Category Archives for Writing

NaNoWriMo: The Aftermath

The time was 11:58 AM, the date November 30th. My contacts had dried in my eyes a few hours ago, but there had never been an instant to take them out. I had to stay focused on the computer screen in front of me, on the words my fingers were rapidly typing as the minutes flew past, careening towards the 11:59 AM cut-off point. Most importantly, I had to submit my NaNoWriMo word count for the final time.

If you read my last article, you’ll know that NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an annual event that pushes writers to compose 50,000 words during November, with a goal of 1,667 words per day. You’ll also know that this year I decided to participate.

So how did I do?Continue reading

How to Write A Rough Draft – 10 Ways to Be Dangerous

I’m about to give you advice that I should follow myself.

Repeat after me:

Your writing doesn’t have to be perfect the first time around.
Your writing doesn’t have to make any sense the first time around.
Your writing can be utter shit the first time around.Continue reading

How To Be Creative Using Daily Writing Routines

I love writing!

But, as with everything else in life we enjoy, there’s always something we don’t enjoy about it. That’s just how it is.

I don’t like not understanding something. I also don’t like my frequent inability to make creative decisions—particularly when it comes to deciding what I’m going to paint, or write about next.

It’s become clear to me now that I’m not the only one experiencing this never-ending tug-o-war between my creativity, my daily routines, and the discipline to actually sit down and write my thing.

The struggle is real.Continue reading

It Lurks, It Creeps: NaNoWriMo Approaches!

October 31st is often hailed as the scariest day of the year, but that may be because you don’t know about November 1st.

To writers across the country–and beyond–November 1st ushers in one of the most grueling, challenging, and rewarding writing exercises ever invented: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Like its name implies, the event takes place for all thirty days, and the terror only grows with each passing day.

Why is that? What is NaNoWriMo?

Well, a small group of people began it in 1999: write a novel that’s 50,000 words long and submit it by 11:59 PM on November 30th. Sounds simple, right? Considering that NaNoWriMo had over 200,000 participants in 2010, many people seem to think so.

But it’s much more challenging than you think. Continue reading