NaNo Day 28: Don't Beat Yourself Up

Even if your novel looks like crap, don't fret. The above picture is concept art from the cinematic turd Battleship, featuring Tim Riggins, Rihanna and the guy from Taken. It could have been great, but it wasn't. (Haven't seen it. Will. But haven't.) This can still be you, though: a cool alien vessel that floats like a crocodile.

1) Think of a turd movie you've seen recently. How would you make it better?

2) Ever read a book and thought "Great, except for that one character?" Kill that character, replace them with someone else. Then share with the class. 

3) What movie are you excited for most this December? Besides Les Mis and Hobbit. 

NaNo Day 27: The Engine

Look, some guys put up posters of models in bikinis, I keep pictures of chromed engines on my hard drive. What. 

1) The above car is owned by Jay Leno. Have him drive through the scene you're writing today. (Or imagine it. Whatever.) What happens?

2) Don't worry if your engine looks like a rusted out piece of crap that doesn't fit the space intended: when you edit, it will look like this.

3) What does your MC drive?

NaNo Day 26: CyberMonday

 

I don't care if it's the biggest Internet sales day of the year, you still have five days left to hit your goal (including today) so hit it. NOW.

1) Where are you in your story? First, second, third act?

2) Jump ahead in your story if there's another part you're more excited to write. Try it.

3) What cancelled TV show would you put back on the air? Besides Firefly.

NaNo Day #24: 80% complete!

Seriously! Eighty percent! And it seems like only six days ago it was sixty percent! Math is a cruel mistress. 

If the above is an apt metaphor for your WiP in its current state, congratulations! You are doing NaNoWriMo.

1) How many words will you write in the next six days?

2) How much will you write after that?

3) What's your favorite part of your book so far?

NaNo Day 23: On This, the Blackest of Fridays

I think you're gonna need a bigger sword.

Editing your NaNo WiP is no easy chore. So do the American thing and put it off until you have to do it!

Right now you are merely planting and growing the sapling that will later become an overgrown elm, spewing sludge onto your front lawn and busting the foundation of your home with its unruly roots.

The important thing to realize is this: you can't prune a tree that isn't there. Neither can you burn it to the ground. You have to create something before you can fix/destroy it as necessary.

So DO NOT EDIT. This is NaNo-WRI-Mo.

1) How many words have you not edited today? This month?

2) Can you name the character in the above photo?

3) How big a sword will you need to edit your WiP?

NaNoWriMo Day 22: Thanksgiving

"And please bless whoever invented pumpkin pie..."

1) Take a moment to be thankful for your blessings. If you so desire to count them here in the comments, you are more than welcome to do so.

2) Did you write at all today? It could technically be a day off, given that most of us will have to cook, but if you can write anything, you're the hero.

3) What is your MC most thankful for?

I personally am grateful to the Inkers for being my friends all these years, for the encouraging words and the confidence you engender. You're all wonderful people and I'm blessed to have you as friends. Keep on keeping on.

NaNoWriMo Day 21: All Your Base Are Belong To Us

1) Come on. Report. Give us the numbers. TALK!

2) You know how action-driven writers always tell you that you can break through writer's block by blowing something up? Well, it's true, but it's also a kind of rookie move. Let me suggest instead that an alien robot dinosaur drop out of the sky and demolish city hall where your MC lives. That oughta spice things up.

3) 9 days left, folks. We're in single digits, and this is technically Hell Week. If you can get some writing done during Thanksgiving, you can do it all month long. Which isn't long, but whatever.