Week 2 is nearly over and the halfway point is within our grasp. Week three is often one of the most challenging of November–the fatigue and over caffeination start to take their toll and the idea well can dry up.
But don’t be discouraged by that. You have a story that is worth telling and you’re doing great no matter what your current word count is. Remember, we’re nearly halfway!
Continue readingYesterday was very busy, so I decided to prioritise my own writing instead of doing a writing prompt. As per usual, here are two writing prompts to make up for it!
In other news, I’ve been making a Spotify playlist for my nano novel. Lots of fun, spooky classical music if you want to check it out.
Writing prompt day 10:
Hello writers. I’m going to be honest with you–I’m not sure applying for jobs at the same time as writing a novel was the best idea, but here I am. Still unsure if the post-interview adrenaline helps or hinders my plot.
Today, I thought I would give a writing prompt based on the emotional journey of our stories:
Welcome to week two!
The experience of week two can be wildly different for everyone. Maybe you’ve hit a good stride and are overflowing with ideas. Or maybe you are struggling to coax a story from your initial idea and find yourself boxed in.
My suggestion for the latter experience is to let yourself breathe a bit more. If you’re writing a serious period drama but really want to go on a tangent about gnomes, then do it. It may not fit the story, and it may not help the plot, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t let yourself write it.
Who knows, maybe it will give you the inspiration to write the crucial scene in your story. Or maybe it just needed some gnomes all along.
Remember, this is draft 0. Whatever happens can stay between you and the novel, because this isn’t about perfection. This is about ideas and words.
If you only have one–ideas or words–then just keep going with what you have and the other will come in time.
And if you don’t have either and don’t want to write anything, try a writing prompt.
Today’s writing prompt:
Use these 5 words to come up with a scene for your novel. Bonus points if you can use every word!
Hope you’re having a good Monday!
I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday, because we are one week down!
As much I just want to hide from Monday and my novel, I’m still here and excited to see what new ideas and challenges week 2 will bring.
Continue readingToday we are 1/5th of the way through.
It’s the first weekend of the month, and I’m really glad for the rest. I’m currently applying to jobs at the same time as doing NaNoWriMo, so the pressure is definitely on and my brain is very dead.
The 10,000 mark is always exciting though!
Today’s writing prompt:
Did heavy rain drive your characters to find a discovery? Did the sun burn a mark into your MC’s character growth? Did the snow bury a plot hole? Or maybe there’s just a tornado they all have to run from now.
Have fun!
Good news! I wrote something last night that I clicked with. I’m still not sure where my novel is going next, but at least I have a semi-interesting inciting incident.
If you’re still struggling to click with anything, then don’t worry. Just keep brainstorming and you’ll get there. And if you’re already at +10,000 words by now then go you! All experiences are valid this month.
Due to the missing writing prompt from yesterday, today you get two!
Writing prompt 1:
Dialogue is great because it can help move the story along, break up lines of description, and show the dynamics between characters. But dialogue can also be difficult to write, especially during nano when I often have to force myself to write something other than endless pages of world description.
Writing prompt 2:
Write a scene inspired by this photo!
Hope you’re having a great day 5 ❤
Good morning writers. A new day, a new page–what will you be writing today?
To be honest, I woke up feeling a little discouraged. I know, I know–it’s only day 3. But it’s okay if you feel like that too. Right now I can’t seem to think of a goal for my main character. All she does is stare broodily at the wall and tell me to do all the work.
Maybe I just need to approach my story from a different angle?
Continue readingGreetings, friends! How did the first day of writing go?
I couldn’t wait to start–all week I’ve been thinking about characters and plot, making mood boards and naming cities. But yesterday I felt frozen–it took me all day to muster up the courage to type my first words. Those words were hard too. I have to have a good beginning, I told myself.
So did I really just psych myself out?
Yes.
Continue readingIt’s that time of the year again!
I love autumn. Misty mornings, pumpkin pie, bright crunchy leaves, and a ridiculous month-long challenge. If you’re new to NaNoWriMo or have never heard of it before, go check it out and see if it’s for you: nanowrimo.org.
Last year I did a whole month of writing prompts for November, and I enjoyed it so much I thought I would do it again this year!
But first, let me spill the tea on my novel idea this year, because I will be attempting to write a ghost story. No guarantees it will end up a ghost story, but right now I’m channelling all the spooky Victorian fantasy vibes. I also made a map with this swanky fantasy map generator.
Today’s prompt:
Starting off with an image. What are your eyes drawn to? The wreck rusting into nothingness? The hungry birds? Or the distant houses? Is it a literal event for your character, or is it simply a metaphor?
I wish you all the best of luck this NaNoWriMo. We got this!!
Sonora Hills 