two, but your bound to come upon an image that makes you think, "What's the story here? What's hiding in this picture?". And when you do, grab the moment!

6. WRITE! So, you're muse is flat out ignoring you? Then show her/him you don't need them right now either! It's a little difficult if you're in the middle of NaNo, and you want to keep writing your book, but forcing it won't help in my personal experience. Instead, go grab one of several Flash Prompt generators, and write a few quick pages of different flash fictions. Chances are your jealous muse will make it's way back immediately, because How Dare You?! You might even discover that one of your flash fictions would make for a great section in your NaNo Novel!


And Finally, here's a +1 for All of you who are in cold sweats over the mere idea of abandoning your prep or NaNo novel:

+1. Read Over Your Prep. If all else fails, just read over your prep, or fiddle with it a little. Maybe something you've already covered will clear up the smog in your head and give you an idea about how to continue your story.


These are just some of the methods I use to keep my muse close by and get myself ready for the craziness of NaNoWriMo.

So, tell me, what do you do to keep calm and inspired?