NaNoWriMo: When Word Count is Your Goal

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

If you haven't been paying attention for the past ten plus years, you might have missed hearing about National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo.  I admit that until a few years ago, I was clueless and had no idea what that "gibberish" meant.  Since then, I've become more enlightened and given quite a lot of thought to participating.  If I didn't seem to always fall in the middle of some kind of deadline, I would have jumped in last year or even the year before.  The same holds true for this year.  Unfortunately, revisions don't net 50,000 words, as a rule.  (I have managed to accrue a few thousand, though, so imagine what that means. ;) )

For anyone who thinks that writing 50,000 words in a month (NaNo runs each year from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30) is an easy task, it isn't.  Okay, back in the day when I first started writing towards the goal of being published, I could write a 50,000 word book in three weeks or less.  And some of those books written that fast weren't half bad.  They weren't always half good, either.  But let's face it.  A book written that quickly is basically nothing more than a first draft.  It takes me longer now to write that first draft.  To write a book from scratch via NaNo, I'd have to write more almost three times faster.  Oy vey!

There are tricks to writing a first draft that fast, and one of them is knowing who your characters are and where the story is going.  Trying to do it with no road map will probably net the writing a lot of rewriting in the future.  For those who enjoy rewriting and revising, this is a plus.  For Geminis like me who get easily bored with the SaMoSaMo, it's not so great, but for others who have polished and tweaked their process...WOW!

There are tricks to writing for NaNo or for any type of fast draft writing.  If word count really is your goal, but you want to have something to substantial to build on, have a plan and especially a system.  I encourage you to look around for hints and tips and the processes of others.  Then, as national bestselling author Anna DeStefano says:

"Listen to what I do, watch others, then figure out your own process and how best to improve how YOU write. So YOU can draft better and more productively and have what you need to rewrite something brilliant from those rough first words."

and check out her new blog post, How We Write: Drafting freedom.  You don't want to miss it!

Incentives and Rewards

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Ask any child who has been in school for the past couple of decades what teachers did to get them to work.  Ask anyone whose livelihood depends on receiving a regular paycheck what gets them to work every day.  Ask anyone training for the Olympics or the Symphony or the stage what gets them to practice.

We all need a reason to do what we do, and many times that reason is that we'll receive something in exchange for doing it.

I didn't realize how much time had changed until my daughters started school and came home with something called Bonus Bucks or even a colorful pencil or handful of candy.  Teachers had learned that using incentives helped students try harder to get their work done so they could get a small reward.  I don't remember incentives other than good grades when I went to school.  My parents didn't pay me for my grades and, in turn, I didn't pay my children for them either.  The incentive wasn't tangible at the time and wouldn't be until I held a diploma aka reward in my hand.  That was the incentive and the reward for studying.  Either way, we had a reason to go to school and learn.

As writers, we, too, need incentives and rewards to keep at our craft, to put words on paper, to finish the book, to bite the bullet and send it to an editor or agent.  There's no reason to list the rewards.  Anyone who is seriously writing knows them as well as their own names.  It's the same for published authors as it is for those not yet published.  We all want a finished product to put in the hands of readers who will enjoy our words.

The longer we write, the more we forget about the little things that can help keep us going.  I'm as bad as anyone else about writing every day, even though I know it keeps my brain fresh and my fingers more nimble.  Or nimble, at least. :)  Since February, I've been working on deadlines for two books that will be available next year.  That's seven months of telling myself to write every day and making a schedule so I don't lose sight of where I am and where I need to be, when I'd rather be doing anything else but writing.  It's easy to procrastinate in the middle of a book.  Weeks have been spent writing, and weeks more are needed.  It's like standing in the middle of a tightrope.  Where we came from is the same distance as where we're going, and the best we can do is hope we don't lose our balance.

Over the past seven months I've learned a few lessons.  Although small, they're important.

• I should always...ALWAYS...count on something coming along to screw up the perfect schedule I created with lots of extra time built in.
• While I used to write at night, now I'm up early in the morning to take grandkids to school, so by the time 9 p.m. rolls around, it's as if my memory has dried up and blown away.  I'm lucky to remember my own name, much less the names of my current characters...or family.
• I can't always count on weekends for catching up on the writing that didn't get done during the week.  Someone or something will always come along and steal my time, whether it's an unexpected visit from one or more of the g-kids, an unplanned shopping excursion, or a car that won't start.
• Even when I think I'm almost done, I'm not.  There's always another story rattling around in my head before the first is finished.  To be honest, there should be.
• ....  Can we say brb?

Right.  I didn't finish that last one.  I forgot about an appointment and had to leave, so 5 1/2 hours later, I'm back and don't have a clue what that last one is.  See how that works?

Back to the topic...

Big rewards are good, but when looking at the goal from three months out, that reward dims in the light of day.  The cure?  Choose small, daily incentives with rewards to keep moving along.  That doesn't mean spending money.  There are many things that can be even more helpful to meet those small, daily goals.  It's the new fall season for TV, and what better time to set a goal and work to reach it before your favorite show comes on?  Or maybe a chapter of a book you want to read.  Or, like me, just being able to mark my progress on a calendar and word count table can give me a lift or be an incentive to do better the next time.

And for the rewards?  Something special, always.  Today I was able to put FINIS on my current work, so not only is the pressure off, but I have a few days to kick back and be free from writing.  Not much of a reward?  Maybe not, but Fall Renaissance Fair is this weekend, and I know of a special gift to get myself.  Then back to work on Monday and a fresh new start on a new story and new schedule.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!  Make your journey as joyous as your destination.

Call it what you will, incentives are what get people to work harder. ~ Nikita Khrushchev 

The Name of the Game is Scheduling

MOTIVATION MONDAYS

Now don't start moaning and groaning.  Believe me, I understand the pain the word "schedule" can cause.  I've always been one of those people who likes to do things when I'm in the mood...or when I absolutely can't put them off any longer.  In fact, I still have some winter clothes to put away, but since I'm asleep most of the time when I'm in my bedroom, I'm only reminded twice a day.

The thing is, I've had to learn to at least rough out an idea of when I need to do things.  Book deadlines can do that, forcing a more non-conformist into something resembling a pretzel if the lesson isn't learned early.

But writing isn't the only thing in our lives that we sometimes need to fit into a schedule.  With four girls, leaving doing laundry until clean clothes were needed would have been a disaster.  Although my house wasn't always visitor-ready, there were times when I followed a stringent schedule.  Looking back, that schedule wasn't such a bad idea.

Schedules aren't just for getting things done.  They're also for giving us more time to enjoy the things in life we might otherwise not have time for...because we're doing those have-to and need-to things we didn't get done.  That usually happens because we've found some super ways to waste time.  Ouch!


According to ADHD experts, who really know a lot about being a space cadet or having trouble staying on task, there small things we can do to make our lives go a little more smoothly.  Those small things can quickly become our best time savers.

• Do you forget appointments or that you need to be somewhere?  Or do you lose track of time in the morning, causing you to have to rush or be late to work?  Set an alarm!  It's easy to get involved in something else so much that we lose track of time.  My daughters will be happy to share memories of the times that I was late picking them up from school.  Now that they're grown, there are the grandkids, and although the school is only a couple of minutes away, I need to get there early.  I also am easily distracted, so I've set an alarm on my phone for five minutes before I need to leave, allow myself one "snooze," and then I'm out the door on time.
• Are you feeling overwhelmed about a task?  Set a timer.  Oh, yeah, this one works.  There are times that the thought of having to sit and write X number of pages just makes me want to crawl in a corner.  I've learned that if I set a timer for ten minutes and actually start putting words on paper--whether they're good or not--by the time that timer goes off, I'm actually getting into a rhythm and don't want to stop.  On those occasions when that doesn't happen, at least I accomplished a little.  Eventually and in a much shorter period of time, I'll get it done.
• Is a big project--or even the thought of it--getting you down?  Break the project into smaller, more manageable goals.  Not only does this help make things easier to accomplish, the accomplishment itself can help keep you going.  A book isn't written in one day.  Even if you tried it, you'd find that life is going to demand your attention.  Even meals will need to be prepared/purchased and eaten.  A few pages a day, four or five days a week will do the trick and not take huge chunks of your time.  The trick is remembering that if you write 1 page a day without fail, in a year you'll have a 365 page novel.  And don't forget to reward yourself when each step--maybe a chapter?--is reached!
• Do you walk out of the house, forgetting the car keys, your cell phone or other important items?  That means using precious time to look for what's missing.  Instead, designate a spot near the door for the things you know you'll need.  I finally solved my problem of losing my keys.  I bought a coiled plastic chain that I've attached to my purse and the other has a hook for my keys.  It can tuck into my purse, and it's also long enough to reach the ignition when my purse is next to me on the seat.  Another plus is not worrying about locking my keys in the car.  It's much harder to miss my purse than it is to miss pulling the keys out of the ignition.  Oh, and I love purses with pockets--on the outside and inside--giving everything its own place.
• Do you lose track of time while playing games online, spending time on Facebook or Twitter or even reading blogs?  There's no reason to give up the things you enjoy, only because you've let those things take over your life and your time.  All you need to remember is "moderation in all things" and to set a timer or alarm.
• Are you overwhelmed by all the mundane tasks that are leaving you no room for others?  Ask for help.  Kids, husbands, roommates, anyone who resides with you or even near you is prime for being helpful.  Sometimes all that's need is to ask.  Other times it might require a little training time. Whether is kids folding laundry or hubby sharing cooking duty, there's always something that someone can help with that will free up a bit of your time.

Don't have a clue how to create a schedule?  Check out some online tips and tricks for created a schedule to suit your lifestyle, below, or do a search for others.

• How to Create a Daily Schedule (eHow) 
• Using EXCEL for Schedules and Planners
• Optimize Your Productivity with Daily, Weekly Routines (Zen Habits)

Remember, it may take some adjustments and extra time to find exactly what works best for you.  Even then, nothing is set in stone.  You can adjust your schedule whenever you feel it's needed or when major life changes demand it.  Just don't give up too early, if you feel overwhelmed and have over-scheduled yourself.  That's when a step back and reassessment is needed.

Thanks to iVillage.com for some ideas on the tips used in this blog post!

Moderation in all things. - Andria Terence, Roman comic dramatist (185 BC - 159 BC) 

Rewards

MOTIVATION MONDAYS

After another week that didn't net me with the page and word count I'd hope to have, I admit that I was feeling a little bummed last night.  The page count I set was unnaturally high, and I should have known that reaching the goal wouldn't be an easy task.  As it turned out, I have to sometimes learn the hard way.

But shouldn't have felt down, because I did make progress on writing projects.  Word count on blogs written was over 1500 words.  While I didn't reach the 36 pages I'd hoped for during my writing group's bi-weekly Book In A Week, I did manage 19 pages, which isn't half bad. Okay, it's a page over half good, with almost 5500 words.  So why should I feel bad?  After all, I accomplished something.

There's something inherent in far too many of us that we feel that success is only achieved by earning 100% or even more.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I wasn't all that sad with a grad of 98% in school.  And there were times when simply passing a certain test on a subject that gave me headaches to even think about (math) was something to smile about.

The thing is, any forward movement, any words added to word count, pages written, pounds lost, or whatever our goal might be is a good thing and something we should be proud of.  Instead of focusing on the negative (a goal not fully reached), why don't we focus on the positive of having worked toward that goal.

Not only should we feel more positive, but why can't we reward ourselves for progress?  Nothing big, necessarily, just something that will make us smile and acknowledge that, although we may not have done great, we did okay.

Rewarding ourselves for a job well done or a goal achieved or even for simply trying, goes a long way toward motivation.  Even in schools these days, teachers are using rewards to motivate their students.  Stickers, pretty pencils, a star by their names, or points toward a bigger prize encourages many of them to be on their best behavior, turn in their homework, or just have a good day.  There's no reason we can't do something small for ourselves, too.  A yummy strawberry, dripping with chocolate is one idea, or for those who want to add a little spring to the day, a small, inexpensive bouquet of flowers might do.

For several years, I would use a new book by author Susan Elizabeth Phillips as my reward for meeting a deadline.  While I might have purchased the book long before the goal was met, I set it aside to read when I was done.  It was a great incentive, and I might just have to revisit again.  A word of caution:  If you're in the midst of a large goal, reading a new book (or even re-reading an older one) might not be the best idea, unless the reading takes only a day.

If you're a movie fan like I am or have favorite TV shows you hate to miss, making them a part of your reward can be a great motivator.  You finished the chapter you needed to write?  Slip in a DVD, check you local cable company, or use a service like Netflix or Amazon Prime to watch a new movie or an old favorite.  Make it fun by adding popcorn or another snack, then sit back and enjoy.  Daily goals for those who have a special program to watch most days of the week on TV can use those as incentives.

Be creative.  Rewards and incentives are great motivators.  Just be sure to choose appropriate ones.  If you're dieting, a banana split may sound divine when you hit a target weight, but find something more appropriate.  New clothes, even something simple as a scarf, can be a reminder of your achievement each time you wear it or use it.

It's easy to beat ourselves up when we don't perform as well as we'd hoped.  But it doesn't do much good.  Instead, we need to stay positive and celebrate each goal met, no matter now larger or small.

Goals are dreams with deadlines. ~ Diana Scharf Hunt

Writing Contests...Can They Help? - Writing Wednesdays

Thanks to a crazy yesterday, Writing Wednesday was delayed.  "It's always something, my little Roseanne Roseannadanna."

There are two types of contests for writers.  The first is for those writers not yet published, and the other is for published authors.  For today's purposes, I'm going to share my thoughts on contests for those writers who are working toward that oftentimes elusive contract.

If you've been writing very long, you're sure to have seen announcements of contests for writers.  Publishers use them to find new authors, while writing groups offer them to help hone writers' skills and give them a chance to get their work in front of an editor or agent.  But can they really help your writing career?

I'll be honest and admit that I'm a little biased when it come to writing contests.  It was contests and in particular winning a contest that led to my first publishing contract.  Of course I'm in favor of contests and often suggest to writers that they take advantage of them.

There's a lot to think about and learn before jumping into the pool of contests.  I was lucky to have a friend who was a master at entering contests.  She not only guided me through the process and critiqued my work, but she virtually shoved me into entering the first one in 1996.  Coming out of that with an Honorable Mention was probably what kept me entering.  And, no, I wasn't a finalist in every contest I entered.  After that fluke with the first one, it was two years and several contests later before I made it to finalist status again.

I learned a lot over those 4-5 years, and the one, basic thing I took away from it was that contests really can help if used wisely.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ENTERING CONTESTS

Know why you're entering a contest

• Do you need an incentive to put words on paper?  Like books under contract, contests have deadlines, and there's nothing like a deadline to push a person to get something done.  The added bonus is that by working toward that contest deadline, you'll be experienced at getting things done in a specific amount of time, once you do have a contract.
• Are you looking for feedback to discover if you're on the right track?  Whether it's plot, characters, settings, or even style and grammar, it's always good to have fresh eyes look at your work.  With contests, there will be at least 2-3 people reading your work who have never seen it and can be more objective that writing friends or critique partners/groups.
• Hoping to get your work in front of an editor or agent?  Contests can be a fast track to getting your manuscript into the right hands.  Many authors can thank contests for their first sales, after an editor judge has requested to see the rest of the story.

Do your homework

• Be sure to read the contest rules thoroughly.  Don't skim.  Take notes on how the contest wants to see the entry formatted and follow through with it.  If there's a 30 page limit, don't send 31 pages.  If a synopsis is required, there may be a page limit on it, too.
• Know where your manuscript fits as far as genres and sub-genres.  Most contests have general categories.  Some of the more often used are: Contemporary, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Young Adult, Paranormal, Inspiration, and Erotic.  If there are short and long versions of any of those, use your projected word count.  This is where knowing your word and what you're targeting comes in.  Always be sure to enter the correct category.
• Make certain you're eligible to enter.  If you've never had a book under a publisher's contract, you'll be good to go in an unpublished writers contest.  But if sometime in the past you have had a published books, there's a chance you might be able to enter as an unpublished author.  Some contests allow published writers to enter after a specific amount of time since the last book was published.  Also be sure to check on what's acceptable if you've entering a manuscript you've entered sometime in the past.  All these things are mentioned in the rules and guidelines.
• Enter early.  Give yourself plenty of time to finish and polish your entry.  Just be sure you do finish, then send the entry prior to the deadline stated in the rules.
• If you're entering in hope of getting your work in front of an editor (or even an agent), be aware of who the final judges will be.  If this is your goal, there's no sense in being a finalist with your Regency Paranormal Erotic Suspense if the final editor judge is from a publishing house that only buys Contemporary Christian stories.  The same is true in a sense for agents.  Do your homework and find out what agents accept what types of submissions.  Some agents have their favorite genres/sub-genres and aren't interested in others.
• Know what you write.  With all the new sub-genres and sub-sub-genres of books out there, it may be hard to know exactly what it is you're writing.  Are you reading the types of books you're writing?  If so, look to find out how they've been categorized.  There are also places on the internet that give descriptions of the types of books available.
• Make a note of the dates connected to the contest.  There's a date when a contest opens to enter, dates to send your entry/pages, and dates finalists and winners are announced.  I've run across a few contests that, after the first round of judging, finalists are given time to make changes and once again polish their entry before it goes to the final judge(s).

This last isn't necessarily a rule, but it can be a huge help, especially to someone newly entering contests. And it's something I urge everyone to do.  FINISH THE MANUSCRIPT BEFORE ENTERING A CONTEST.  Why?  If you become a finalist and the final judge editor or agent requests to see your finished manuscript, you want to be able to fulfill that request as soon as possible, while it's still fresh in the person's mind.  If all you have written is the first 30 pages of 300 page manuscript, you have a long, long way to go.  It takes time to write a book.  Not only the initial rough draft, but the editing to make sure you haven't changed the heroes name somewhere along the line, and a final read-through and polish.  Don't make an editor or agent wait.  What that person is looking for may change over the next few months.  Don't worry, you can take the time to make some small changes --perhaps suggested by judges-- and polish the manuscript once again, but be ready to send.  Even if you aren't a finalist, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you can meet a deadline and finish a book!

So there you have.  Rox's Rules about entering writing contests.  Can they help?  Yes!  But be sure to keep the above things in mind.  They can help you along the way and lead you to a possible contest win and maybe even a sale!

Good luck and happy writing!

Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it. - Sam Ewing

It's Here!

Yes, it's really here!  It comes once every week, and it's what sometimes---make that often---gets me through to Friday and that TGIF we all adore.  If you haven't guessed what this is about, you aren't paying attention.

It's Hump Day!

I know, I know.  It only means we're at the middle of the week, not the end, and the weekend is two (and a half) days away.  But once midday on Wednesday hits, it's all downhill with Fab Friday only a quick slide away.

The trick is knowing how to psych yourself into the joy of Hump Day and to know how to use it to your best advantage.  So here's some things to think about as you make your way through this week's---and every week's---Wednesday.

1. Did you make a goal for this week?  It doesn't matter what the goal was or what it involved...from cleaning to exercise to writing to shopping to reading to resting to--  You get the picture. ☺  If you did make a goal, this is a great time to assess how it's going. If you've made progress--any progress--congratulate yourself and keep going.  If you haven't, then what are you waiting for?  There are still 2+ more days to work toward it.
2. If you've already accomplished what you'd hoped to this week, you deserve a break!  Take a little time to do something that makes you feel good.  Give yourself a reward!  It doesn't have to involve money (although it can!), but it must be something you enjoy.  Indulge yourself, if only for a few minutes before life calls you back again.  After all, it isn't the weekend yet, just the halfway point.
3. Ask yourself what else you need to do before Friday ends the official work week.  More than likely, even if you reached your goals, there'll be other things waiting in the wings that need doing.  This is the perfect time to decide how to spend the rest of the week, so you'll have time to enjoy the weekend.  Because isn't that what weekends are all about? 

For those who don't work a regular Monday thru Friday week, simply adjust to fit your schedule.  If your days off are split, decide whether to use the first one or the second one when judging progress.  (Hint:  Using the first may give you a little more time to work on whatever it is you need to do.)

Why, in the middle of the most stressful season of the year, with Christmas and New Year's sneaking up quickly, am I suggesting a focus on goals?  Because getting things done without going crazy is hard work.  Why not make time work for us?  If we become so mired in what to do, instead of what's been accomplished, we start to lose steam.  Wednesdays are the perfect time for taking a breath to look at what's been done and what yet needs to be done.  Remember, bite-size  pieces make anything easier.  If nothing has been accomplished so far this week, from this point on, a little focus and work will go a long way to being able to enjoy the weekend.  So get busy, and then slide on down that hump to TGIF!

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." 

- Beverly Sills

 

That Little Extra

Mothers use it with their children; teachers use it with their students; credit card companies use it with their cardholders; banks and stores use it with their customers: businesses use it with their employees.

What is it?

This month over at Bits & Bytes, the WARA members have been blogging about the struggles they have with writing.  The list is varied and includes distractions, poor time management, and poor self-discipline.  Also mentioned were writing obstacles that include family, employment and health.  Plain old procrastination is a biggie, too.  Strange, but finding ideas hasn't been mentioned.  It seems we don't have any big problems with that.  Our imaginations seem to be working just fine, so it isn't that we aren't inspired.  It's just that we don't or can't do it...for all of the reasons listed and more.

What is it that all those people and entities listed up at the top do?  They use REWARDS.  They use INCENTIVES.  And that's something that writers don't always think of using.

The writing of a novel spans quite a lot of time, from the first tiny glimmer of an idea to the finished product.  There are characters to be created, research to be done, plotting, writing, revising, polishing, and finger crossing when the final product--our baby--is sent off to an editor, agent, or contest.  The act itself should be rewarding enough, right? Well, not necessarily.

We've learned that setting goals can sometimes work well in getting us motivated and moving.  And while reaching those goals brings satisfaction, there's usually still a long road ahead.  We often choose publication as the reward for all of our hard work.  But at the end of the road there may or may not be publication.  That's something we can't control.

So what's a writer to do?  Reward ourselves along the way.  Rewards don't have to be big things.  Small things work great!  So you wrote for 10 minutes today?  Super!  Give yourself a treat.  An ice cream cone or some yummy yogurt you've been wanting to try would be perfect.  You finished a chapter?  Congratulations!  Reward yourself with a long bubble bath or an evening with a friend.  That novel is finished and has been sent to an editor or agent?  Fantastic!  Pull out that book you've been dying to read and enjoy it or spend a day or several days doing what you want to do, such as a mini vacation, if it fits in the budget!

Rewards don't have to cost money.  Just calling a friend and sharing the news that you've reached a goal can be rewarding.  And that friend may give you the incentive you need to keep going.  A quiet evening watching a movie makes a good reward and can often offer inspiration or new ideas for your story, too.

My reward for reaching the goal of a finished manuscript used to be to read the latest Susan Elizabeth Phillips book.  I've forgotten to do that and am behind at least two reward books.  Maybe, if I write fast enough, I can get caught up soon!  Now that's my kind of reward!!

Any suggestions or ideas for rewards and incentives?  We can all use some fresh ones to keep us going on the road to reaching our goals, so feel free to share what works for you.