Getting in the flow.

So by now you should have fought your way through the beginning of your story. Those first few words, paragraphs, pages or even chapters have rolled off your fingertips and popped up on the screen in front of you. *phew* Feels good doesn't it? What's that I hear you say? Not so good? Well you're not the only one feeling that way. While I've managed some great numbers this week and I've almost put to bed my second project of the challenge I'm not convinced anything I've written is any good. *sigh* Does it have the punch needed to knock my readers out? Or does its little fingers reach out and grab hold and not let go? I'm tempted, very tempted to go back and edit/polish, but if I'm going to get to that 50k mark by the end of the month I can't afford to go back. There is no reverse gear in my writing this month! No matter how much it nags me I'm doing nothing but moving forward, I'm putting my fingers in my ears and singing lalalalala every single time my internal editor opens her mouth.
It's hard. Very hard because I'm a writer that likes to edit/polish along the way (which pleases my editor very much once the wip hits the submission stage) but it takes time to do that and time this month is a precious thing. It's like gold or diamonds. Water to a thirsty man. Every tick counts and the aim is to make every tock count too. I've decided a reward system doesn't work for me. *sigh* I've never been one to go after a reward, I'm more the type that just likes to get things done, my reward has always been the end product. And now I have the published stories to prove to myself that THE END is indeed a wonderful thing. *grin*
So what do you use to keep you on the straight and narrow this month? I'd love to hear what works for you all, and what doesn't. lol
Rhian
*May the Word Gods shine upon you*

Kick Off!

The ball is now in your court. Writing or editing, this month is about getting words on paper, there will be days when the last thing you will want to do is sit at your computer or desk and write. We have all been there and likely at some point be there again this month. It is these times that you turn to the group to help give you the motivation to fight through the tough times.

If you do find it hard to face your computer, try writing long hand. If you are hand writing your manuscript, have a change of scenery. Sit in your garden (if you have one), go to your local coffee shop, it really doesn’t matter where you go, just try something different.

I normally freeze half way through a month long challenge, I have about 3 to 4 days when everything goes blank and I get nothing when I’m writing, it’s like my characters decide to play hide-n-seek. It doesn’t matter how much I rand and carry on they just don’t come back until they are ready. Which is why I now also edit during these challenges, because if I ignore them running off to Lord knows where, they tend to return sooner rather than later. My point is change can be a good thing.

If this is your first 50ks in 30 Days, have fun, and enjoy the experience. If you are returning for another go at this craziness, lovely to have you back with us again.

Good luck with your word counts.

Sandie

June is Just Around the Corner

Can you believe we are gearing up for yet another 50k challenge?
The call went out and the troops are responding. Yes, once again we have some fearless writers ready to put butts in seats and write or type their fingers to the bone. Oh, did I forget to mention that?

For now, you have a month, to plot or finish your current WIP ready to write or edit in June. I am going to work on two novels I started with Paula Roe’s ‘A Novel in 3 Months’ Blog. I am also editing a few finished WIPs.

While I know we are not suppose to edit what we write during the month, I am finding if I do as my wonderful CP, Heather Brown does, and edit the previous day’s work. My finished draft is a lot easier to edit at the end, and seeing, as I hate editing, I am willing to try anything to make it all easier. The big question for me will be ‘Can I write 50ks working this way?’ Only time will tell.

If you have never done a 50k in 30 Days challenge, you are in for a ride. It is important not to over extend yourself. If you do not think you can write the 50ks, aim for something lower, 25 or 30ks the object is to get you writing, find a comfortable writing routine (my sucks at the moment.

I am looking forward to seeing how you all go this year.
Sandie

Lights, Camera... Kiss the Boss ~ A Review

Fellow RWAus, Bootcamper and 50/30 member Jenn McLeod recently had the pleasure of reading Nikki Logan's debut novel 'Lights, Camera... Kiss the Boss'. Nikki is one of the original 50ks in 30 Days challengers and is testament to the fact that you can have a novel published after under taking one of these challenges.


Here is our Jenn's review:

When talking about her writing, Nikki Logan says, she knows her job is done if her readers ‘catch a waft of rich earth and the spray of wild ocean between the pages’.

Well, she’s done that and more for this reader in her debut novel – Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss.

Firstly, I love the concept – a landscape designer whose rooftop gardens bring beauty to the ‘natureless urban environments’ of Sydney’s city skyscrapers. Happiest with dirt on her hands, talking to her plants, Ava Lange suddenly finds herself thrust in front of the camera as presenter on a new TV reality show – Urban Nature. And camera-shyness is not her main concern. Her new boss is hotshot TV producer Daniel Arnot, the subject of her youthful infatuation nine years earlier.

Nikki has woven her passion for nature with her understanding of human emotion to give readers a delightfully contemporary story with a rich plot, blooming with colourful characters. The writing is fresh and flows from the start to the very last line. I particularly like how the parallel plot elements of nature, set against the lavish city life, reflects the conflict between down-to-earth Ava and her ambitious boss.

This is not another fall-in-love-with-the-boss story, nothing contrived or trite about it at all. Nikki’s characters are credible with very real issues and obstacles to overcome. She had me riding the romance rollercoaster with the very unassuming Ava Lange as she desperately tries to deal with unrequited love.

By writing about what she knows, Nikki has also given her readers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the television industry.

My favourite character: Nikki draws great characters to love and loath. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the unexpected uniqueness of a secondary character – Cadence. Very refreshing and wonderfully portrayed. Exceptional characterisation.

Favouite line: Every great romance has a great line – one that affects you so much you almost gasp (take Jerry McGuire’s, “You complete me” for example). Nikki provided that moment for me in this book with her perfectly poignant question about what makes a heart break. I’m not going to tell you what it is here - you’ll find it towards the end of Chapter Twelve.

Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss, by Nikki Logan, is due for release in February. Be assured that this is definitely not an I’ve-read-it-all-before book.” I couldn’t put it down. It was lights, camera, action from beginning to end.

I’m told the real beginning for this story was back in June 2008 when members from Romance Writers Australia undertook their first 50ks in 30 Days challenge. It was Nikki’s first go at writing 50,000 words in a month, so it’s kind of fitting that it should be her first published novel, with Harlequin US snapping it up in November of that same year. Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss hits the book stands in Australia in February 2010.

That’s a wrap on my review. Thank you Nikki Logan. A brilliant debut novel. One of many, I hope.For more about Nikki’s novels, visit her website http://www.nikkilogan.com.au/

Thank you Jenn for an entertaining and informative review, I can't wait for February.

It's A Wrap

Well NaNo is over for another year. The thing with NaNoWriMo you never know what it is going to throw at you. The secret is to accept what you can do and not stress about what you cannot do.

This year we have four ladies that reached the 50K mark.

CONGRATULATIONS

AMBER ~ 52,907
HELEN ~ 50,246
JENN ~ 51,277
PAM ~ 51,083

To everyone who took part in the challenge to me you are all winners, to sit down and just attempt is a big challenge, to undertake such an endeavour while working and/or raising children is mind boggling to me.

At the end of the day or month, you now have more words than you did at the start of the month, which is an enormous plus for any writer. Keep up with your story, you never know it could be the next Emerald winner.

Oh, as an add incentive, there have been many a novel published that was a NaNoWriMo project. Nikki Logan is one example, and I’m pretty sure Suzanne Brandyn is another. So, finish, edit and submit those NaNo babies.

Now not that I’m going to put any pressure on any of you, but don’t forget JUNE, yes you have seven months until the next challenge ladies. Enjoy your time off.

Thank you everyone for the support you have shown one another. A big thank you to the ladies that helped with posts on the blog over the month. Diane thank you for keeping the girls going with sprints via 'Twitter'.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE FOR A GREAT MONTH!!!

Happy writing
Sandie

Finding my Writing Rhythm

(Cafepress have now added Beach Tote Bags and gym bags to their range.
You can find my products here)

It's Day 21 (gulp) of Nanowrimo, and I'm only just over 21,000 words (double gulp). This is the 7th year that I have participated in Nanowrimo and each year is a different experience. It seems that I'm still finding my writing rhythm.

Some writers write fast.

Some writers write slow.

Some edit as they go.

Some spit out a dirty draft and edit later.

Some take years to write a whole manuscript.

Some never finish their manuscripts.

Some work on several stories at once.

Some can't even begin without a title.

Some are pantsers.

Some are plotters.

In ten years of serious writing, I think I've fitted in all these categories. There seems to be no true formula for me to finish a manuscript, though Nanowrimo puts a bomb under me and helps me to write fast - even more now with the added desktop software of Write or Die. For a couple of Nano attempts, I started with only the briefest idea of what I wanted to write -- a concept, a feeling I wanted to capture -- and still ended the month reaching my 50k goals.

But last year, I outlined every chapter first before I started Nano. It was my best Nano year ever and I finished the month with over 65,000 words. I finished the first draft in February the following year at 136, 000 words (so it needs a lot of cutting).

This year...I feel like I'm trudging up Mt Sinai.

(And there's no camels around to buy to make the journey much easier)

But I'm going to keep trudging. Because I know the view from the top (the point where you can type THE END) is magnificent.

How are you faring on your Nano journey? Have you found your writing rhythm yet?

Editing With A Pack of Pens

Hi everyone, while you've all been slogging it out pushing the word count boundaries near and far this month I have embarked upon a slightly different NaNo experience. I'm editing, this whole month, editing, editing, editing. I have taken Margie Lawson's "Empowering Characters Emotions" lecture packet and ..... Lightbulb moments galore!
I'm a cliche-aholic... I admit it, but with Margie's 5 step program I'm ridding myself of it. I do love traitor words, things that seem innocent enough but are pulling away from the emotional depth of my story, darn it all to heck!
I have almost coloured an entire scene in yellow! (Not good, so not good).
I'm half way through, I did one round of editing thinking "ha, I'm good"... and then a little birdy who likes to wear bat wings a lot told me that I have to include more visceral responses and deepen my characterisation. That my WIP was really just a skeletal mass, kind of like a runway model, it needed more muscle, more drive, before it was ready for the big time.
Righto, I accepted it, and then said little bentwing bat told me to go look at Margie Lawson's editing courses.
So I will say right now, for the world to hear.... Thank you Bentwing Batperson! You have put me on the path of enlightenment, and whilst there are no happy little monks dancing around me chanting, there are lots of ideas and power words flowing out of these fingertips.
I'm going to share something with you. It's embarrassing so please don't tell the world... oh, well actually I am telling the world aren't I? Yeah righto, well anyway, here's a before and after. Baby steps Bob, baby steps.

From this:

Something about him grated on her and now they would be stuck on the same ship for four weeks at sea. Her knuckles started to whiten as she gripped the wheel tighter.A large thump to the side of the vehicle brought her back to her senses. The body of the car shuddered as one of the back tyres deflated.

To this:

Her hat bumped the roof of the carriage, she should have ditched the feathers they were so last season. Gwen took one hand off the wheel to readjust a pin and heard the collective gasps of both men.

“You wanted to come along,” she shouted over the crunch, crunch, crunch of the car. “Sorry, forgot to change gears, this should give us more speed.”

A large thump to the side of the vehicle stopped her fun. The body of the Imperial shuddered as she slammed both feet on the brake. The stench of burned rubber and dust pervaded the car. Her stomach lurched as the car skidded to a halt on the gravel road.