Didn’t I just write on Tuesday?
Okay, so November 1 is just six days away (if you count today). Are you prepared to play the NaNoWriMo game with us? If so, make sure you let us know so we expect you at the party afterwards. Also, please post your writing goals. If you do the posting, you may feel more like writing on days when you don’t feel like writing. Why? Because the thirty of us know what you’re doing or not doing. If you don’t post, make sure you put your goal up several places at your home. And don’t be afraid to try. Last year I fell behind on day one and quit on day two. There’s something lovely about quitting so soon. I’m just saying. Below are some suggestions to help you get prepared for next week.
! Write a detailed letter to your character.
@ Receive a detailed letter from your character.
# Set your NaNWriMo goals.
$ My goal right now is 2273 words per day because I’m hoping for weekends off.
However, we have a big change coming in our family and so maybe this isn’t be best thing. I’ll see the first days of the month. I’m thinking, in advance, of ways to be more flexible. I’m also thinking, DON’T GET BEHIND. That is a good way to fail.
Guess what? THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is getting a new cover–one for adults. Have you read the book? I’ve just read a few pages so I can’t see this being an adult novel, but what do you think? This made-for-adults cover looks great, that’s for sure.
I have an idea for an adult book. I know the beginning (ish) and the end (for sure). I know nothing of the middle except all the sex scenes. Okay-I’m kidding. That was a sex joke and we have one once a year on this blog.
But
I’m scared of this idea. Not the-no-sex-scenes idea. I’m scared of the adult-novel-thing. Because what if it twists me this way and that the way the DD did (And BTW, Ann Dee is confused by the DD and that makes me sick and I could hardly look at her as she was telling me the problems I just wanted to run away because I don’t want a confusing book and that means that I may have to give my advance back and then will my editor hate me and what will I do and I thought I could do this . . . yes, this is the reason I may not want to try the adult novel)?
Once, in my old house in Springville where I had a huge office, I hung all my beginning of book ideas around my office. I typed up the ideas, a few thoughts about what might happen in the book–one per page and then taped these papers on the bookshelves around the room. I bet I had twenty ideas waiting for me. I’m sure you have many ideas for projects you want to write. Try this. Start jotting own the ideas you have. Write a bit about each idea. And write how you feel about working on this project. Put these up before Nov 1 so you can see them. And maybe, just maybe, another idea will step forward to be written next month.
So, these looked interesting. And guess what? Cynthia will teach the Paranormal class at Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers next year!
http://www.write4kids.com/blog/
http://kidlit.com/
http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com/
http://taralazar.wordpress.com/
http://www.resourcesforchildrenswriters.com/
http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/
PS I’ve seen the milk carton skeletons. They looked great!
Throwing Up Words 
I’ve completed NaNoWriMo the last two years. And I have two novels that need major reworking and editing.
I got to thinking about my essays. The creative non-fiction ones that I share with my students, my personal narratives, those are the ones that really move my students. So despite the cliche that writing about yourself has become, this year for NaNoWriMo, I’m going with my strengths. I’m writing a creative non-fiction memoir. My objective is 1800 words a day, or more.
Between my dad’s story–being born illegitimately in 1931 Toronto, and my mom’s story, and my own stories–I should come up with a series of stories and vignettes that all come together. I think it will work, even if it is a bit egocentric.
Thanks for posting, Kelley. And I love this idea.
I’ve been teaching memoir and have thought of my own memoir–but I’m scared to write that, too! Maybe one day.
I’ll admit it – and probably regret it soon after – but I did sign up for NaNo. Why??? I’ve no idea, don’t I have enough on my plate. Yes. But you all don’t want to hear my inner dialogue on all that do you.
I actually just came in to say YEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! CYNTHIA??!!!??! WhooooOEEEeeeee. Not that I write paranormal. I might though, just to be there.
Okay, I’m planning to do NaNo. I haven’t actually signed up on the website–I think I’ll just commit to it here. My goal is 2000 words a day, but I may end up adjusting that goal after I try it for a few days. I’m excited (and nervous) to give this a try.
Thanks for the ideas to help get things rolling. Good luck, everybody:).
I have read the Graveyard Book. “Adult” cover? Maybe just to make adults feel less awkward about reading it on an airplane. Trying to imagine the cover art–maybe focusing on the brief violence at the beginning?
I’m going to commit to my own personal version of NaNo. I’ve got too much writing to do to start a new novel right now, but I thought if I committed to 1) finishing the new one that’s half-done and needs to get finished, then 2) revising the two that really need work, then this is a good chance to work harder. I’ll commit to 2000 words a day until the Lawnmower book is done, then 3 hours a day revising the other two. So not officially NaNo, sorry, but it will help me work harder!
Oh, and PS love the new cover for Waiting–saw it on Amazon pre-order!