Hello~! It's me Addison Moore.
November, also known as national novel writing
month, (thus lovingly dubbed, NaNoWriMo) commences in a mere three weeks time!
I thought I'd do my part in offering a little
inspiration in the think-up-a-new-WIP department.
A
good way to look at NaNo is to treat it like a literary exercise of MFA
proportions, even if that means shoveling 50K words into your already existing
WIP at breakneck speed (technically against the rules). Or for those of you still scratching your heads as to
what to write about next, here are a few meager suggestions;
*Write a sequel to one of your favorite novels.
If you're concerned with falling in love with your new work and fear it never
seeing the light of day due to stringent copyright laws, choose a novel who's
copyright has long since expired.
*Take your favorite cast of characters that
history has to offer and unite them under the guise of historical albeit
slightly inaccurate fiction. Or if you've got a problem playing fast and loose
with the past, write a straightforward historical novel with just one of your
favorite oldies but goodies. (I've got dibs on David ;) as in one of the best
kings ever? His eight wives might beg to differ).
*Write a memoir! Why wait for that literary magnum
opus to play itself out? Why reserve all the excitement of exploring the inner labyrinth
of your psyche for some distal point in the future? Besides, who knows you
better than, well, YOU? The
streamline of memories might just roll you past the 50K mark with no problem. Remember
to pump the breaks once or twice before hitting 100 thousand. ~Relatives
beware.
*If the whole memoir idea has you shuddering,
write a 'tell all' about someone else. Be sure to wrap that one up and
give it to the MC in question for Christmas. You might want to include a mug
and some packets of coco so they can hunker down and get cozy with the
burgeoning classic, perhaps a blanket to toss over their shoulders for when
they begin exhibiting symptoms of shock. (I jest. Highly not recommended at
least the gifting part).
I'm sure you could come up with much more
vitriolic mayhem to taunt and titillate on an unnaturally poignant level. Perhaps
this is a good time to let you in on a little NaNo secret. No. One. Ever. Reads.
Your. Work. Well, at the NaNo website they don’t. You simply desposit your
words into their data counter and they double check your word count.
If nothing else you can buddy up with your writing friends and exchange cyber high-fives as you catapult yourself to the
finish line. Oh, and there will be prizes. Oh yes.
Now that I've got your imagination all riled up
I'll leave you to your own cerebral devices.
Ever participate in NaNo? What are your thoughts
on this insane national writing spree? Is it safe? Should there be laws imposed
against such *BICFOK freedoms? Got any big ideas?
*BICFOK = butt in chair, fingers on keyboard. This
is the rally cry of NaNo participants everywhere.
Addison Moore writes young adult fiction and romance. She is a graduate from the University of Southern California and worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading.
Addison Moore's Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
To learn more about Addison and her books please visit her blog: Addison Moore Blogspot
I usually use NaNo month to inspire me to write more than I usually do. I only entered once officially and didn't come close to winning. I do have this out-line I need to whip into a completed first draft in record time, so maybe I should try it again. Though I'll be jet-lagged...(excuses, excuses!)
ReplyDeleteNaNoWriMo is what more aspiring authors need. Too often great books aren't written because they don't sit and write it out, worrying about making sure someone will like it or that it's not entirely perfect. The exact opposite is true, and people need to just get the words out there.
ReplyDeleteI've never done NaNo, but I have a couple of friends who do. November's just an impossible month for me.
ReplyDeleteI co-write. Always have, always will. NaNoWriMo says it's against the rules...even if we did 100,000 words :(
ReplyDeleteI think I'll be a rebel this year and add the last 50k of the wip I intend to start writing this week ;)
ReplyDeleteI love NaNo! It taught me how to write with dedication. Now I "NaNo" a few times every year!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done NaNo yet, but one of these days I will. You presented great ideas for the month.
ReplyDeleteI think I might actually get to do NaNo this year. Super excited!
ReplyDelete