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Will you or won’t you Na-No-Wri-Mo? Here’s something for both sides.

Will you or won’t you Na-No-Wri-Mo? Here’s something for both sides.

The Artdog Image of Interest  Will you or won’t you? Here’s one more thought as we approach National Novel-Writing Month, AKA Na-No-Wri-Mo. Remember: one week from today, it starts!  Some of my friends enjoy the challenge and find it motivating. But I have to admit that this cartoon character’s response is usually my strategy: This is because I write slowly. The “will you or won’t you” writer who answers “yes” writes fast. Na-No-Wri-Mo is for people who prefer to get it all…

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No flash in the pan, this!

No flash in the pan, this!

The Artdog Image of Interest If you’re trying out new creative challenges this month, and you’ve never tried flash fiction before, perhaps now’s a good time. If you’ve tried it in the past–or if you’re proficient–have you done any lately? What is flash fiction? The usual definition is fiction shorter than 2,000 words. But in that category, believe it or not, there are shorter-length challenges, too. Try 300 words.  One hundred words. Even two sentences, like the Two-sentence Horror Stories I reblogged a few Octobers ago. How short can…

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Don’t let her challenge your resolutions!

Don’t let her challenge your resolutions!

The Artdog Image of Interest It’s a new year! Many writers begin with a resolution to write more, or to finish a project they’ve started, or to start something new. Don’t let the Procrastination Muse derail your creative process! I’m sure you know her well, if you’ve ever tried to write something. Don’t listen to her! IMAGE: Many thanks to Kim Warp, via Evalyn Lee’s @Evalyn7 Twitter profile, for this cartoon.

Perfectly set up for Na-No-Wri-Mo

Perfectly set up for Na-No-Wri-Mo

It occurred to me the other day that I’ve got not one, but two projects ideally set up for a Na-No-Wri-Mo style writing blitz On the eve of the event itself, no less! If ever there were a year when I was perfectly set to participate, this is it. What is “Na-No-Wri-Mo“? you may ask. That is short for “National Novel-Writing Month.” It’s an annual event, held November 1-30 of each year. Participants attempt to write 50,000 words or more in a month (50,000 words is the minimum length for a novel, according…

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The next battle

The next battle

The Artdog Image of Interest If you’re tired of Na-No-Wri-Mo posts, I’m sorry–gonna inflict at least one more on you. Because once you get to a certain point in your writing, it’s time to–GASP!–show it to someone else!! It’s pretty scary, because even after all that work, it’s inevitable that it’s not perfect. Gotta be done. Find someone you trust and hand it over. It’s What Has to Happen Next, on the writer’s journey. Good luck! IMAGE: Once again, I’m grateful to the wonderful Debbie Ridpath Ohi and her web comic…

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Making a good finish of it

Making a good finish of it

November–and Na-No-Wri-Mo (National Novel Writing Month) is almost over. A lot of people will be trying their best to close in on 50,000 words by midnight tomorrow. To cheer them on, today’s post is a collection of wisdom about FINISHING. A 50,000-word manuscript that has a beginning, middle, and end technically qualifies as a novel, in some genres. For my particular genre, science fiction, the contemporary normal finished length is 90,000-120,000 words, so 50,000 words will get you maybe about halfway there. But no matter how you slice it, 50,000 words…

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How’s the writing coming along?

How’s the writing coming along?

The Artdog Image of Interest We’re about halfway through Na-No-Wri-Mo (National Novel Writing Month). Time to check in, again . . . Whether you’re participating in Na-No-Wri-Mo or not, I hope your creative endeavors (whatever they may be) are going well. The creative process always involves frustration–but don’t let that stop you! Keep going! IMAGE: Many thanks to Debbie Ridpath Ohi, her ongoing comic “Will Write For Chocolate,” and her Twitter feed for this image. It’s always a pleasure, “Inky Elbows”!

Characters

Characters

The Artdog Image of Interest  Think of it as a casting call . . . As a tribute to all the writers brave enough to take the Na-No-Wri-Mo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge, I’ve dedicated most of this month’s Quotes and Images of Interest to observations about the writing craft. IMAGE: Many thanks for this week’s image to Tom Gauld, a wonderful comics artist whose work I encourage you to explore!

The scariest moment . . . or not.

The scariest moment . . . or not.

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week Knowing that the blank page also frightens someone like Stephen King may perhaps be comforting to some of us lesser mortals. But knowing it doesn’t have to be all fear for everyone is a comfort as well! This post is dedicated to everyone who’s taken the National Novel Writing Month (Na-No-Wri-Mo) challenge to attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel manuscript during the month of November. Good luck to all of you! IMAGE: Many thanks to Now Novel’s page of writing quotes, for…

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Getting right to it!

Getting right to it!

The Artdog Image of Interest Some of my friends are brave enough to take the Na-No-Wri-Mo plunge this month. “Na-No-Wri-Mo” stands for National Novel Writing Month, a program designed to help people write their books–or, at least, 50,000 words’ worth of manuscript–in a single, month-long endurance run.  My own life this year is way too chaotic for me to have many illusions about participating successfully, but my theme for this month’s Quotes and Images of Interest is encouragement to other writers, who are struggling to pound out their 50…

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