NaNoWriMo 2013

OK people, this is the year, I WILL COMPLETE NANOWRIMO! Sorry for the yelling :), but I need a bit of fanfare, something to get me motivated...to put it simple, something to put my butt in gear.  I have known about NaNoWriMo for probably about 5-6 years and with it commencing on my birthday, November 1st, I thought for sure this was a sign....the universe was telling me to finally write my novel and NaNoWriMo was to be the vehicle to drive my novel out of my mind and onto the page.  Well, 6 years and 0 Novels later I am remiss to say the Universe may have given me the sign, but I clearly ignored it, until now.  

Having registered for NaNoWriMo yet again, I am looking for a few good buddies, "won't you be my Buddy?' I am going to need the proverbial "kick in the keester" every now and then, so if you have a brand new pair of steel-toe boots that you are dying to break in, follow my blog and my Facebook Page where I will be posting my daily word count...OK, maybe not daily, but at least 2-3x a week.  I will make every effort to post daily, even it is just a picture of me about to throw my laptop through a plate glass window! 

What tools do you use to assist you with NaNoWriMo?  Do you have a book? A teleportation device to take you back to November 1st? Anything? Please someone, anyone, throw me a bone! :) I intend on using the following book that I have had for many moons, but have yet to utilize, First Draft in 30 DaysBy Karen Wiesner.  I am praying that this book, prayer and a lot of caffeine I will come out of the month of November the author of a Novel. 

NANOWRIMO mid-way through the month.

This is the 3rd year that I have attempted to complete NANOWRIMO or National Novel writing month.  The goal 50,000 words in 30 days.  Current word count ______ to embarrassed to admit, but I have a solid plan to reach 50,000 by November 30th.  As 2010 draws to a close, I have done very little on the writing front and I am fighting procrastination and actually I am leaning towards self-publication in 2011.  Hopefully, I will be self-publishing my NANOWRIMO novel. As I fight my procrastination I am starting to utilize the To Do list to help encourage action.

Writing To Do List for 11/15/2010

1. Complete Writing Goal of 5000 words.
2. Start researching Self-publishing 
3. Find a book to help me with Structuring my plots.

I am sure somewhere on my extensive bookshelf I have a book about plots.  The question is; will I find it or get lazy and buy a new one!

How do you overcome procrastination or writer's block?

Day 1 on Day 3 - Writing: The Beginning...Again

I am starting at the beginning again.  I have always been told and now truly believe that it does not matter how many times you get knocked down, it only matter how many times you get back up. So this is the 1100th time I have gotten back up :) I am trying to start once again at word 1, in my quest to become a published author.  And since I like most people need a little help from those who have gone before me, am turning to the "who's who of the how-to. Namely, Christina Katz, SARK  & Julia Cameron just to get started.  This list will grow as this blog grows and if you have any books that you would like to to review, please feel free to contact me.  So this is my 1st book that will help me with this blog and my publication mission:

and as you can see by the page markers, I have read this book, more than once, but have never but into practice the exercises that are suggested.  But that will change today!
What I like about this book, is that it breaks the writing process down into bit sized pieces; able to be digested slowly and at your own pace.  Writing can be a daunting process; and thinking about completing a book with thousands of words can seem insurmountable.  Especially when you haven't even put word one to paper; much like when you attempt to lose weight (something else I have been unsuccessful at) it's hard to swallow attempting to lose 100lbs; but 10lb increments sounds and is much more manageable.   What I also like about this book is the "Mommy angle", as a Mommy, this is the reason I brought the book because  I am or aspire to be a "Writer Mama".  In the 1st chapter of the "Preparation section of the book, it gives many tips which include; journaling and starting a blog, so I feel that I am killing 2 birds with 1 stone by journaling about my experience in this blog.