Write Extra

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 1,544
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 2,196 :(
Where we should be Word Count: 5,001

Day: 3

Tip# 3

Tungjatjeta,

So, today is day three, still just the beginning. Now my tip for today focus mostly on your mental state while writing. Now for best results, you have to understand from the beginning that it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. If you're struggling, think about writing one day at a time.

Is that you up front?

Another helpful practice is to write extra, daily. Instead of writing 1,667 words on the dot every day, push yourself to go beyond that. (Do not look to me as a good example right now) Try getting to 2,000 words every day. This is really helpful when it comes to the end of the month, the weekend, or a busy day. If you wrote 2,000 words every day, every five days you could take a break... that's 6 days to relax. Now I'd advise you to save those days for the end of the month or at least for later in the month, but heck, if you're pushing out 2,000 words for a week straight, you're doing really good! :)

Another tip, cut something small out. Like going to the gym or doing the laundry or scrubbing the house. Face it, free time is vastly limited and now nonexistent. If you could add 3 hours a week to your writing time, you could get those 2,000 words. I know, i know. Someone has to do the laundry! Try delegation out. Spend one day teaching your teenager how to do the laundry herself. Make your family draw straws to see who cleans the bathroom. If your in school, you can't cut out your homework. However, this is a perfect time to practice time management. Do your work in study hall, that's what it's meant for just do the work. No homework for the day? Go to the library or computer lab and get typing! (use your flash drive ;) And when all else fails, cut out your internet time completely. Forget about going on facebook or surfing the web. Turn your wi-fi off unitl you have your words all written. Prioritize!

Your families will hate me, hehe.

Dare: Shirk non-writing responsibilities.

Back Up

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 1,164
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 1,668
Where we should be Word Count: 3,334


Day: 2

Tip# 2

Goeie More,

Good Morning all! I'd like to try to get these posts out to you as early as possible in the day. Yesterday didn't go so well, but I'm ready now!

So, my tip for today is a VERY IMPORTANT one. It can save you time and countless tears. This is absolutely necessary if you want to get to 50,000 with a computer that is still in one piece. I'm talking about technological issues. Your personal computer or whoever's computer you are writing on is not reliable. I don't care if you don't go on the internet ever on a brand new laptop so that it won't get a virus (then how are you reading this). It is possible for computers to simply crash. It is possible for the battery to go dead, turn off  your computer, and delete the days work on your novel. Try writing at 11:30 p.m. and losing all your work in one fell swoop, it sucks. You don't want this to happen:

So here's my advice SAVE YOUR NOVEL, and BACK IT UP!!!!! I cannot stress to you how important it is to have another copy of your file. This isn't a one page journal entry you worked on for 30 minutes, this is a full fledged novel you will work on for 30 DAYS! Losing all your hard work is completely unnecessary. There are countless easy ways to stop this from happening.

1. Save frequently! If you're writing in a Microsoft Word file, make sure you click the save button every time you have a lull. Thankfully Microsoft does it automatically, but if you make it a practice to save every time you're not typing away, you'll always save before you get up to leave or get distracted. These points in time are serious word depletion alerts. If you're not writing in a Microsoft Word file, save even more frequently and make sure to do one or two of the following.

2. Email!! Your friends know that you're working on this huge feat, why not keep them more involved. Send out an email either every day or at least every week. Attach the file and ask friends to keep it in their inbox for a month.  This gives you an opportunity to tell them how you're doing and gives you an online copy of your document in someone else's care. If your fearful your friends will open it and read your unfinished work (a. this can be a good thing, b. if you ask them not to they probably won't) simply email it to yourself. If you don't already have one create another email account. I have one for junk mail and such. You don't even need to go open it, just as long as it's there. Hopefully you'll never need to call in a favor and use your backup.

3. Online documents. Google has an excellent online documents page that will allow you to upload any file and edit it at your leisure. I use this for any group project I have to work on for school, it's great. But for NaNoWriMo this will let you access your work anywhere that has internet access. So, if you're at work or school you can just hop on the computer, type in your username and PRESTO! There's your novel! Update this daily so that you will never be without all of your work.

4. Flash Drives! Now my personal favorite is my flash drive. They run from about $10 to really expensive but the $10 one is all you'll ever need. Save your file on here every time you write and you can carry it everywhere with you! Now you can access your computer anywhere you have another computer, with or without internet access. Plus it saves a lot of time, everything online is great but it takes a little while to get to your document if your computer is slow. Flash drives give you instant access to everything. It doesn't come without its problems though. At home, make sure you have one file on your computer and one on your flash drive and make sure you are saving the one that is most update. When you're done for the day click file save then file save as and select the old file.

2.0 GM Flash Drive

5. Put it on a CD! CD's may seem old now that even music is on a little rectangular device but they are permanent. I'd recommended doing this twice all month, once at 25,000 words and once at 50,000 words. This you can put somewhere safe and know you almost have a hard copy.


BACK UP your material!!!!! It's necessary, your novel and NaNo wellbeing depend upon it!

Dare: Save your novel and BACK IT UP!!!!!!!!!

Report Card

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 362
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 368
Where we should be Word Count: 1,667

Day: #1!!!

Tip# 1!!!!

Hello,

We're HERE!!! I hope all of you have your 1,667 quota for today. Well, the hypocrite that I apparently am, I have barley started. But! That's ok! Because... we are in the honeymoon period. For the three days to the next week, depending on how busy your schedule is, writing will be a no brainer, problem free.

But, we can't get through this alone. You'll need some handy dandy tools. Here's my favorite:

Writing Report Card

Report Card

It's a report card designed specifically to track your progress. There's a Morale Chart, a Progress Chart and even a Summary report all based off of the information you plug into the little boxes. It helps you keep track of the entire month as a whole. I did not make this!!! I found it years ago and though I do believe there are others still floating around out there I have not been able to find this version since. It neatly keeps the heading right at the top no matter where you are in the spreadsheet, very helpful. I only added the pretty little picture, though I didn't do that either.

A few other thing's I'd like to suggest.
1. Keep updating your word count on the website. It's nice to see as you go how much you're accomplishing day by day.
2. Get emails from the website. Not only will it remind you to write if you happen to stray away to all the distracting emails, it just might tell you something interesting.
3. Don't go online explore until you are done with your daily quota, it will only get you distracted.
4. Though it kills me to say this, don't read this blog, any others or any social networking site until you have reached your daily quota. Now homework and other responsibilities do not necessarily fall into this category but as long as you're not web browsing too much you're more likely to focus and get your writing done.

Good luck all!! I'm off to write my own 1,667.

Dare: One thousand, six hundred sixty seven words.

750 Words!

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0

Day: -5

Tip#0000000

Hey there,

Check out this website!! http://750words.com/

It challenges you to write 750 words a day, which is chump change compared to 1,667 words daily. I'm going to give it a try myself for the first time. It's one of my tips towards the end of the month but for those of you who would like to try it out this year and this month, I wanted to introduce it now.

It's a very clean and crisp site with no advertising or distracting gadgets and such. It's just a page that will keep track of whatever you're writing. It keeps a point system of how much you write. One point if you write anything, 2 points if you make it to 750 words in one day, and more points if you get on a winning streak... Here's a print screen of the writing page, haven't written anything yet today...

Enjoy!


Dare: 750 words!!

Ready, Set, Write!

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0

Day: -7

Tip# 00000

Hola,

November is only one short, Short, SHORT week away and that means we have to be ready. This begins with alerting your friends, family, and other loved ones about your quest. You will need their support before you know it. It also helps if they know what your working on. Whether or not they understand the insanity or wonderfully rewarding epic-ness of winning NaNoWriMo, it's good to have them on board.

This could mean negotiating computer time off of siblings, adults, or others you share technology with. If possible get everything squared away so you can just start writing in November. Get a nice little spot cleared off for all your work. If the computer's on a desk somewhere, make sure the desk is cleared off and that the general area can be peaceful and primed for writing.

Now there is almost a guarantee this space will not remain this way... but it's that original clean slate that can give you that kick start. Towards the end of the week you might even want to have a seat at said writing space and make sure you're comfortable, and set up your word document so that it's really all ready for the starting point on Sunday night.

So, lets recap! You need a nice area that is comfortable and enjoyable for writing. You need a support group that can keep you writing. These people know what your doing and whether or not they understand it, they support and encourage your success. With this backup you're ready to get it into gear come November First!!!

"City of Novelists" Poster

I'm with you on this!!

Dare: Gain a support group!


Note to my followers, if you exist: As I begin to write this blog, I'm noticing that there is NO way I can get to 50,000 words AND keep my posts to a moderated understandable size that will be easy to read for you guys. I would like to keep things short, sweet, and to the point so that you can read the posts quickly and get the gist of my tip of the day. Now I'd like you to be my backup... What do you think? Should I go for it... OR Should I knock a zero off the end of 50,000??

NaNoWriMo Mothership

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0


Day: -12


Tip# 00000


Hey there,


Sorry my post is late, lets get down to business.


November is less than two short weeks away and that means that we will all too soon be up to our necks in word after word after word. My tip of the week is to sign up (if this is your first year) and to explore the NaNoWriMo Website There you can SIGN UP so that come November first you'll be ready. This website is the mother-ship of all that is NaNoWriMo! It's here you can get your little winners certificate and web badges and all sorts of other materials that can keep you chugging to 50,000 words!!! USE IT!!! Well, your probably thinking November is weeks away (two to be precise) I don't need to get into that stuff now. November is ONLY two weeks away!!! You don't want to be exploring and dilly dallying in November, that's called procrastination -- which is BAD! So, look over the website now. Go through and investigate! Check out the forums and fun stuff like my favorite: Web badges
These are my favorite :)

For NaNo Supporters

For NaNo Participants!

There are also web badges that will count your word count for you!! But... you'll have to sign into your own login on the NaNo website to do that. Then go to the Word Count Widgets under Fun Stuff. Unfortunately they won't be available until November....

Also, for those of you who already have a login username and password, I highly suggest you try to log in before November 1st. I myself had to just look up my password. That's nothing horribly difficult, just makes you a bit more prepared when the time comes.


Also, now is a great time to update your profile on NaNo. It's been a year, it's almost a guarantee that things are different, go ahead and keep it up to date. All this web surfing and typing doesn't count for your 50,000 words. What it does count for is preparing you to get started and stay on the right track!


Have fun exploring and please let me know if you find anything that really interests you. I could use it as another tip once November begins ;) The forums are a never ending pit of wonderful goodies, but, it's like a mine, you have to dig for them. I've done plenty of digging myself, but let me know if you find anything, you never know, it might be this great new discovery!


Have fun exploring!!


Dare: Explore the NaNoWriMo Website

Daydreaming...

15,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0

Day: -21

Tip# 0000


Greetings,

It is Monday, and I owe you another post. So my tip of the week is this: Plan, daydream, enjoy the un-commitment of imagining a story. That's the best part! Walk down the halls of school, work, or home and picture your main character leaping into action, or think about how you can write that rose shaped cloud you saw yesterday into your novel. It's not CHEATING!!!! It's in your HEAD!!!!! It is perfectly acceptable to sit down on November first and know what you're writing.

Now it is also in my experience that sitting down on November first not knowing what you are doing is acceptable too. I know people who have tried it. Now whether or not their lack of success was due to this beginning, I'm not sure. I do know that personally the only way that would work for me is if I was writing a 50,000 word journal of my boring life... and NO ONE wants to read that, haha. Though it's not the end of the world for this to happen, I'm just strongly suggesting you don't plan it this way.

I can't express to you enough how important this step is, at least for me, in the NaNoWriMo process. without October daydreaming, November's writing is like a morning without coffee. It just doesn't work out so well. A solid plan and the enthusiasm that comes along with it keeps me going for at least the first week and a half of November, maybe longer. And when I say solid plan that's just a main character and some conflict. The enthusiasm comes from me pacing around my room and talking to myself, very strange to my family's amazement, but extremly helpful to me.

If you don't know yet what to write about, THAT'S FINE!! Don't stress because you haven't fallen head over heals for a story line yet, or if you're struggling to pick which one to write. It's not the end of the world, you can still win NaNoWriMo... You just have to keep thinking. Get in the mood to write and the ideas will follow suit. That could mean writing journals about your day, about philosophical ideas, writing poems or just writing, about anything. Once you've got the mindset of magic coming out of YOUR head, the ideas will come, and you'll know what I mean when I say people must think I'm crazy for talking to myself. :)

Good Luck!!!

Dare: Daydream!!

October!!! -- Halloween

50,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0

Day: -27

Tip# 000


Hello All,

It's OCTOBER!!!! That means NOVEMBER is only a few short days away. October is a great time to relax, get your creative writing juices flowing, and begin planning for the upcoming 30 days, 720 hours, 43,200 minutes, 2,592,000 seconds.

My tip for the day is almost a month away, but since plans arise quickly I thought I'd start out with the end. Halloween!!! A day where people dress up and knock on neighbors doors to mooch for candy!! Can it get any better? Whether you're in high school, college, or beyond, consider starting writing on Halloween. October 31, 11:59 marks the beginning of November 1st and NaNoWriMo. Now whether your walking around with kids or friends consider Trick or Treating no matter how old you are! You get free candy for the rest of the month and a fun night and experience to maybe include in your writing. Now, you need a costume idea!! Why not dress up like your main character. You'll have fun and get to act out a bit of what you're writing.

There, you get home with tons of candy dressed up like the star of the night in novel land. You're all ready!!! Now just wait until 12:00 midnight, on the dot and... begin! It sounds like an exciting great idea but it's really not a race and it's not all that energetic. In fact... it may seem a little anticlimatic but do not fear, keep pushing yourself and try to get a day's quota before the day even begins. With that kind of enthusiasm you'll be sure to get to 50,000 words in not time.

PS. I know this year Halloween is a Sunday so that might not work out as nicely for some, but give it a try.

More on HOW to get your ideas flowing next week...

Dare: Trick or Treat!!

November Approaches

50,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 00

Day: -56

Tip# 00

So now it is September and I'd like you all to know I haven't forgotten!! So my next little tip is as follows. November seems months away... It mostly is, but that does not mean it's not right around the corner. It's time to get the ideas brewing... Good luck!! More to come in October, less than two short weeks away!! :)

Dare: Think, write, dream!!

Introduction

50,000 Word Blog Word Count: 0
My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 0

Day: -87

Tip# 0
Intro:
Hi! My name is Stacey and I'm here to see if I can help you write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's called NaNoWriMo aka. National Novel Writing Month. The challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Yes it is possible, and with my tips and tricks I'd like to see all of us get there together!
Bookmark my page and check back here in October!
In the meantime check out the NaNoWriMo website at www.nanowrimo.org

Dare: Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days!