It's almost November! Sure, the holidays are coming, but ask a writer why November is exciting and you'll probably hear, "NaNoWriMo," which stands for National Novel Writing Month. Most of us call it NaNo.
I'm not participating this year, but I apply some useful NaNo tips every time I write a first draft. My favorite tip is to pre-plan how long it will take me to write my book. It's pretty simple. I take out an index card and my calendar, and I assign a word count goal for each day and a target word count for each week until the book will be done.
When I'm actually writing, I highlight each day in either pink or yellow. Pink is for the days I meet or exceed my goal, and yellow is for the days I don't meet my goal.
This method keeps me on track. I write my books in a much shorter span of time when I map out the goals. Try it!
For my writer friends, are you doing NaNo? For everyone else, are you excited November is almost here? I am!!
Have a terrific weekend!
Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Friday, October 31, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
First Chapter Woes
I'm revising a full length contemporary romance I wrote in late 2012. While experts advise putting distance between writing and revising, an entire year is a lot of distance. My writing skills have grown since then, so jumping back into the book was like taking the polar plunge. Icy, scary, and exciting!
The good news? The book starts in the correct spot, the characters are fun, and the setting makes me smile.
The bad news? Too much back story and introspection in my heroine's point of view, and the hero bored me.
In ten pages, I left forty-three (yes, forty-three!!) comments and countless more track changes.
I quit my initial read through after chapter three. The first two chapters needed major work, but the comment bubbles trickled through the third chapter. When my comment bubbles trickle, I know the story is on track.
To make life easier, I copied the first two chapters (with the comments and track changes) and pasted them into a new file. Then I started rewriting. Two pages took four hours. It's important for me to get it right.
I'll continue to make changes based on my comments until I'm happy with the first three chapters. Then I'll read the rest of the book, leave comments, and do major revisions.
First chapter woes are not new to me. I'm used to them. Good writers, experienced writers, learn how to spot problem areas, take care of them, and move on. Never let a so-so opening bring you down!
Do you ever rewrite your opening chapter? Or do you tend to get it right the first time around?
Have a wonderful day!
The good news? The book starts in the correct spot, the characters are fun, and the setting makes me smile.
The bad news? Too much back story and introspection in my heroine's point of view, and the hero bored me.
In ten pages, I left forty-three (yes, forty-three!!) comments and countless more track changes.
I quit my initial read through after chapter three. The first two chapters needed major work, but the comment bubbles trickled through the third chapter. When my comment bubbles trickle, I know the story is on track.
To make life easier, I copied the first two chapters (with the comments and track changes) and pasted them into a new file. Then I started rewriting. Two pages took four hours. It's important for me to get it right.
I'll continue to make changes based on my comments until I'm happy with the first three chapters. Then I'll read the rest of the book, leave comments, and do major revisions.
First chapter woes are not new to me. I'm used to them. Good writers, experienced writers, learn how to spot problem areas, take care of them, and move on. Never let a so-so opening bring you down!
Do you ever rewrite your opening chapter? Or do you tend to get it right the first time around?
Have a wonderful day!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Reading Novels in Chunks
My favorite thing to do is read a novel all the way through in one sitting. To dive into a fictional world and not come up for air until the end? Delightful!
When I was younger, I had the freedom to do just that. But kids and life and responsibilities make reading a novel all the way through virtually impossible for me! I have weeks where I don't read fiction, and that makes me sad.
I ordered Karen Witemeyer's Stealing the Preacher a few weeks ago. I've heard tons of great things about her books, and I enjoyed meeting Karen at the ACFW conference this fall. But, again, the kids, the life, the busyness. The book stared at me, taunted me.
I didn't want to pick it up. I was going to love it. I knew it. And how would I put it down? How would I get the rest I desperately need each night? HOW??
Deep breaths.
I made a decision. I would read it in chunks. No matter how tempted I was to flip those pages until five in the morning, I would be strong.
And you know what? It's working. I was right--I do LOVE the book--but I read five or six chapters a night. I'm only halfway through it, and that's okay, because I have something to look forward to after dinner, and I'm not losing precious sleep.
Reading a novel over a period of time isn't my first choice, but if it will keep fiction in my life, I'm willing to do it!
How do you fit reading into your life?
Have a wonderful weekend!!
When I was younger, I had the freedom to do just that. But kids and life and responsibilities make reading a novel all the way through virtually impossible for me! I have weeks where I don't read fiction, and that makes me sad.
I ordered Karen Witemeyer's Stealing the Preacher a few weeks ago. I've heard tons of great things about her books, and I enjoyed meeting Karen at the ACFW conference this fall. But, again, the kids, the life, the busyness. The book stared at me, taunted me.
I didn't want to pick it up. I was going to love it. I knew it. And how would I put it down? How would I get the rest I desperately need each night? HOW??
Deep breaths.
I made a decision. I would read it in chunks. No matter how tempted I was to flip those pages until five in the morning, I would be strong.
And you know what? It's working. I was right--I do LOVE the book--but I read five or six chapters a night. I'm only halfway through it, and that's okay, because I have something to look forward to after dinner, and I'm not losing precious sleep.
Reading a novel over a period of time isn't my first choice, but if it will keep fiction in my life, I'm willing to do it!
How do you fit reading into your life?
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
My Summer Reading Goals
Monday felt terribly Monday-ish, if you know what I mean. And I think you do. Chopping away at my to-do list, I was tired and cranky and just plain old weary, so I drove to the library. The New Release section had two books I wanted to read, so I grabbed both.
My steps grew peppier. Browsed the cookbook section and thumbed the new Elie Krieger. Tossed last month's InStyle magazine and Glamour magazine in my bag. Found a two-pack of Ryan Adams' cd's I'd never listened to. That's when I saw it--the table set up for the summer reading program.
It made me think about reading and goals. I've read twenty-nine books so far this year. I don't tally how many magazines I read because I'd have to go to some sort of magazine rehab facility, but I do track my books. Summer reading programs offer a great excuse to set reading goals, and I set mine last night.
I'm trying new genres.
I'm NOT putting a number on that goal. If I read fifteen books, terrific! If I read one book, just as terrific.
Life gets really cut and dried sometimes. Reading is my favorite hobby, and it's a way to water my soul. I don't want to make it a chore or something to scratch off my to-do list. I want to anticipate opening a new novel. I want to get transported to another world. I want to lose myself in a story. That's my ultimate reading goal!
Do you read more books in the summer? Have you joined a summer reading program?
Have a wonderful day!
My steps grew peppier. Browsed the cookbook section and thumbed the new Elie Krieger. Tossed last month's InStyle magazine and Glamour magazine in my bag. Found a two-pack of Ryan Adams' cd's I'd never listened to. That's when I saw it--the table set up for the summer reading program.
Did you know some libraries offer a summer reading program for adults?
At our library, you just sign up, read a book, fill out an online entry form, and you're entered into a county-wide drawing for great gifts like an iPad mini and gift cards. Count me in!It made me think about reading and goals. I've read twenty-nine books so far this year. I don't tally how many magazines I read because I'd have to go to some sort of magazine rehab facility, but I do track my books. Summer reading programs offer a great excuse to set reading goals, and I set mine last night.
My summer reading goals?
I'm reading whatever I want.I'm trying new genres.
I'm NOT putting a number on that goal. If I read fifteen books, terrific! If I read one book, just as terrific.
Life gets really cut and dried sometimes. Reading is my favorite hobby, and it's a way to water my soul. I don't want to make it a chore or something to scratch off my to-do list. I want to anticipate opening a new novel. I want to get transported to another world. I want to lose myself in a story. That's my ultimate reading goal!
Do you read more books in the summer? Have you joined a summer reading program?
Have a wonderful day!
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