Monday Minute: I Won NaNoWriMo!

Last night, I validated my novel. I wrote over 50,000 words and won NaNoWriMo for the first time! I can’t believe it. 

NaNoWriMo Week 4: 50,000 Words is Only The Beginning

Wow. Nearly a month has flown by and within a few days, it’ll be over. It seems like I was anxiously waiting for November just yesterday. But the end is here and near.

NaNoWriMo Week 3: The Importance of Tension in a Story

November is nearly over and winning has already begun for NaNoWriMo! I can’t believe how fast November went by…although I’m not ready to validate my novel and win just yet. I’m taking it slow and steady until I reach the finish line. This week was pretty good but there were some hiccups here and there.

NaNoWriMo Week 2: Connecting with the NaNo Community and My Story

We’re now halfway through NaNoWriMo. I can’t believe it. November is already almost gone and I’m almost at the halfway mark. This week has been pretty good and I even managed a two-day break.

NaNoWriMo Week 1: A Promising First Start

While the weather steadily cools and the coloured leaves continue to fall, Wrimos everywhere are setting their sights on reaching 50,000 words as the days grow longer and the nights grow shorter. I’m one of those fellow Wrimos, typing down the words day after day, discovering more about my characters and story as I delve deeper . This is my fourth year of NaNoWriMo and despite the fact that I spend more time inside the warmth of my house and less time outdoors, I’ve made leaps and bounds in terms of my writing.

Friday Favourites in the Writing World

NaNoWriMo is fast approaching and I’ve got my mind on finishing some of my works in progress as I prepare for it. Lately I’ve been seeking out some writing advice on various blogs: to prepare for NaNo, to develop well-rounded characters and to create a good writing habit. Here are some of my favourite pieces of advice from writing websites…

Monday Minute: The Importance of Research

How extensive is your background research before beginning a writing project? How extensive is it during your WIP?

I think research is key. It is an integral part of the planning process before writing and a great way to build up knowledge about topics you may otherwise have not learned about before.

NaNoWriMo Week 4: My Mad Dash For The Finish Line

I write a lot like I run. I came to this revelation during the last week of NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo Week 3: Breaking Up With Word Count

I have an ‘it’s complicated’ relationship with word count. Some days I’m cool with it, on others I’m not feeling it so much. I’ve always thought that word counts are very arbitrary measures of a writer’s progress…

NaNoWriMo Week 2: Mid-Month Slump

The second week of NaNoWriMo is often the most difficult hurdle in November. It’s certainly been that way for me this year. My first week started off amazingly well but ended on a low note. In my personal life, there were a few setbacks at the end of that first week that really threw me off.