Struggling Writers discussion

Hello again! How is everyone? We have roughly 16, that's right, 16 days until NaNo 2014 officially kicks off and I don't know that I have ever felt ready in previous years but here are somethings that might help.

Prep work, even if you are a panster (one who writes by the seat of the pants, without an actual plan) I still suggest some sort of prepping. For some that is serious writerly activities like brain storming, out lining, character building, etc. For others it is figuring out when you are going to write, taking that needed run in the park, cuddling with your pet, and just generally getting your thoughts straight so you can hit the ground running.

Now I have a few tips/resources to share with you, and I would love if you all would share some things back with the community!

First off, make sure you have registered for NaNo. If you are under eighteen you have access to the Young Writer's program but you don't have to participate through them if you don't want to. They are a branch of NaNo that caters specifically to the young writer, you can find them here: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

Then make sure you have set up your novel and look at the things I have below for you :)

The NaNo Prep page, the most basic begining of resources you can find through Nano (think of it as sort of gateway): http://nanowrimo.org/nano-prep

Your NaNo mail, you will start getting daily emails with motivational and writerly tips. Pay attention to these!

Your NaNo community outside of the computer screen where you can go meet with physical people (I know, scary prospect for some). I recommend going to at least one of the write ins even if you are not much of a social people person, because here is the truth. NaNo is full of introverts, and you know what happens when you stick a bunch of us in a room together? We tend to be quiet and a little awkward, but we have a whole bunch of fun and are in it together! So if social meetings aren't your thing, give one local meeting a change and go from there :)

A writing buddy, or two or five. These will be people you can get one on one support from through out NaNo. These are the people that will know how to track you down and demand that you get yourself up and writing, they will know where you are at in your piece and be able to give moral support when getting that from the crowd group isn't quite working.

The NaNo forums. These are great places to see a lot of different experiences and get a sudden flood of support when you throw up a red flag for help.

SO, in close, don't do NaNo alone, don't leave it in the back of your thoughts collecting dust until November first, and don't stop trying. I don't care if you only write three words for NaNo, you wrote something and that's what matters!

Alright, Nano starts in four days, how is everyone?

Hi! I'm doing my best to prepare for the logistics of writing 2000 words per day. I've been doing a lot more editing than writing over the past six months, and I really need to find a way to fit in a larger word count despite the heavy reading. This will be my fourteenth novel, and I've finished a short novel in one month before, but this is only my second year participating in NoNoWriMo. Looking forward to getting to know the rest of you here so we can cheer one another on!

im generating everything via seventh sanctum - title genre characters names outline - everything. i just work with what i randomly get.

This is my first year participating, and I'm so excited! I can't wait to check out all of these tips. I'm definitely a planner, and I have almost everything I need planned out to get started writing on Saturday. I can't wait!

I'm a little on the fence about participating, but I think I'm going to try! This will be my first year participating, and I'm not sure what to anticipate. My biggest worry is that I won't have enough time to sit down and write as much as I want. But...here goes nothing!

I'm trying to find the time, even though I will be a bit busy the first week I will try my best. I've been wanting to participate for years but this year I think it's the year. I'm preparing a video about it and will be doing videos throughout the month to keep me motivated!
And I'm also preparing the plot, well more like thinking through and the characters as well.

I have half a novel, packed safely away. I have prepped 1000 words of notes, character descriptions, backstory, relationships, so I have a quick reference, without referring to the old. Fortunately I wrote the first half chronologically and is basically 8 days long, from "6 shopping days to Christmas" through to Boxing Day. That effectively is my chapters. "Part II" will start about 3/4 through the fourth day. I have several threads running through, which merge and separate, to a maximum of 7, so if I get stuck on a thread I can move onto another. Confident I can write 2000 words a day? Yeah, I always was a determined little rebel!

Leigh wrote: "Hi! I'm doing my best to prepare for the logistics of writing 2000 words per day. I've been doing a lot more editing than writing over the past six months, and I really need to find a way to fit in..."

Sounds great Leigh! My advice to you is just sit down and do it, and make sure you don't try to give up on that days session until you pass the 750 word mark (this seems to be the magical mark at which you struggle to and then breeze through and past if you are having a hard time getting started again).

K.P. wrote: "im generating everything via seventh sanctum - title genre characters names outline - everything. i just work with what i randomly get."

A unique take, have you started writing things down and brainstorming off that? Or will you leave it all to chance at the last moment?

Tiffany wrote: "This is my first year participating, and I'm so excited! I can't wait to check out all of these tips. I'm definitely a planner, and I have almost everything I need planned out to get started writin..."

Fabulous Tiffany! I think one of the more important tips I can give to you as a first year is this, write as much as possible each day. If you get going and are just writing and writing don't let that 1667 mark stop you each day (this will help when you end up with writer's block).

Jasmine Dgk Vengeance ♥Zero Kiryu♥ wrote: "I'm a little on the fence about participating, but I think I'm going to try! This will be my first year participating, and I'm not sure what to anticipate. My biggest worry is that I won't have eno..."

*gives you a firm tug to this side of the fence* There, that's much better :) Seriously though, don't let it overwhelm you. It is a crazy event but we always have a ton of fun, and what's the saying "nothing ventured, nothing gained"? Well, it's true. So if you get stuck don't be afraid to call out to your community here. I will try to check in at least every other day if not more often.

Torrin wrote: "I wanna try so badly, but I have like no time. But I'll still give it a go if I find some time here and there :)"

You have time, I promise! It's hiding in the nooks and crannies between activities, you just have to go in there and drag it out and make it into writing time :) So I dare you to join me and hope to see you on the first writing away!

Khaoula wrote: "I'm trying to find the time, even though I will be a bit busy the first week I will try my best. I've been wanting to participate for years but this year I think it's the year. I'm preparing a vide..."

That sounds great, i'm glad you decided that this year is the year. What do you mean by videos, sort of pep talks?

Tony wrote: "I have half a novel, packed safely away. I have prepped 1000 words of notes, character descriptions, backstory, relationships, so I have a quick reference, without referring to the old. Fortunately..."

Sounds great Tony, I wish you the best of luck!

Irene wrote: "That sounds great, i'm glad you decided that this year is the year. What do you mean by videos, sort of pep talks?"

I started a booktube channel recently and I want to make videos where I would track my progress in NaNo to keep myself motivated. A month is a long time to keep focus on one thing, I have a short attention span lol and so I'm trying to do things that will help me stay focused and motivated!
I'll share advice if I have any or some tricks. Whatever works, I'll have to figure it out as I'm going heh :)

Khaoula wrote: "Irene wrote: "That sounds great, i'm glad you decided that this year is the year. What do you mean by videos, sort of pep talks?"

I started a booktube channel recently and I want to make videos wh..."

Sounds like a great idea. Innovation with motivation. We could all do with lashings of both!

Khaoula wrote: "Irene wrote: "That sounds great, i'm glad you decided that this year is the year. What do you mean by videos, sort of pep talks?"

I started a booktube channel recently and I want to make videos wh..."

That is a really unique idea, if you are interested in doing pep talks we would be open to you sharing them through your channel on here (as long as you post the link on the pep talk thread).

Hello :) I'm procrastinating from writing because I don't like how i'm starting it...

Emma wrote: "Hello :) I'm procrastinating from writing because I don't like how i'm starting it..."

Ah! Emma, you must grip the story with both and hands and dive right in or you will get no where with it. Who cares if you think your beginning is cruddy? All that matters is that you have started the novel (and who said you had to start at the first page of the storyline anyways?).

Well I've written the ending and I've thought about other parts but... alas! I can never connect all of them together.
And that is true, my goal is to get to 50,000 even if it reads like $#!&. So who cares?! not me! well yeah fine i do care.

Emma wrote: "Well I've written the ending and I've thought about other parts but... alas! I can never connect all of them together.
And that is true, my goal is to get to 50,000 even if it reads like $#!&. So..."

See, you can care, but you can't care during November. NaNo is about getting that first draft down, no matter how thin the characters are or how gaping and numerous the plot holes are :)

Yeah... yep... garhhh this is hard!!! I keep skipping around - how did he get to the church to the library so fast?! grrr!!!

Oh Emma of course it's hard! It's supposed to be, writing is one of those things that comes from our souls, so it's the hardest thing ever!
But I'm sure you've got it in you. You care about the story and you want to get it out, no you NEED to get it out.
And it's month is the right time to do so, with the community and everyone involved.
Just trace the steps back slowly, try to imagine how everything is in your story. Or if it's too frustrating, just jump to another part and you can come back to this one later. No one said it should be written chronologically :)

I know, I know. But my character (it's written in first person) is just rambling and rambling about something that really has nothing to do with the plot and I feel horrible because.. gah! Its so annoying. And I've tried to write with this character before but I feel... I don't know. Maybe I should try writing in the third person? Maybe not.

Why don't you try with the third person. Maybe it'll give you more control over the character. or both, and keep shifting from one POV to the other depending on the situations.

Hm that's a good idea.
The problem is I want to write int in 3rd person so I can have multiple plotlines but I also wrote an awesome ending but its from the first person.

This is my first novel and first time using NaNoWri so I'm a little nervous. I was just wondering if there are a lot of stealers on NaNoWri when you update it, even though its a little early!

It's okay! Why don't u move to another scene and write it in the 3rd person if you want and I'm sure you'll figure out how to bind them together

ok :)

Emma Why don't u add me on the NaNo website and u can send me a msg if u want any help
Username: keyla

ok!

Victoria wrote: "This is my first novel and first time using NaNoWri so I'm a little nervous. I was just wondering if there are a lot of stealers on NaNoWri when you update it, even though its a little early!"

Are you asking if your novel is going to get stolen when you up load it? If so, no, the program is going to scramble it all up into character blocks and count the words (hence the reason you can't use the site to save your novel). Also, it is done completely on an honor system. As I mentioned, things get scrambled up. You could put the word "banana" down 50,000 times and up load it and it would still tell you you have won NaNo so the only person who knows if you have an actual novel is you. If that isn't enjoy to assuage your fears check google a "lorem ipsum word count generator" and read about it. You can use that and upload what it generates instead of your novel.

Thank you so much you've been a huge help! :D

Victoria wrote: "Thank you so much you've been a huge help! :D"

Glad you found this all useful Victoria!