NanoWriMo

For the last several years I've heard about this program that has been going on encouraging people to write, whether you have dreams of being an author or simply enjoy writing and need encouragement to physically do it. There are many positive reasons to participate but there can as with anything have some draw backs to it.

This will be my first year participating. I'll admit a friend of mine talked me into it so for me this is more of an experiment to see how it goes and I plan on reviewing the process and sharing that and my progress as it goes.

I've had several friends who have participated with this program and seem happy or stressed by it. I've never participated mainly because I don't like the idea of rushing your writing. There are many ideas or directions you might have gone and written better if you had taken your time. Many opportunities to write your best might be lost by rushing your writing. It's best to see this as more of a writing exercise rather then trying to get a novel finished by the deadline. If you don't finish on time don't consider it a failure, it only meant you needed more time and there is nothing wrong with that. This is simply to encourage you to make time to write.

The program says that you start November 1st and the last day to record the amount you have written is November 30th. Some have already started writing their novels, which I understand being nervous whether or not you will finish on time but unfortunately starting your novel before it actually starts defeats the purpose of the writing exercise. According to the site you can enter your title for your book which can be changed at any time and it has a spot to enter a synapsis of your story. It also has an exert but hopefully you don't have that part otherwise it shows you've already started. You can also upload the cover for your book but it's not required. Another problem would be if you published your novel right after submitting your 50k word requirement. Make sure you go through it and edit your book. Look for story flow, are there interruptions, difficult areas to read through, parts readers might not understand what you are saying. character confusion, grammar and spelling are extremely important.

The November event is easy to participate with. It has a page that you put in your goals, keeps track of your progress and does not keep a copy of what you have written so make sure you keep a copy either on thumb drive or somewhere else so that you don't lose what you worked hard on. Simply enter your word count and your set for that day. At the end you enter your entire word count by copy and pasting your novel into the given slot and it counts them up for you. This event isn't looking for edited writing or perfect writing. It's simply to see if you can hit a goal or keep you motivated.

I found after participating with this program it was rather enjoyable however there is not much interaction with other writers. There is a message board but many of the messages get lost in the jumble and your comment, question or encouragement could sit there for a long time. Threads that get started do not leave room for conversation other than the first one started. Nano has a "campnano" that it holds in April and May. Much like the November one, this you are set in a group with 19 other people. It shows their goals and progress but the interaction is much better as there is an area only your cabin can comment into to encourage each other. You will get some who are put in there and for whatever reason never start or participate in anyway. There will be others who genuinely are looking for encouragement and want others tot talk to while going through this process. If your more independent than the November event is more for you however you can get to know people much better in the smaller groups.

The camps are rather nice. You can either finish a piece you are working on, either to finish writing it or to edit it or you can start with a fresh story. You can either pick hours spent writing or word count. The word count is much easier to keep track of, especially if you only have a few minutes each day.

Either way this program has a lot of potential, it does promote its own writers quite a bit when offering advice. At least they are upfront about where the money donated goes. It will be interesting to see how this progresses over the many years to come.

Author Questions

I've always found it interesting why some choose to write stories and what further motivates them to share those with others. Some dream of being an author and others enjoy their stories and like to share them with others who may also enjoy them. The writing process seems overwhelming to some while others it might barely cause them to blink an eye. There are many reasons why someone writes a story but what motivates you? Any professional does well to learn from others in their field and this may help them avoid mistakes that they made or make choices that better enhance their own chances. I've learned a lot and been influenced by certain writers and I hope this influences my writing as well and comes across to my wonderful readers.

It helps to read books even if you are writing your own. This helps show sentence structure, various ideas of how characters interact or how it is written out physically. If an author has a lot of dialog or more action sequences, you learn your preferences for your own writing. Personally, I've read books and wished the authors would have made another choice instead of the one they went with or not putting the author down but I've felt I would write the story differently.

You might simply be looking for a few questions to ask an author when the opportunity presents itself. Either for a blog page, in person interview or many other reasons. I've liked the ones below and they are ones I've been asked myself. Below I've answered some so that you may see my answers and how I respond and how others might respond. When conducting an interview pay close attention to how they respond and this may help you tailor more questions to that person that are more personal or to their career path.

Questions to ask authors:

What their writing process is. How do they get their ideas? How many hours do they work a day on it?

My writing habits are sporadic and last second thinking. I might have general ideas of what I want happening with the characters but most of the time I don't know what I'm writing until I sit down and start writing. Most of the story tends to write itself when I think about the characters that are going to be in it and what their background is. That tends to determine what could happen with them and what situations they might find themselves in. I don't have a set amount of time to write. I do it when I have time and usually that is before I go to sleep at night. I have three kids and my husband take a lot of time along with my job. I work in home healthcare which I enjoy, I love taking care of and looking after others so all these and our furry family members take a lot of time. Life in general dictates itself. My best that I can do is write when I get the chance and if I don't I have to be patient until I get a chance to write again. My home tends to be very noisy so at night will generally be the time I write if it’s going to happen.

What do they consider to be their best accomplishment?

I'm still working on this one and I'm not entirely sure I'll know when it does happen. I've been asked if I consider my kids to be my biggest accomplishment. I'm certainly proud of them but I consider their lives to be their accomplishment. Just the chance that they were the ones to be here, to exist is part of their accomplishment. As far as writing I am happy to have some of my writing published and available to others however I don't quite have that feeling of being accomplished yet but that may never go away since I'm always making further goals for myself to reach.

Who inspired them?

People with talent inspire me. It's hard to limit it to one person. I love listening to music while I write and many singers when I hear them especially when it’s something they really take pride in it comes across in their voice and their hard work I find very inspiring.

Did they always want to write?

I've never considered it a choice. There are days I have a story playing out in my head and it feels like I could explode from the inside out just waiting for the chance to stop what I'm in the middle of or around so I can write. There are times I won't get a chance to until before I go to bed at night. I'll spend the last couple hours when I should be sleeping but I put it off so that I can write. There are thoughts or situations that I can't forget or I can run a conversation between my characters in my head. I love writing because it makes stories come alive that I enjoy, even if no one else does it happens to be something I am incredibly passionate about. I am thankful for those who have been supportive of my writing and have enjoyed my stories.

Also - if you enjoy writing - ask them if he/she has any advice for an aspiring writer.

The best advice I can give is to have pride in your work, don't be in a rush to push your work out there before it's ready. You may end up regretting it or having to start over because you’re constantly fixing mistakes or changes you want in your story that would not have been there if you had taken your time. When you take your time, you can find where your book belongs, who your audience is and what your goals are for your book, where you want to see it take you.

Who is your target reader?

I primarily write under the category young adult however I view my writing for anyone 13+ I hope to make my stories entertaining for those who are older but also safe for younger readers. I do have situations that are considered adult however they are "alluded to" situation or descriptive flirting.

What are the major themes of your work?

Most of the times it's rather subtle that it gets lost. I always want family and friends to be an important influence. The strong bond and loyalty displayed.

"A major theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his work, making it the most significant idea in a literary work. A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work briefly and gives way to another minor theme."1

Any recent works that you admire

There are several books out there that I appreciate, not quite admire but I certainly enjoyed reading. Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is the most current series I've read.

What do you think people search for in a book?

Most want to be entertained. I know when I read a book I want it to keep my attention where my mind can wonder to another place and leave where I'm physically at, to forget what is going on around me enough that I get captivated in what happens in the story I'm reading and I feel my readers most likely are the same way. A good book is an amazing escape while still having the chance to either educate or life lessons without it feeling preachy.

If you could work with any author who would it be?

I most likely would never work with another author other than my daughter but then that would only be to help as a developmental editor only. I know how I want my story to go and to have another person’s input would be hard for me. It's not that I don't work well with others or don't appreciate their input but I prefer the way I write and I feel it would be hard to blend the way I write with someone else.

Who is your favorite author and is your writing style like theirs?

My favorite author happens to be Jane Austen however my writing is nothing like hers. I also appreciate Anne Rice, J.K Rowling and Stephen King however my writing isn't like any of theirs either which to me is fine. I love their writing and enjoy the way they tell a story however I enjoy variety more and it’s nice not having all writers be the same. If everyone had the same style and types of writing, then books would be rather boring and it wouldn't matter which author you picked. There are so many kinds of preferences that what one person prefers another person might like the complete opposite so I write the way I do and hope others will enjoy it.

What's your favorite part of a book?

Personally, I love the middle. Books either start up quick or have a slow start into the story but I always like the middle because most of the time you’re not waiting for something to happen, the characters are there and you’re not at the end of the book when you realize an amazing story has ended and it’s done. The middle at least you know there is more. Might sound odd with that but I tend to read slower once I come closer to the end of a story.

When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?

I do carefully choose what names I use however I never go overboard with them. I take into consideration the time period and what names were used during that time. Also, I like to take in the characters’ personality and what their parents would have named them, how it would have affected them and generally last what translation the name might have such as "of peace or fighter." Although some of these meanings can be genuinely thought provoking, I want the characters to make a name for themselves and not a name they need to live up to.

Reveal your secret “author” crush.

This is an easy one for me. Although I've appreciated several authors I would say Jane Austen by far happens to be it for me. The way her characters are developed, the background settings she describes and the way the story is told I feel as if I could be there. Pride & Prejudice happens to be one of my favorites.

Scariest thing you have ever read/written.

I haven't written anything scary however reading Silence of the Lambs, the entire story I found scary.

Name a topic that you refuse to write about.

I write Young Adult Romance which has a wide spectrum however there are some topics that I don't feel fits with my stories. There isn't any topic I wouldn't allude to however at this time many sensitive subjects do not fit my writing.

Your favorite monster/villain.

The Midnight Madam/ Katherine Hawthorne from my Family Secrets series. She's been raised by a mother who would kill her and so would her sister for the same item she wants. She's had such a horrible childhood and over the centuries no one has ever challenged her or made life difficult before until the family she tried to destroy. It wasn't until the McAllisters that she began to second guess herself and then a young woman who she later became obsessed with and started to care for like a daughter that a little humanity came out of her. She's very determined and stubborn but incredibly intelligent. She's been around so long observing people that she knows peoples’ habits and natural inclinations that she can guess what they are going to do before they know what they are doing. Regardless of what happens she stays true to herself.

Imagine your characters are on survivor.  Who will they vote out of the book?

I would say Lucian without fail. I love his character but if he were to stay he would win hands down.

When did you first, without hesitation, call yourself a writer?

I've always loved writing so I never had a problem calling myself a writer. It was much easier than classifying myself as an author. I always felt the title author was a little higher than writer but then being called a writer could entail so many venues.

What’s the earliest memory you have of writing a story?

 Earliest memory would be the 3rd grade. I had called my story New York Gangs and most of it had been how they viewed each other as family and some of the fights they were in. I had never been allowed to watch violent movies or shows and my parents kept me rather shielded from the world around me. My teacher had accused me of plagiarizing the story and lost her temper with me. My mother came in and was upset until later that day when I was at home and I was writing a story on the couch. She came over and read it and said, "wow, you really can write." That has stuck with me since but I've always loved writing and my parents supplied me with all the paper and writing tools that I needed growing up. I had a very active imagination and could visualize quite well which helped me when I wrote and still does now.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

The first page of a story. I'll already know the entire story line, characters actions, what's going to happen and how I'll end it or carry it onto another book however it’s that first page that starts it all, the page that draws someone in and helps most decide if they want to bother reading the rest. I have no doubts about my stories, if they are enjoyable or not but I always doubt that beginning because I always feel it’s weak or too strong.

How do you work with an editor without the pride thing getting in the way?

It is probably the most difficult for most writers. If I have confidence in my editor I have no problems at all no matter what problems they bring up. Any time I have my books edited by someone else I have them mark changes so I can go through to see what they've changed. If I have any problems with something I'll ask them for an explanation for why it might have been changed. Because of this it can help me prevent making those mistakes again. I've only had a problem with one editor so far and it was because I had gone through my book after they checked it and found 40 errors added where they changed my words and I could tell they used Microsoft word spelling and grammar without reading through the story itself.

What technology do you use for writing?

I'll write parts on paper or whatever happens to be around me when an idea comes to me or a thought or conversation I want to add. Majority of the time I type on my laptop that I only use for writing. I've used my cell phone more often for leaving notes for myself than I do for making phone calls or anything else.

How do you keep from resenting your duties and every human’s sleeping requirement when you must stop writing to take care of them?

If I had the opportunity to write nonstop for days I would but I love my family so for me it's not a resentment to spend time with or take care of. I feel to be a good writer you need experience, you need to live life otherwise how can you expect your characters to when you don't? Even if you were to observe others its doing something.

Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

First, I'm going to answer this in more than ten words. We hear this question many times however what exactly is a writing style? Some feel this sets one author aside from another but many writers and authors say they don't have one. Technically we all do even when we write a short paper for school or work. I personally write from a narrative perspective.

"The four major types of essays address these purposes:

Narrative: Telling a Story. In a narrative essay, the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. ...

Descriptive: Painting a Picture. ...

Expository: Just the Facts. ...

Persuasive: Convince Me." 2

Writing style and the voice of the writer is very important.

"Voice is the distinct personality, style, or point of view of a piece of writing or any other creative work. Voice is what Simon Cowell is talking about when he tells "American Idol" contestants to make a song their own and not just do a note-for-note karaoke version." 3

When you hear from your readers, what do they say?

So far, I've been fortunate and heard from some very sweet people who enjoyed my book. I've talked to one person who hated my books but I still had an enjoyable conversation with the person. Many we've talked about the characters in my book and what ones I've enjoyed like my favorite ones which is hard to pick since I felt attached to all of them. What I enjoy more is hearing which characters my readers have enjoyed and who they were attached to and why.

How do you use social media to promote your writing?

It's great when you have friends and family support you, when they talk about your book. Word of mouth is still great but when you are a new author the internet has offered more opportunities we normally would not have had. I've used Myspace in the past to get my name out there, switched over to Facebook and Twitter. From these last two I've gotten to know several wonderful book groups and reading clubs. It not only helps me get my name out there but it also helps me find what people are into and my reading base, what other books they like. From the way those authors have advertised their books I've learned from them. Also by having an author page or with Google blogger it gives my readers and others a chance to get to know me better and hear about my projects and books I'm writing or have published.

Citing sources:

#1 https://literarydevices.net/theme/

#2 www.time4writing.com/writing-resources/types-of-essays/

#3 www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/.../understanding-voice-and-tone-in-writing

Silence of the Lambs author Thomas Harris, Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2j58MeJ

Jane Austen-Pride & Prejudice, Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2iRiHVJ