Somebody That I Used NaNo

In today's episode, I talk to a tremendous writer (whose YA novel made me cry.  Be jealous), super cutie, and my best friend for life, Ariane Mandell.  She's co-writing two different projects and having a blast.  We discuss how to find a writing partner who sticks, how writing that's fun is super motivating (which is obvious when I write it down, but never occurs to me when I'm writing), and how sometimes a scene sounds awesome in your head and then is blah when you write it down.

Relevant:

 

As mentioned

• Reddit Link
• Read Me Romance

Remember to check out the NaNo-It-All website, and send us an e-mail at nanoitallpodcast@gmail.com for us to talk about on the air!

Getting NaNo You

In today's episode, I talk to Eric Rampson, who's facilitating the Young Writer's Program at a local school.   We discuss what facilitating looks like, how the kids are doing, and how the kid's problems are just like everyone else's.  Tune in later this week when we should be getting into the high 30s.

Advice from this episode:

• have someone throw candy at you
• it’s not about finishing
• don’t worry about the “right” way to do it.  Just pick how you’re going to do it and keep doing that, and it’ll be good enough
• there are other characters in your book!
• Maybe you’re stuck because you’re judging the idea.  Let go.  What is the silliest/most dangerous thing that could happen right now? Go!
• ignore the higher level of trying to make it DO something or BE something

Remember to check out the NaNo-It-All website, and send us an e-mail at nanoitallpodcast@gmail.com for us to talk about on the air!

NaNo Not What They Do

In today's episode, I talk to Jim Markus.   We discuss Jim's project for this year, how the 15K mark is always hard, and how you should think about your story when you're not writing it.  Tune in later this week, Thursday Nov 14th (probably), when we should be at 23,333 words.

Advice from this episode:

• Is there downtime in your day when you could be planning out what you're writing tomorrow?  Use it!  Let those ideas percolate!
• Give yourself permission to fall behind on certain, busy days, and plan on writing a whole lot on days when you have time.  Only you know your schedule and what will work for you.

Remember to check out the NaNo-It-All website, and send us an e-mail at nanoitallpodcast@gmail.com for us to talk about on the air!

NaNoSolo

In today's episode, I talk to...myself!   I discuss the struggles I've had this week with turning off the inner editor and how to not think your story is garbage.  Tune in next week, Monday Nov 11th, when we should be at 18,333 words.

Remember to check out the NaNo-It-All website, and send us an e-mail at nanoitallpodcast@gmail.com for us to talk about on the air!

The More You NaNo

In today's (yesterday's) episode, I talk to Jon Giordano.   We discuss Jon's project for this year, how role playing games help your writing, and how you should write about food.  Tune in later this week, Thursday Nov 11th, when we should be at 11,669 words.

Advice from this episode:

• Keep track of your characters' abilities.  If your novel were a D&D game, would the other players be yelling at you for not using an ability?
• Play D&D!  It's fun and easy and gives a new perspective on story telling.
• Make limitations on how much you're going to write about particular subjects, or for particular scenes.  This keeps you from writing 1,000 words where nothing happens.
• Use food as a concise and powerful sensory experience.
• Food is a powerful world building tool.  Give some thought to what food stuffs are available in your story.

As mentioned, check out Shawn Sherman's The Sioux Chef 

Remember to check out the NaNo-It-All website, and send us an e-mail at nanoitallpodcast@gmail.com for us to talk about on the air!

A Can-o-NaNo

It's begun!  In our first episode of NaNo proper, I talk to Dani Hayden.   We discuss Dani's project for this year, planning out the month by story beat, and picking a point of view and tense.  Tune in next week, Monday Nov 4th, when we should be at 6,668 words.

Advice from this episode:

• Plan each day in November by story beat to stay on track with both word count and story
• Keep things simple if possible. Write what you know, with places you know 
• Do something completely different from a current, ongoing project to make it fun and exciting
• Arrange to get minor goals. Finish a scene. Earn a badge on the NaNo Website. Beat a 4theWords monster. 
• Make use of the NaNo twitter community for word sprints and motivation 

Check out 4theWords to gamify your writing.  Use my referral code (MBDUV90166) for some bonuses.

NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month) is in April, and it’s a challenge to edit your novel for 50 hours.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Name the Show BaNaNo?

In our pre-game episode, I talk to Hollie Smurthwaite.   We discuss our projects for this year, brainstorming, and what we're doing to prepare for National Novel Writing Month.

Advice

• Brainstorm by coming up with 39 reasons why something might happen (or 39 places you can take your story next, or 39 names for a character, or 39 anything you're having trouble with) 
• Create a compelling character by thinking of something that makes you interesting, then twisting it until it's not about you anymore
• Keep pictures of your characters so they feel like real people
• Keep a spreadsheet of everything you know about your characters so you don't contradict yourself

What are you doing to get ready?  Have you done dishes yet?

Tune in next time, Friday November 1st for the start of NaNo, when we should be at 1,667 words.