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Writing Words - writing it is the only way of getting it written
One of the best online tools to help you boost your wordcount is Write or Die. This simple tool will make you write a lot of words unless you don't mind your computer going berserk and screeching at you. You decide how long you want to write and how many words you want to write in that period, and then you start typing. Whenever you stop typing, the punishments begins.
It's an excellent help if you struggle with getting the words out, not just during NaNoWriMo.
My other creative pursuit
I think many creative people aren't just focused on one creative outlet. Me, I'm too creative to limit my creations to writing. For example, I've learnt basic cooking skills from my mother as a kid and now I hardly ever need a recipe. I make dishes up as I go along.
My favourite other creative pursuit is photography. I used to draw and paint, but I find I don't have the time (or patience) for it anymore. While taking a good photograph does take some time, it's not as time-consuming as a drawing or painting. I'm not a good photographer yet, but I enjoy the process and I noticed recently that I've developed an eye for a good photo. And the best thing: My best shots often inspire me to write a story around them.
Which other creative outlets do you have?
Holly Lisle's 22-week course How to Revise Your Novel will be open until Jan 9, 12 noon EST. It costs US$47 a month for four months, and will not be available at this price again when it opens again later in the year. If you are curious, give it a go now. If you don't like it, there's a full money-back guarantee.
I know I'm repeating myself here, but I get so much out of this course that I want more writers to know about it. Holly says, "And over the years, I have created a system for
getting the book I WANTED to write from the book I actually WROTE." She has created a thorough revision system and in HTRYN she's sharing it with other writers. It's simply the best revision tool I've come across.
I've said in one of my NaNoWriMo posts that Twitter was a major distraction for me. If consumed in moderation, however, Twitter can be a useful tool for writers.
Here are some streams I follow:
@writingprompt
@quotes4writers
@AdviceToWriters
Hashtags are a good way to search for and track conversations on topics that interest you. Among my saved searches is #writechat, a mass conversation on writing-related topics that takes place every Sunday.
Last but not least a few writers I like who tweet:
@neilhimself
@novaren
@mightymur
Who do you follow on Twitter?
As with all the best things this month, the following list is highly subjective. I think these are the best online writing challenges but I'm curious to see what your favourites are.
NaNoWriMo - Write a 50k novel in the month of November. (I didn't really have to explain this, did I?) This was the writing challenge that took me to the next level as a newish writer, it will always be my favourite because of that.
NaBloPoMo - Write a blog post every day for a month. NaBloPoMo started out as the blogging equivalent to NaNoWriMo, but they've gone year-round a while ago, so now you can challenge yourself to blogging every day all year.
April Fools - Goal:wWhatever you want to accomplish in the month of April - you have to state your goal on the forums so it can be determined if you've reached it. I completed or edited novel drafts during April two or three times and made my goal every time. I prefer April Fools to NaNoEdMo when it comes to editing my NaNoWriMo beasts.
The problem with the internet today is that writing advice is endless. You can read and read and read until the end of days, I suppose. True, some background knowledge on how novels work and how other people go about writing them is helpful, but no amount of theory can ever replace writing practice. If you want to write a publishable piece of fiction, you need to write lots of unpublishable rubbish first. Things you would never admit you wrote. Because knowing what works in theory doesn't mean you sit down and write a publishable text. You make mistakes, and you learn because of them. (from Too much theory)
That is the best thing I've written on this blog in 2009. I had to remind myself that in the end, I need to sit down and write, revise and edit if I want to become a better writer. Knowing the theory and applying it are two different things
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The best way to gauge and develop ideas? Ask "what if" and "why" a lot.
I give all my new story ideas this treatment. It helps me to find out quickly if an idea is worth pursuing. If I struggle to find plausible answers to the why-questions, I ditch it (not without saving it into my "random ideas" file, though).
Sometimes, when I read a really good book I can hardly put down, I get a bit depressed. Then I think to myself, I'll never write anything as good as this. The thing is, though, that I don't know that until I've written all the stories I have in me (and I suspect there are a lot of them).
Writing isn't about being the best. It's about being the best writer you can be today. Be the best writer you can be every day, and chances are you will eventually write that story some people just cannot put down.
It's going to be a busy week. I've managed to post something every day so far this month - good thing since I'm taking part in NaBloPoMo again - and I hope I will keep the routine up.
But, busy week ahead, a deadline on Thursday and a novel that needs my attention for at least an hour a day. If I get squeezed for time, I might have to make a sacrifice or two. As I usually blog about writing, I won't have any material for a blog post if I don't write. But after a packed day, will I have any words left for a blog post? I suppose I'll find out in the course of the week.
I am ridiculously behind on my online reading list. For one thing my list is much too long, and it would take ages to read the entire thing every day. There are a few blogs I try to check at least once a week, though, no matter who busy I am:
1. Neil Gaiman
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Sure, watching TV keeps me from writing, but sometimes it can be very inspiring. Well-written TV shows will teach writers just as much about writing as good books do.
I will never tire of watching and learning from these shows
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The beginning of a novel is crucial to a book's success. The beginning must hook the readers and reel them in immediately, otherwise the story will not be read by many people.
Take me, for example: The main factor that influences my decision whether to buy a book or not is its beginning. If I don't want to know what the story is after the first sentence, I'll but it back on the shelf and go on to the next
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1. Blogging means you expose your writing to the world. Exposure is good.
2. You will get some feedback. You don't have to post your fiction - I even suggest you don't post it - to receive feedback on your posts that will help you grow as a writer
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New rules over at NaBloPoMo: There will be a BloPoMo, or Blog Posting Month, every month from March on. That means you will have the chance to post /- 30 blog entries during the month that suits you best. November will remain the "official" NaBloPoMo, though.
They have also introduced a different theme for every month, but writing themed posts is optional. In March, the theme is going to be Lists. As I love making lists, I will definitely give it a go - broadband availability permitting, that is
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