What are Your Writing?: NaNoWriMo 2017 Edition

Hello, my lovelies!

Two weeks ago I explained what all is involved in participating in NaNoWriMo. I also mentioned how incredibly excited I am to be participating.

November starts today so I thought I’d share with you the story I’m so excited to be working on. No commentary on life or writing, no ranting or offering insight, no showing you the world through my eyes. Just a post about what I’ll be writing this month.

Title: The Merry Adventures of Snow and Robin

This is a working title. I don’t know that I’ll keep it but at the moment I love it so at the moment it stays. When it’s actually written and edited and I’m considering publishing it is when I’ll start thinking about whether I want to change it or not.

Logline (what’s it about in a very short amount of words): Snow White/Robin Hood retelling which Robin is supposed to kill Snow on the eve of her eighteenth birthday but they decide to become outlaws instead.

The book is going to focus on Robin and Snow’s adventures as they form their band of outlaws and work to reclaim the throne for Snow from her stepmother.

Genre: Medieval Adventure Comedy

I want to keep the medieval setting from both of the original tales. The tone of the story will be lighthearted and funny but also have plenty of action and excitement (hopefully…)

Projected Word Count: Around 55,000

I usually have some idea before I start writing of how long I want the story to be. Sometimes I end up coming up short, sometimes the book ends up longer. But usually it stays within 5,000/10,000 words of my originally projected goal.

I think this one is going to hit the official “novel” mark of 50,000 words (I hope so, because if it doesn’t, I don’t win NaNoWriMo!). But I also don’t think it’s going to be a whole lot longer than that.

Main Characters:

I know I’m going to write in third person so I’m not sure if I’ll stay in Snow’s perspective or if you’ll get some of Robin’s perspective as well. I’ll probably just start with Snow and see what happens as I write. I usually don’t plan these sorts of things in advance and like to discover what is right for my story as I tell it.

But whether or not we get inside his head, Robin will definitely be a major character in the story (his name is in the title, after all). He’s the strong, warrior sort, while Snow is more clever and cunning. They balance each other out nicely and once they team up it becomes clear that together they’re a force to be reckoned with.

The other major characters are the Merry Men/Dwarves, who aren’t actually dwarves in this story. They’re a family of miners who take the two main characters in and end up getting roped into their quest. Each one is based off a different one of the Merry Men from Robin Hood and I love them all so much. I won’t say more though because while I have an idea of who I want them each to be they’re probably going to change over the course of the story as it’s written.

Preparation:
I don’t have a set way that I prepare to write a story and usually just do what I feel that individual story needs.

I generally always make a Pinterest board for inspiration and a Spotify playlist. I did those for this book and I’ll share them with you a little later on. I also have my short little character sketches that just summarize who each character is in a paragraph or two. This helps me remember what exactly I had in mind when I created the characters so that I have a standard to hold them to as I write (though they are certain to change as the month goes on and I start to get to know them better and develop them more).

And beyond that I’ve done some rereading of the original tales the story will be based off of. There were a couple elements of Snow White that I’d never noticed before that I’m excited to include in my story. Robin Hood is a little harder since there are so many stories to read but I’m pretty excited about the ideas I have as to how to incorporate the original legends into this story and world.

I’ve also been getting a lot of other stuff off my plate in terms of writing- I finished the novella I was working on and wrote a good number of my blog posts for November this month. That way when I do have writing time it can all be devoted to my NaNo word count.

The Links:
As promised: Pinterest Board and Playlist

If you want to add me as a writing buddy, here’s my NaNoWriMo profile.

And if you want to stay connected this month about NaNoWriMo be sure to like my Facebook page as that’s where I’ll be posting that sort of stuff.

I hope to see you in Friday for the giveaway winner announcement! There’s still time to enter if you haven’t already.

Until the next time we meet, don’t forget to live happily ever after <3

~Jennifer Sauer, the Ivory Palace Princess

P.S. Let’s Chat! Whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or not let me know what your November looks like. What are you planning to work on?

A Comprehensive Guide to NaNoWriMo

NaNoWrio official promo graphics ©NaNoWriMo

Hello, my lovelies!!

It’s almost November!! It is for those of us who are gearing up for NaNoWriMo, anyway (though, if you’re like me, you’ve been geared up for this since December 1st of last year).

Or there’s a good chance you’re scratching your head right now wondering why on earth I’m jumping up and down excited for what looks like some weird jumble of letters that make no sense.

What is NaNoWriMo?

According to the official website: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. 

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.

In order to participate, all you need to do is create an account, fill out the information about your novel, and then when November 1st comes you sit down and start writing. Then over the course of the month you keep writing and writing and writing until you write 50,000 words that month.

Crazy, I know.

Why 50,000?

Any work that is 50,000 words or over is officially considered a novel. Anything under 50,000 words falls either into the novella or the short story category depending on the word count. So it’s 50,000 words because it’s National Novel Writing Month, not National Short Story Month or National Novella Month.

Why Do It?

In the end you write about 1,666 words a day. Which is a lot of words. And writing an entire novel in a month isn’t anything to sneeze at. So why do it?

There are a lot of reasons actually, each person who participates most likely has a slightly different reason. But some common reasons are that people find the deadline appealing- it pushes you to keep writing and keeps you from over-editing as you write- and the competition- while anyone who reaches 50,000 is a winner there is still that same feeling of competition any challenge has, even if that competition is really only with yourself in this case.

It’s also just really nice to know there are so many people around the world writing at the same time as you and trying to accomplish the same goal.

So Is It Right For Me?

I don’t know. I know a lot of people who love it- I’m one of those people- and I know a lot of people who will never, ever do it again or who flat-out refuse to even try it in the first place. It’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of a deal and there are a lot of things to consider before you just jump in.

If you want to determine if it’s right for you or not, ask yourself these questions:

Do You Write Well Under Pressure?

I like deadlines and write better when I have a goal that is forcing me to sit down and write a certain amount of words per day. If I don’t have a set word count I end up writing about a hundred words and then calling it a day because I’m tired or I have something else to do or I just don’t feel like it.

NaNoWriMo makes me focus and forces me to write. It also helps me to recognize what are actual priorities and what are nothing but excuses not to write.

Other writers find that the pressure of NaNoWriMo doesn’t fit their writing style. Some writers work better writing slowly, editing as they go. Some have a limited amount of time and don’t like to be told how many words they need to write in that small window. Some find the word count makes them focus too hard on quantity rather than quality to the point of making the story almost ineditable.

Do You Struggle with Over-Editing While You Write?

Do you tend to get hung up on editing as you write to the point that it keeps you from moving forward? Do you find your “inner editor” brings crippling self-doubt that causes you to get discouraged and give up?

NaNoWriMo forces you to keep the “just keep writing” mentality. You don’t have time to edit and you don’t have time to ask too many questions about your story. So what if that one line isn’t perfect? So what is that scene isn’t quite right? So what if that one part of your plot might need tweaking? Just. Keep. Writing. You can always edit it later.

And a lot of times I end up finding that the things I hated while I was writing them aren’t so bad when I read them over again a month or two later. Sometimes all you need is to keep writing and edit later and NaNoWriMo forces you to do that.

Other writers find they work better writing a polished first draft, editing as they go. So something that is forcing them to write fast and edit later just doesn’t work. For NaNoWriMo there is a daily word count to meet each day and if you don’t meet your word count the count for the next day just goes up in order for you to stay on track. When you write better polishing as you write, having the pressure of doing that while also meeting a high word count each day can be the death of your novel and your creativity.

Do You Like to Explore as You Write or Outline Every Last Detail?

Part of what I love about writing is exploring as I write. I like solving problems on the fly and figuring out where I need to go in the moment. Since I have a word count to meet each day, NaNoWriMo forces me to make decisions in my story or just keep writing through the plot holes. This keeps me from overanalyzing the story as I write and questioning every single action.

Without a push to keep writing I would give up stories because I just didn’t know what I wanted to do or I would put off actually taking the time to work through the problems. This way I have a deadline and I don’t have an excuse to keep from fixing what needs fixed right now.

Similarly, NaNoWriMo also works well for people who outline extensively in advance and need a push to actually sit down and get the words on the page. If you have a plan you’re confident in but just want an added push to help you execute it, this might be the thing for you. The story is all planned out from start to finish, you just need to actually sit down and write it. NaNoWriMo can help you do that.

NaNoWriMo doesn’t tend to work for those who like to explore as they write but also do well with taking their time in solving problems. Some writers might work on their stories daily, but only do actual writing every few days or so. In between they might be outlining what’s to come, polishing what came before, and figuring out their characters and the direction their story is taking.

So Is It Right For Me?

Only you can decide that. You know yourself and what works for you and what doesn’t. Only you know if NaNoWriMo will help your writing or harm it.

But my advice would be that if you work better at your own pace and thrive by making your own schedule, then I would suggest skipping this. Better to stick with what works for you than risk hurting your novel. Because most people I know who have done NaNoWriMo and discovered it wasn’t right for them, they tend to wind up trashing the novel they wrote that month because they feel that it was ruined.

But if the intensive pressure and competition sound like something that might be good for you and your writing, I would highly recommend giving it a try.

How?

First, create an account on the NaNoWriMo website. From there you’ll be given instructions on how to do things like create your novel (tell the world what you’ll be writing), join the forums (connect with writers from all over the world), and join a local region (connect with writers in your area). I haven’t interacted on the forums before but I attended a couple of local things last year and would highly recommend them.

What Do I Do Before November?

Anything but write.

The weeks leading up to November are great for planning as much as you want. I usually make a Pinterest board to use for inspiration when I get stuck, a playlist to listen to while I write or to keep my creative juices flowing when I’m not writing, and do whatever research I know I’m going to need to do for this story.

You can also use these months for character sketches, any outlining you might want to do, those sorts of things. If you are a planner, get planning now.

These weeks are also really good to take things off your schedule that you might be able to ahead of time- for instance, I’m trying to use them to get some blog posts written ahead of time so I have more time to devote to novel writing. Obviously you can’t put your life on hold for a novel but if there are things you can take care of now instead of later, these next few weeks are the time to do that.

And What Do I Do In November?

Write.

Sit down at your computer or pull out your notebook and pen/pencil and write. And just keep writing until you hit 50,000 words. Then if there’s more story left to do, keep on writing that. Write until the book is done.

So What Do I Do After November?

We’ll talk about that when November is over ;)

Conclusion:

NaNoWriMo isn’t for everyone. But if the fast-paced frenzy of the month sounds like something you’d be interested in, be sure to check out the official NaNoWriMo website for more information.

I’m excited to be participating this year and I hope you’ll be joining me. Or, I hope you’re wise enough to recognize that this isn’t for you and you find another way to boost your creativity. Whatever the case, I hope November is a productive month for you.

If you have any further questions about NaNoWriMo be sure to drop them in the comments and I would be happy to answer them!

I’ll be back on Friday with yet another book in the Princess Tales. Until the next time we meet, don’t forget to live happily ever after <3

~Jennifer Sauer, the Ivory Palace Princess

P.S. Let’s Chat! Who else is excited for NaNoWriMo? What story are you planning to work on?

Publishing and NaNoWriMo- Candor Questions

Oh look! A post :3

Shyly asked: Do you recommend self-publishing? I’ve heard good things and bad things about it and was wondering what your opinion was.

This is a really great question but one I feel I am not qualified to answer. I self-publish because people have expressed interest in my writing and this is the best way to share it with them. I do some marketing to get my name out there, but also in no way to I expect to become what would be considered a successful author through it. I feel, for me, self-publishing is a step toward traditional when I actually write something marketable to a “real” publisher.

That said, I know people (such as Leah Good who I interviewed on Monday) who have done enough research and work to make self-publishing worthwhile. And, while I too have heard a lot of bad things about it, it seems like it works well for some people.

The thing to do, if you are considering publishing and wondering what avenue to take, would be to research which option would be best for you. Both take a tremendous amount of effort, but can also both be very profitable. Take a look at your expectations toward your book and ask yourself what you would consider success. For me, having people read it and like it is enough. Do I make a ton of money? Nope, not really. But, at the moment, that’s okay with me. For some writers, that’s not what they’re looking for. That doesn’t mean self-publishing isn’t for them, it just means the way I go about slef-publishing isn’t for them.

So, take a look at what you want, what you would have to do if you took either route, and then decide which will bring you the results you’re looking for.

Sorry I don’t have more of an answer than that. If you have more in-depth questions about self-publishing, I would be happy to answer those, either as Candor Fridays questions or a private email.

Danielle Sauer asked: What are you working on for NaNoWriMo

Yay!! Someone asked!! :D :D

Okay, first of all, if you are not familiar with NaNoWriMo, it’s short for National Novel Writing Month, which happens to be November. NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organization that helps writers write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. They also have a young writers program where you can personalize and set a more manageable word count for younger writers. More info at: www.nanowrimo.org

All right! That said, let’s start talking about the novel I am working on:

This month I am writing a fairy tale retelling mashup. Basically, it’s like fairy tale stew. I threw a whole bunch a fairy tales into a pot, stirred them up, and am now writing a book about the results.

Or, something like that.

Seriously, my story is about Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk. Only, his name is Jack Robin. At the beginning of the book, he teams up with Rapunzel, who happens to also be one of the twelve dancing princesses. She wants Jack Robin’s help rescuing the other eleven princesses- who are also all characters from other fairy tales- from their respective fairy tale fates.

At the moment, I am currently using elements of 20 different fairy tales (which include a couple Greek and Roman myths), with another twenty or so briefly mentioned in passing. I’m having a lot of fun figuring out how to put a spin on all the fairy tales and finding ways to throwing them on their ear. I’m really excited about someone of my twists and turns and can’t wait to finish it so I can start sharing it with people.

Or, actually, I’ll be really brave and give you all a tiny glimpse of my unedited version. Below is a tiny little excerpt from the opening chapter of my book. This is how the book starts (and, please be warned this is unedited. So, I apologize in advance it there is stuff that doesn’t make sense :P)

The view from the top of the beanstalk would take the average person’s breath away.

It stretched out for miles, which would surprise the viewer, considering that the top rested up beyond the clouds. By all rights, they should not be seeing what they were seeing. The farms and villages that lay below, the valleys and rivers and mountains. Breathtaking was not a strong enough word for so stunning a view.

               

But, Jack Robin was uninterested in the view. After climbing that monstrous plant, he had reached the top only to discover a tower waiting for him.

               

In his seventeen years of living, he had learned one thing- people kept the good stuff in towers. And, if the giants had a tower, at the top of a beanstalk so difficult to climb, then there was something more than just the good stuff in there. There had to be treasures of insurmountable wealth waiting inside.

               

There were more legends then Jack Robin could count about giants’ treasure. They had no need for human gold, and therefore had stores upon stores of it hoarded from their altercations with mankind.

               

He wondered if he should have brought a larger satchel. If the rumors were true, he would have to make more than one trip with the bag he had brought. And making that climb again was not something he looked forward to.

               

His hands were covered in bloody marks where the thorns had pierced through his gloves. His face too had suffered from their sharp points when he had been forced to dance cheek to cheek with the overgrown plant in time with the wind’s mournful melody.

               

It had taken him nigh on a good couple of hours, he guessed, to reach the top. He only hoped it were worth it.

               

There was a river between him and the tower, a huge, rushing river that flowed with white, foamy water. There were rumors too about giants and their poisons and Jack Robin had no way of knowing if the foam were some such substance or simply rapids.

               

Of course, he did still have the healing salve his mother had packed when he had first left home. She had insisted he take it, even though he protested. Just a dab of that and-

               

No!

               

He could not go there. He would not. If he allowed himself this slip in standard this once, there would be no end to the compromise. In which case, he might as well have just stayed home.

               

He could do this alone. He did not need a healing cream infused with dark magic. He had seen what use of such things did to a person’s soul. And, he would like to keep his soul intact as long as he could.

               

No, it was much safer to steal, and then buy what you wanted with the spoils.

               

Although a magic bridge to get him across that river-

               

No, we’re not going there. Not now, not ever.

               

He had left home not long before this and was beginning to realize how much his mother had ingrained in his mind. He could not go five minutes without wishing for a magical item. That needed to stop.

               

He would survive by his wits, just as he had told his mother he could. She had laughed and told him he was welcome home when he failed. But he would not fail. If for no other reason than to show her that.

               

He needed to focus on the matter at hand- a way to get across the river. Whether poison was at work here or not, swimming was not an option. Not with the way the water churned and pulsed. He would have to find another way.

So, that’s that! Make sure you send in your burning questions for next week. Can’t wait to see what you all ask.

And, in the meantime, How to Properly Deface a Book – Kit Parker Book Two releases on Monday!!!! So excited! So, be sure to come back on Monday for the official release post and the info on how you can get a copy!! :D :D

Special Announcement Concerning My Writing

I know this isn’t my normal day to post and I will (hopefully) have a real post for you at the beginning of next week, like I usually do.

But, for now, I have a special announcement:

Did you read the little word underneath the big letters? In case you didn’t I’ll put them here: WINNER.

That’s right. I’m a winner.

And, not only did I reach my word count for this month, but I also finished my book.

You read that correctly. I finished it.

46,713 words finished.

And, not only did I finish it, I actually think it’s not too bad. I like the ending a lot. I hope everyone else does too. I’m going to be giving it to my parents to read just as soon as I can get it printed out, since staring at a computer screen is never a fun way to read a book (at least in my opinion, no offense to anyone who likes that sort of thing)

Anyway, I’ve kept my vow and finished the sequel. Now I just have to finish editing Why Rodney Never Should’ve Gone to the NAPIC and then I can get started publishing it. More updates about that in the coming weeks. Hopefully, I’ll have an official release date for you very soon.

Thank you all so much for sharing this journey with me!

Until next time!