Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html
The fall season continues to inspire me with endless amounts of writing energy. No, my stories aren't set on a farm and aren't about horses or cowboys. There's just something about my favorite season that wrangles my senses and returns me to my childhood. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I traveled with my family to the outskirts of Chicago. You can see I had a captive audience as I pitched them ideas for my new stories.
If you want to continue NaNo every month of the year, I challenge you with three goals. First, carve out a time everyday to write. You already know this, so then why do you resist and fail far too often? Turn off Twitter or Facebook or fill-in-the-blank! Second, spy on your kids or other people's kids, but if you're not writing MG or YA, this will come across as creepy. Last, but not least, read widely. But, once again, you know this. Now, get your butt in gear and just do it. This year I've read almost double the amount of books I read last year. Read the good, the bad and the ugly chic lit that you can't stand or the epic regency romance slash paranormal space opera that everyone is talking about.
Did you enjoy the long holiday weekend? What are you reading at the moment? Did you finish (or at least start) any new stories this past month? Are you a fan of Napoleon Dynamite?
I always say it's a win.
ReplyDeleteThose horses were very interested in you.
And yes, I did enjoy my holiday weekend!
Mary, Mollie and Minnie May--the girls always get me. :-)
DeleteI agree. Everyone else is a winner of NaNo whether they made the word count or not.
ReplyDeleteI wish it was like fall in Florida, but Florida refuses to put Summer behind.
Treating every month as though it's NaNo would be a good idea.
Hopefully I can finish one of my stories this month. I love Florida, but you're right, fall isn't the same.
DeleteUh, even if you write children's books, it's still creepy. Children's writers are some of the creepiest people out there. Have you seen pictures of Shel Silverstein???
ReplyDeleteDon't just treat every month like NaNo, treat every day like it's important. Get everything you can out of it, writing or otherwise.
Ha! Okay, I mostly hang out with my teenage boys because they live in my house and invite friends over, so I'm not too creepy. Great material, by the way. Yes, Shel was creepy looking. I loved his poem, "Sick." So funny!
DeleteYeah, I don't do NaNo. It might work out once the kids are moved away, but for now there's too many higher priorities.
ReplyDeleteI never register. It's a nice month to get motivated.
DeleteThat works for me. Unofficially being in the race...
DeleteFall is definitely my best time for writing. The mysteriousness of fall just fits my stories perfectly. Wish I had gotten more writing done by now. I fell like I'm wasting this beautiful weather.
ReplyDeleteAt least you're enjoying the beautiful weather! There's still some fall left here:)
DeleteI have to admit, I'm a little depressed by the early darkness and (lately) the relentless rain and fog. So, not exactly my favorite time of year. However, once winter is fully under way and there's enough snow to go skiing, I'll see an uptick in my writing. There is no place I like to brainstorm and think about my writing more than the chair lift as I skim over trees glistening with snow!
ReplyDeleteFor some odd reason, I love rain and fog! Living in Wisconsin and Illinois most of my life, I don't care for snow. But skiing sounds fun!
DeleteHi Jennifer, love the inspiring pic.Having been raised in Michigan I miss the trees turning colors.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, it's a magical season for me (almost more so than Christmas!)
DeleteNot doing much writing at the moment. I'll get back to it. Eventually.
ReplyDeleteLife happens!
DeleteI definitely agree about switching off the Twitter, FB, etc feeds... I mean we writers are known as loaners, why do we need to be social all the time :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and have a happy New Year!
Here's to lots of Wonderful Writing in '16 :)
Best regards,
Mark (IWSG co-host, author and certified slacker:)
I tend to peruse Twitter far too often. My guilty pleasure. Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteI've never seen Napoleon Dynamite so I don't know what I'm missing. I have branched out with my reading. Usually I'm a staunch fiction-only gal, but I read Into Thin Air about the Everest tragedy and was mesmerized. Now I'm reading a story about a girl who grew up in Scientology and it is also fascinating (and could be the basis of a dystopian YA novel in some sense). I wrote lots in October, but nothing in November. My first assignment for December is the family Christmas letter. After that, I hope to get back to "real work".
ReplyDeleteAHH! Must watch it this Christmas! :) Those books sound fascinating.
DeleteI nearly went crazy with my long holiday weekend. My husband was building me an office so I took the kids out of the house to keep them off his back. Flying solo with a 5 and 2 year old is enough to make me want to pull my hair out. Alas, all that out time also meant I didn't get my writing time. Ah well. Things worked out regardless. Now, back to writing!
ReplyDeleteMy boys are teenagers now, but I will never forget the early years. *shivers* Wow, can't believe I survived! They will grow up eventually. Still waiting for the 15yo to do just that:)
Delete750 words on my WIP today...I'm about to do my last 250 words, so I got my writing in today, for sure!
ReplyDeleteKeeping the momentum going from NaNo is a great aim. You don't have to write so much in other months but constant writing is bound to bring results.
ReplyDeleteI have Napoleon Dynamite on my DVR. I tried to watch it a few years ago and couldn't get into it, but I want to give it another chance.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the air gets cooler. I find fall to be inspirational. I crossed off many things on my to-do list last weekend.