Alright, people. The last few days of October are upon us. That means binge-watching Halloween movies, making those last minute costume adjustments, and counting down the minutes until all the candy goes on sale.
For writers, however, it also means that we are a mere 36 hours away from National Novel Writing Month.
I’ll be honest with you. I never really understood the idea of scampering to write a novel in 30 days. I thought, if it’s meant to happen, it will. Like relationships, you can’t push your craft. For a lot of us, National Novel Writing Month is every month. However, not every month has it’s own movement, own website, own army, really, of writers willing to take the plunge and risk it all.
Before, I really didn’t like the idea of being timed. I didn’t like the idea of following a trend (I’m kind of a rebel like that). I don’t like anything to be forced. I really like doing my own thing, dancing to my own beat, and not being pressured or influenced. But the more I thought about it this year and the more people I talked to, the more I thought, hey, this actually sounds like a lot of fun. I’d also recently had an idea for a YA novel that I would probably be putting off forever had I not been talked into NaNoWriMo.
I’ve got to tell you, I am super stoked to be participating this year. It gives me something to talk about with friends and it gives me a brand new community to be a part of! All of us are offering each other encouragement and I just love that. I will say, however, that I am not telling a soul my super secret pen name. I have a number of reasons for this.
First, I’m afraid of failure. I think everyone is on some level, but I’m so afraid of it that I usually don’t even tell people I’m attempting something until I know it’s not going to fail. For example, I didn’t tell anyone that I actually know (apart from family and very close friends) that I’d written Cemetery Tours until a few weeks before it was released! No one knew that I’d been working on a book for over a year. Everyone was shocked, because usually I’m a huge blabbermouth. I like to share and tell people things. Of course I do! I’m a writer! But this is another one of those unsure projects, and if I fail, I don’t want anyone to know.
Secondly, the book I’m writing is Young Adult and let me tell you, it is not a ghost story. It’s not even a little scary. It’s pure fluff. I’m pretty sure if a lot of my readers (heck, a lot of my friends) knew what I was writing, they’d roll their eyes and go, “Seriously!? Are you kidding me?!” My school would probably demand my Master’s degree back. It is that silly. But I’m kind of loving it. It’s pure guilty pleasure.
Are you doing NaNoWriMo this November? Sound off in the comments section!
In other news, Cemetery Tours 3 is still moving right along. I still don’t know when I’ll have a release date for it, but I’m really enjoying writing it. I really hope readers enjoy it as much as the first two. Again, it’s different, but I think it’s a good different.
Speaking of Cemetery Tours, I’m going to be participating in a friend’s book release anniversary celebration. There will be giveaways and Q&As and lots of other cool stuff! You should check it out here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1481550198784895/?sid_reminder=8758610241320386560
Finally, and I can’t believe I forgot to share this with y’all earlier, but I wanted to let you know that MY SISTER is going to be performing in Lubbock’s Moonlight Musical’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS! She’s one of 8 Tech students asked to participate in the production. It’s a HUGE honor for her. She got to sign a contract and everything.
The production features mostly professional and equity actors including Ken Page (the ORIGINAL Old Deuteronomy on Broadway and the DVD and the voice of the antagonist in The Nightmare Before Christmas whose name I don’t know) and a little YouTube star named Todrick Hall. I am so jealous that she gets to work with these amazing and awesome actors, but I’m hoping that since I’m family, maybe I can get a picture with them! Anyway, I am so, so, so, SO proud of her and I can’t wait to see the show! Here’s an article about it: http://lubbockonline.com/entertainment/2014-10-15/moonlight-musicals-production-cats-using-more-professionals#.VFB_QUJRHzI
A Platform of Sorts 
Good Luck with NaNo. This will be my fourth year and hopefully I’ll actually hit the 50k this year 😀
Awesome! I bet you will! Have you finished your other works?
One of them i have, the other two are in editing and re-writing stages 🙂
That’s excellent! Keep it up!
Haha! Love this, and can totally identify with you. I got talked into CampNano in July, and while it was definitely an experience and I loved the extra part of the community it gave me, I don’t think I would do it again–of course, never say never, right? 🙂 It got a lot of words out, and I learned a lot about myself and my writing, but I also learned that I work a lot better at my own pace. It’s a good opportunity though, especially for a project you might not write otherwise! Wishing you the best of luck, and let us know how it goes 🙂
Thank you, Victoria! Yeah, I’m a little concerned about the pacing and being forced, but there’s no rule that says I HAVE to get it done! I’m looking at it as a means of encouragement and opportunity. And if it doesn’t work out, then nothing lost! 🙂
That’s how I went into it, and it really helped! I only did a goal of 20k, since I knew I would never be able to do 50k without going insane. It was still very difficult, but I got a lot of words down! They weren’t the best, but they were words! And you are absolutely right 🙂
Hey, that is what matters! A lousy first draft is better than a brilliant idea!!! 😀
So, I “said” I was participating, but now, I’m not sure. I’m busy with Jack, you know and other little jack stories. So, I dunno. I’ll think about it!
You need to focus on Jack! He’s going to be huge! That is your goal and your priority right now! 😀
Thank you! I think so too
I’m glad you decided to do it! I hope you get to meet some good people and it gives you an excuse to work on your guilty pleasure! And tell your sister congrats!! That is an awesome accomplishment!
Thank you, Lindsay! I definitely will! And yeah, I’m really looking forward to it!
I wrote a post like this around this time last year basically echoing everything you previously felt about NaNoWriMo when I first did it. This year will be my second. I wish you luck. And never feel embarrassed about the things you write – you gotta own it. This may be the book that transitions you into a whole new genre with its own readers, broadening your audience and fan base. Plus, I’m sure it’s every inch as loveable as your other books. :]
If you ever change your mind about sharing your pen name, I’d love to buddy up. 😀
Thanks, Sierra! That means a lot! And I will definitely let you know if I decide to come out of the YA closet! 😉
I always seem to pace myself to be in editing during November. Regardless, I’m going to try and give it a kick. I have a new story I’d like to push as a break from YA Sci-Fi and get into something a little darker.
Go for it! Best of luck to you, Jonas! And yeah, I’m smack dab in the middle of writing Cemetery Tours 3, but I’m going to try to balance both! This shall be interesting!