Nano 09: Tips for Week 4

This post was originally published in 2008. Some dated references may have been changed. You can view the original version here.

It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it? Being here at week 4. Finally looking down the end stretch that was previously a distant, elusive dream. By now some of you have quit. Some decided Nano was too hard. Some decided it wasn’t right for them, or maybe, they fell so far behind that recovery was impossible.

But some of you are still writing. Still plugging away. All month long you battled those voices that told you to give up, that it was too hard, that your writing utterly sucked. This week, those voices are going to chime in again. They’ll say, "Haven’t you proved your point? Haven’t you done enough? Take a break. Take a breath. You can finish the thing later."

There’s something about seeing the finish line that makes you realize how far you’ve come, and how tired you are. But seriously. Did you get this far just to stop? If you don’t finish your novel now, you may never finish. If you give up now, it will kill all the confidence you’ve gained up to this point.

Remember last week when I told you to shoot for 30k? By 35k, you’ll hit your third wind. After that it’s a nice coast to the finish line. So don’t give up until you have reached that 35k, because once you get going you won’t want to stop.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few final tips for the upcoming week.

If possible, take things slower than on previous weeks. In No Plot? No Problem! Chris Baty urges participants to use this final week as a time of contemplation. Also, if you haven’t been working in sprints, begin doing so now. Write for 15 minutes, then take a 5-10 minute break to stretch and flex.

Over the holidays, explain to family members that you’ll be working on a demanding project. Set aside chunks of writing time and promise to come back when you’re done. Then, stick to that promise – people will respect your needs if you respect theirs.

Finish the novel by November. This means, “write your ending by November,” not “write every scene by November.” Trying to write an ending after the fact can be a huge struggle. So, focus on major plot points and gloss over everything else. One woman in No Plot? No Problem! said she had to summarize 20k in a couple of days to get her ending down. That’s okay. You can always come back for these filler scenes later.

Conversely, if you are running out of material before the magic number 50,000, go back over your notes for forgotten plot points. Write any boring scenes you may have skipped. Invent a new character – or kill one. Have fun info-dumping. The point is, get some bulk. You can clean up the story afterwards.

One final time, thank you for reading, and good luck!

-Creative A

Nano 09: Tips for Week 3

This post was originally published in 2008. Some dated references may have been changed. You can find the original here.

Take a few deep breaths.

You made it.

While that fact resonates for a few minutes, realize that not only did you survive the second week, but you also reached the halfway point. Today is plunk-dab in the middle of the month. It’s all downhill from here. Even week 4, with it’s frantic pace and ticking clock, shouldn’t be as hard as week 2 was.

Over on AW, week 3 has been coined as “the week most likely for your novel to change genres.” In No Plot, No Problem! Chris Baty described week 3 as magical time when writing becomes fun again, almost to the point of nirvana. Things are going to snowball. All those knots you untangled last week are going to tie together, and you will find yourself as close to the novel as you will ever get.

However. This is also when your support group will falter. Friends and family are tired of putting up with you. Outlines dried up days ago. As you head into week 3, keep these things in mind, and here are some tips to help you along.

Don’t get lazy. With everything flowing, you may be tempted to rest a day, to pace yourself, to meander dreamily to the finish line. Don’t. Continue to write every day. Continue to meet your word count. Play catch up, and focus on reaching the 30K mark – if you can hit 30K, you can make it.

Go with the flow. If you had an outline, last week likely destroyed it. That’s fine. If you find main characters trading places, plot elements twisting without warning, or yes, even your genre changing – go with it. To quote Chris Baty, “This is the time to fly.”

Don’t revert. Don’t re-read what you’ve written. Ignore your inner editor. Don’t try to write something good, or pretty, or articulate. Don’t get so attached to your novel that you want to get it right! Not now, not in week 3. You’ll just spoil the moment.

Again, I’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to read, and for sharing their stories. How are your novels coming? I'd like to continue with the interview question exercises, and school holidays are coming up, so maybe this blog will get more active then.

Brave smiles everyone, good luck, and happy writing!

- Creative A

Interview with Pam Bachorz

Today, rather than blog about interview questions, I thought I'd post an honest to goodness interview. Thus, today's interview is with Pam Bachorz about her debut novel for young adults, Candor.

The Messages stay filed away until you’re about to do some thing interesting. Your brain knows what to feed you: a Message rushes into your head. Covers everything else. No desire. No fear. No hunger, even. I sit again and open my bio book.

Another one flows in. Studying is your top priority.

“Got it,” I say out loud, like my brain is a separate person. “You can shut up now.”

Other people don’t notice when a Message fills their head. But I’ve been here longer than anyone. And I’ve found ways to train myself. I know when my brain is feeding me Messages. I know how to fight them.

When it’s worth it. (from chapter one of Candor)

In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, Oscar Banks has found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages that turn even the most troubled kids into model citizens. On the outside, he's the perfect Candor teen, and no one knows that he's built an entire business around helping new kids escape before the Messages take hold.

But then Nia Silva movies to town, and Oscar thinks she's perfect exactly the way she is. Soon he must make a choice: let Nia be lost to the brainwashing, or help her stay special and risk himself in the process.

Hey Pam! Great to have you here. Tell us a little about yourself as a writer – do you outline, or wing it? Do you write daily, or in snatches?

I outline, with index cards and then also with a spreadsheet. I also have installed a wire that runs across the length of my study that I clip index cards to--it's fun and very helpful to slide them around while story planning. When I'm revising, I use the wire to hang up my "laundry" of revision notes; when I am satisfied that I've addressed one thing in my revision, I take the notes down, so I can see the flock of changes reducing as I work and work. My writing schedule varies by the week; at the end of each week I sit down and make a schedule that I post on my study door. I have to fit in a full-time job, a kid, and seeing my husband every once and awhile too! But I put in a minimum of 10 hours per week and often much more.

When – and why – did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was very young--dictating stories to my mother--and wrote a ton up through eighth grade. But then I quit. I wanted to try other things in high school and I was also convinced that I could never make a living as a writer. I didn't pick it up writing fiction again for 16 years. A friend got in a car accident and it reminded me that life is very short. My only regret was that I hadn't given writing a serious try. So... I set to it!

Tell us about your publishing journey. What did it take to get Candor on bookshelves?

First I found an agent, Elana Roth, who I really clicked with and in who truly believed in the book. Then she set out to sell the book. Egmont USA bought it in 2008 and it hit bookshelves about, oh, 16 or 18 months later. I'm very lucky to be on Egmont's debut list in the US.

What was your process writing Candor? What did you have trouble with, and what inspired you?

I wrote many drafts and all but a few were in the voice of Oscar's new-to-town girlfriend Nia! That was my biggest problem; writing in the voice of someone who is becoming brainwashed becomes VERY boring. Once I switched to Oscar's voice, things flew. Inspiration--I discovered Holly Lisle's One Pass Revision method (you can find it on her websitehttp://www.hollylisle.com), my revisions became a tangible thing with an end goal and I finally stopped futzing.

Name one character you like particularly, and why.

Aw, I love them all. I really do. I have such mama love for my characters, probably because I am a mother. I even love my villains. It's easy to love Oscar, my main character, so I think I'll pick another character for this answer: his "fake" girlfriend Mandi. That poor girl has had her mind melted and molded, but deep down she is still passionate about the one thing she truly loves (I won't spoil it). She was a hoot to write, too.

On your website, you have all sorts of promotional goodies related to Candor, like a playlist, a podcast series, and interview links. I love how original you’ve been about it. What does it take to create an original marketing campaign, and what else have you been doing to promote Candor?

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I think an original marketing campaign requires a writer to grant themselves TIME--time to dream up ideas (which writers are good at--given time!) and time to execute the marketing plan. It doesn't hurt to have family and friends who are willing to help, and of course a publisher who's willing to lend a hand when possible. My husband has been a huge help with the videos on http://www.candorfl.com and nary a family member has escaped participating in them! Besides my author website, I've built the aforementioned www.candorfl.com, which is a "hoax" site for the town of Candor, Florida. Also I've launched podcasts in the voice of the book's villain, with the support of my publisher (you can listen to them on my author site at http://www.pambachorz.com/candor-podcast/). I'm participating in interviews, podcasts with libraries, going to conferences (including NCTE/ALAN in a few weeks, can't wait!) and my husband and I are playing with another video idea for promoting CANDOR. Whew! I'm tired. But it's all fun. I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it.

Here on Headdesk, I have a minor obsession with the rules of writing. Is there any particular rule you write by?

I hang my hat on basic story structure rules: three acts, with two turning points, and a climax. I won't start writing unless I know those major plot points in advance.

If knew you a teenager who aspired to be a novelist, what would you say to them?

I would tell them to not quit--and that when thinking about college, to keep in mind that you do NOT have to major in English to be a successful novelist. I'm sure it doesn't hurt. But there are a million paths. Follow your passion and your stories will grow out of that.

How have you grown as a writer, and how do you hope to see yourself grow in the future?

I think a good writer is one who pushes themselves to grow with every project, one way or another. I've gotten much more proficient at plot and story structure. My next goal is to try some new things with character development. But mostly I just want to keep writing unique stories that grab readers and entertain them.

What’s next for Pam Bachorz?

I've turned my next YA into my editor at Egmont USA--it is tentatively set for publication in Fall 2010--and I'm cooking up ideas for the one after that. I know it'll be YA. And it'll be dark with a twist. Beyond that, who knows?

Thanks Pam!

Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, and attended college in Boston where she earned finished four degrees: a BS in Journalism, a BA in Environmental Science, a Masters in Library Science and an MBA. Her mother is not happy that Pam's degrees are stored under her bed.

Pam currently lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that's just what she's supposed to say. Pam is the author of Candor, a young adult novel released September 22, 2009. To learn more about Pam, check out her website and blog.

Tips for Week 2: reposted

This blog has been reposted. Some changes have been made to reflect differences occurring over time. The original posting is here.

This is the week where you realize all that is wrong with your novel. This is the week where self-doubt attacks full force. This is the week where everything is dead-ended, stagnant, and so disgustingly awful that you can’t even face yourself.

Some of you were prepared. You wrote a couple double days last week, held an all-nighter, and provided yourself with a nice cushion for the agony of week 2. But if you didn’t prepare and fell behind, you can still recover. It’s part of the process. If you ride it out, I promise, week 3 will feel like magic.

Advice for week 2 comes in a few different categories: Plotting, Productivity, and Mindset. Here are some tips for each of those categories.

Plotting.

- Keep cool. Week 2 dumps you right where your middle begins. For Wrimos, the middle is about realizing how much of what they planned is (or isn’t) working. This is a panicky moment. Instead of freaking out, treat it like a plot problem. Try…

- Brainstorming. Scribble down all the questions you have, and all the problems you’re facing. If you can, try free-writing about one particular problem. Just open up a blank document and spill out all your thoughts. Write letters to your characters, or conduct interviews with them. And take showers! I’ve heard more than one Wrimo say that they come up with great ideas while brainstorming in the shower.

- Story-boarding. This is a method of outlining where you scribble down scene or chapter idea on a Stick-It note, and then paste these notes on a wall or board in linear order. This creates a visual image of your story and simplifies any plot problems you may be having.

Productivity.

- Sprint. In week 2, you’re not going to produce much. There’s no way around it. So change your game plan; for at least a little while, treat your writing session like a series of sprints instead of a marathon. Write for a 15 or 30 minute period, take a 15 minute break, and then write for another 15 minutes. These short bursts give your brain time to recover and maximizes your productivity.

- Compete. Grab a writer buddy or head over to the Nanowrimo forums and challenge someone to a Word War. It’s the same thing as writing in bursts, except when the time is up, everybody posts how much they wrote for comparison. It’s pretty amazing – your inner editor shuts right up when all you care about is how many words you write, not how good they are.

- Write what comes easiest to you. If you’re good at dialogue, but bad at setting, don’t worry about it. Write dialogue. For those of you who could write backstory ‘til the cows come home, go for it. It may suck, but so what? The point is to write any way you can.

Mindset.

- Get rid of distractions. You’ve heard all that stuff about no e-mails, turning off your cellphone and unplugging your internet – do that now. Write at midnight. Write in a café, away from all the distractions of home. Whatever it takes.

- Use goals and charts. Remember last week when I told you not to think too hard about your weekly wordcount? Now is the time to do so. Create a spreadsheet for your daily wordcount and check it before, or after, every writing session. DrWicked.comhas a fun catch-up calculator widget that tells you how many words you’ll need to write every day, if you’re going to finish on time. Make this wordcount your new daily goal.

- Make a commitment. Treat your writing sessions like a literal appointment. You wouldn’t skip a doctor’s appointment to do dishes, would you? How about reading a book instead of picking the kids up from school? Decide when you plan to write. Then do it.

I hope the tips help you all get through this tricky week. Me? Well, we all know I'm not Nanoing this month, but I've continued to write in my WIP, and I've added about a chapter to the wordcount. Plus I finally went out and submitted some of my writing: a piece of flash called "The Eye" to Flash Fiction Online, and a short story entitled "Delirium" to The Pedestal Magazine. These guys are pretty serious. We'll see how I fare! I also interviewed Pam Bachorz about her debut CANDOR, and will be posting that soon, along with continued Nano tips and interview question exercises. (phew)

How are you guys coming?

- Creative A