#nanowrimo community

[aye-write]

It’s that time of year again!

#writing #NaNoWriMo #nanowrimo 2023 #nano #writeblr #writing meme #writers #writing community #meme #writing problems #writing memes #writer meme

[novlr]

You are allowed to enjoy reading your own stories!

Every writer writes the story they want to tell, so don’t be afraid to read what you’re writing and just have fun. Not everything has to be in service of making your manuscript better.

It’s ok to enjoy yourself.

#nanowrimo #writers #creative writing #writing #writing community #writers of tumblr #creative writers #writing inspiration #writeblr #writerblr #writing tips #writers corner #writing advice #writing quick tips #advice for authors #writing pep talk #writers on tumblr #writers and poets #writers life #writer problems #on writing

[leave-her-a-tome]

#writing #writeblr #eris talks #writing community #writers on tumblr #nanowrimo #writing memes

[ellierenae]

I could never write on my phone, but for some reason that changed this year and my word counts exploded, so it got me thinking about how everyone else is doing this.

Will be reading tags/replies in case you say how it's affected your word counts!

#writeblr #writing community #nano #nanowrimo #nano 2023 #from ellie #polls

[sourdough-seal]

the creators of nanowrimo took one look at the dark wet month of November and were like she’s perfect the writers will love her

#writing #nanowrimo #November #nano 2023 #writers #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writing community #november 1

[kjscottwrites]

#tumblr poll #poll #writeblr #writing community #writer things #on writing #national novel writing month #nanowrimo #fanfic #bookish poll #fandom polls #writeblr poll

[todayontumblr]

#today on tumblr #nanowrimo #writers of tumblr #writblr #nano 2023 #nanowrimo 2023 #national novel writing month #nanowrimo prep #nanowrimo tips #writerblr #writing community #writing prompt #writing inspiration #my writing #writing tips #creative writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writer

[writers-hq]

WHY IS WRITING IS SO FUCKING HARD?

Ten types of fuckery that stop you from writing the thing:

1. Imposter syndrome

You think you're not good enough or everyone else is better than you and you're just winging it AKA ye olde imposter syndrome bullshit. Yeah nah you're fine. No really, you're exactly where you need to be right now, and you'll keep getting better and better so long as you don't stop. Chances are, if you're filled with doubt about your abilities it means you've actually improved to the point where you can really start to understand what makes good writing. It means you know where you wanna end up and goshdarn it you're gonna get there.

Read this: 4 tips to kick imposter syndrome in the face and also genitals

And also this: How to silence the inner critic

2. Fear of rejection and/or failure

Yeah, us too. It fuckin sucks. BUT. Not all rejections are equal. And rejection is a necessary part of the process. Sometimes it takes a rejection to realise that a story isn't ready. Sometimes a rejection is entirely subjective and has ZERO reflection on the quality of your work. But shying away from the very idea of possibly maybe hypothetically getting rejected is only going to hold you back from even trying. And knowing why you got rejected and how to learn from it is one of the most valuable writing skills.

Read this: The different types of rejection (and how to deal with 'em)

Then read this: How to cope with rejection

And also this: Writing lessons from Groundhog Day

3. Not enough planning / too much planning

Leaping into a new story with nothing but a glimmer of an idea is exciting as heck (and can sometimes be a great way to begin) but at some point you're gonna need some sort of outline or plan to keep you on track. HOWEVER. Planning your story to within an inch of its life can also sometimes be a hindrance - leaving you stuck in the hypothetical stage of the process where your story doesn't quite exist yet (and therefore avoiding the prospect of it sucking). The sweet spot is in the middle. Having just enough of a plan to know where tf you're going, but enough freedom and flexibility to let the story lead the way...

Read this: Planning vs pantsing

Then read this: Five plotting techniques

And also this: The perils of overplanning

4. Your WIP just isn't working

Sometimes things just fall flat. Sometimes you work on the same story for yeeeeears and then it just kinda... dies. Sometimes you have the best plans (see above) and the best intentions and things still don't work out. Sometimes it's just time to move on. And sometimes it's not! Sometimes a story can be revived, fixed or changed. Sometimes you just need time. Sometimes YOU'RE the one that's changed and this isn't the story you need to be writing right now. Many variables. Muchly personal. Read the things below for more advice cos this is a big question:

Read this: What to do when your WIP isn't working

And also this: Give it space - how to grow a story in your head

Or how about this? Editing 101

5. You keep deprioritising it

Ah the irony of writing being the thing you love/want to do most of all AND YET the thing you procrastinate over and avoid and shove to the very bottom of your to-do list all the freakin' time. Maybe it's the comodification of art destroying our freedom to create without pressure. Maybe it's late capitalism sucking up all our available time and energy. Maybe it's a lack of self-belief subconsciously telling us our 'little hobby' doesn't really matter. Maybe it's maybelline. Whatever it is, you have the power to reclaim and revalue your writing. To say, "I'm a fucking writer, goddamnit!" and mean it. To ringfence your creative time so nothing and nobody gets to interrupt it. To do that thing you love.

Read this: Prioritise your writing

Read this: How to write in 30 second bursts

6. Shiny Thing Syndrome

You know that feeling when you're just getting stuck into a writing project and then — SQUIRREL! — you get distracted by another, better, more shiny writing project? Or maybe you're deep in the editing phase and your current WIP just isn't feeling very shiny at all and pretty much ANYTHING seems more exciting? Or you simply can't decide which of the many squirrelly writing ideas to actually start? You, fine writerperson, may be suffering from Shiny Thing Syndrome (STS). But fear not! There are a few ways to combat it, depending on the cause, and most of them involve embracing the squirrel-brain and injecting a bit of fun into your writing, like so:

Read this: Shiny thing syndrome - a writer's malady

Aaaand read this: Get excited about your writing again

And also this: Write like a kid

7. Perfectionism/self-sabotage

Look. Writing is scary as shit. What if someone READS it? What if they don't like it? What if they see into your soul and gain a deeper understanding of you through your words? Writing your truth, being vulnerable, smearing your heart juice all over the page? No thank you. But also, that's where the good shit is, so actually yes please. Just make sure you smear responsibly. And rest assured, even the most 'successful' and experienced writers ALSO feel like this sometimes, so you're in good company. It's just part of the art, bruh.

Read this: Why writing is scary (and why that's a good thing)

Read this: Beginning a story - what stops us starting?

And also this: Get out of your own way

8. The dreaded blank page

Oh godddd the blank page. It should be an exciting palimseset of possibility but is somehow also the most terrifying thing known to humankind. You wanna write something but where to start? HOW to start? You type that first line and immediately delete it. You watch the cursor blinking at you—taunting you—until you just give up and shut your laptop again. It's probably tied up with a bunch of things we've already covered so far: perfectionism, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, maybe a lack of planning or faith in your story or whatever. But it doesn't have to be this way. A blank page IS exciting and full of possibility. We just have to get over ourselves and learn to embrace the unknown...

Read this: Don't fear the blank page

And also this: The moaning method

9. Not enough time/energy/motivation/gnuuuughh

Dude, same x 1000. But you don't have to get up at 5am, do hot yoga, drink a kale smoothie and write a thousand words before sunrise to be a Proper Writer. You don't even have to write every day. But what you can do is hack your writing brain and figure out when, where, how, and why you write most effectively. Then tweak your schedule, your habits, and your attitude to ensure you're making the most of your time. Productivity is a big ol' lie but finding the secret to getting in your own personal writing zone is actual MAGIC.

Read this: Maximise your writing time

And also this: Get in the writing zone

And also unto this: The Writers' HQ Guide to Productivity

10. You're just fucken stuck

Got the writing morbs? In need of some literary sudafed? Stuck as a pig in a poke? Writing is a whole puzzle of a process—and to be honest that's what makes it so fun and exciting and addictive, because your writing brain is hardwired to both create AND solve the wordy puzzles within your story. Sometimes the answer is time. Sometimes it's a second opinion or a fresh eye. Sometimes a totally different approach or just a hefty kick up the bum. But whatever the problem, there IS a solution. You just gotta keep going and trust that you'll find it...

Read this: Troubleshoot your writing - why are you stuck?

And also this: Break through the writing blockage

And also also this: Write yourself into a pit (and then dig your way out again)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, that's it for today. Now go write, you flithy animals.

(And if we missed anything, stick a question in our ask box or check out the rest of our shit here)

#writing #writing advice #writers of tumblr #writeblr #writing community #writers community #writing life #creative writing #national novel writing month #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2022 #imposter syndrome #perfectionism #writer's block #writers block #writer things #procrastination #productivity #writer problems #blank page #the blank page #WIP #pantser #editing #plotting

[tlbodine]

Stuck? Try junebugging.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but we're 5 days into nanowrimo so maybe this will be helpful.

Do you want the safety and surety of knowing what happens next in your story but can't stick to an outline? Does knowing in advance what will happen suck the joy out of discovery writing? Do you try to wing it through plots but get tangled in plot holes or have a story that runs out of steam because you can't figure out what went wrong? Are you at your most creative when you have a little bit of guidance? Do you tend to under-write? Do you get ideas in your head for random scenes and snippets that drop from the sky without context?

If any of these apply to you, junebugging a draft might be for you!

What Is Junebugging?

Since you're on Tumblr, you might already be familiar with the concept of junebugging as it relates to cleaning. If not -- I think the idea was first introduced to me by @jumpingjacktrash.

The basic idea is that you tackle cleaning by way of controlled chaos. You pick a specific area you want to focus on, like your kitchen sink, and then wander off to deal with other things as they occur to you, but always returning back to that area. You end up cleaning a little bit at a time in an order that may not make sense to an outsider but which keeps you from getting overwhelmed and discouraged.

How Does Junebugging Work in Writing?

OK, so that's great, but how does this work with writing? Well. In my case, the general idea is to jump between writing linearly, outlining, and writing out of order. It usually looks something like:

Start free-writing a scene, feeling my way through it and enjoying the discovery process.

Thinking, ok, now I have this scene, did anything need to happen to lead up to it? Do I need to go back and add some foreshadowing? Does this scene set anything up that needs to be paid off? And then jump forward/back to make those adjustments.

I'll usually have a bunch of disconnected ideas of ideas that have popped into my head, so I'll write those down in a list somewhere and then try to figure out what goes in between them and what order it goes in.

I'll write what I call "micro-scenes" which is where I'll just sketch out a few essential elements of what's going on without worrying too much about details, description, etc. -- just he did this, she said that, the setting was this, real bare-bones script. Then I can come back through and flesh out each of those microscenes into an actual scene later.

Got a story that has a complex structure? No problem. Write through each storyline one at a time and then chop them up and weave them together afterward. Write all the B plot scenes first then come back through to do A plot and C plot. Move the pieces around like legos. No one ever has to know.

This method works for me because I can't "decide" story elements in advance. I have never been able to just sit down and "figure out" what happens in a story beyond a couple steps ahead -- I have to discovery-write my way forward. But at the same time, that gets really daunting. So I zoom forward with micro-scenes, roughing out the beats in the most bare-bones way possible, then when I run out of clear vision for what happens next I backtrack, flesh out those scenes, build in connective tissue, etc. and by then I will probably find more inspiration to jump forward.

It's basically folding drafting, outlining, and revising all together into a single phase of writing, which is chaotic and goes against everything people teach you, but if it works? then it fuckin works.

Anyway, sorry for the jumbled-up post, I'm dashing this off quickly while I heat up a pizza and I'm about to dive back into my WIP -- but I hope this was a little helpful. If nothing else, take this as my blanket permission that it's 100% OK to jump around, write out of order, write messy, outline sometimes, pants sometimes, and do whatever else it takes just to get through the story. You've got this. Good luck.

#writing tips #nanowrimo #writing advice #nano 2023 #writeblr #writing community #plotting vs pantsing #junebugging

[winterandwords]

📖 #CalmWriMo 2023

If you want to do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) but a 50k word goal doesn't work for you, you're invited to join me in CalmWriMo 2023 on Tumblr for a chilled-out creative experience this November.

Here's how it works...

📝 Set a fun and achievable writing goal

This can be a word count goal, but it definitely doesn't have to be. It also doesn't have to be new-words writing. Editing, research, outlining, or anything other writing-adjacent activities are great too.

You might want to...

Work on your WIPs for [however many] days

Complete a draft or a certain number of chapters

Spend [however many] hours editing

Create an outline for a book

Research specific topics for a WIP

Make graphics or moodboards for your stories

Create or overhaul your author website

Or anything else connected to your WIP(s) or writing

🍵 Choose an accessible and enjoyable self-care focus

This can be anything at all that helps you take care of your physical and/or mental health while you work on your writing goal.

You might want to...

Be more consistent with your journaling habit

Get to grips with your sleep schedule

Start or continue a daily yoga or meditation practice

Drink more water

Reduce screen time before bed

Read more fiction, non-fiction, or writing craft books

Go for regular walks

Or anything else that benefits your body or mind

💻 Share your own CalmWriMo intro and progress

If you'd like to join in, you can make a post to share your writing goal and self-care focus using the #CalmWriMo tag. You're welcome to @ me (@winterandwords) in your intro post if you want to.

You're also welcome to use the tag to post progress updates and WIP snippets throughout November. Bear in mind, reblogs don't seem to show up in tag searches on Tumblr, so creating new posts for each update might make them more visible.

I'm going to check the #CalmWriMo tag throughout the month to see how everyone's doing and share some of your posts.

Anyone taking part is encouraged to do the same if you would like to have you have the time and energy for it. In the spirit of CalmWriMo, there's no obligation to do anything other than what you're comfortable with 💜

#calmwrimo #nanowrimo #writeblr #writeblr community #writing community #am writing #tumblr writers #writers on tumblr #writers of tumblr

[gwen-tolios]

How I've Won NaNo - Rebel Style

National Novel Writing Month - NaNo - is an event in November where writers aim to write 50K words towards the first draft of a novel. But the traditional way doesn't work for everyone! This is my 14th NaNo, and here are ways I've won other than 50K on a novel.

50K of fanfic

50 hours spent editing a novel

Completing an editing pass of a 68K novel

Completing a novella (30-50K)

50 hours of brainstorming characters, worlds, plots in an effort to refill a dry well

Get Her Done - lining up a list of WIPs and completing as many as possible, adding anywhere from 5K to 25K words to a story

Yes, traditionally you win NaNo by writing a brand-spanking new novel, holding aloft your 1st draft at midnight Dec 1st. But there are so many other ways to win! The goal is to make progress on a writing project, whatever that may be.

#nano #nanowrimo #national novel writing month #nano rebel #writing #writeblr #writing community #writing advice

[novlr]

Vary your language with synonyms to use instead of "said"

While there is nothing wrong with the word "said" in and of itself, variety is the key to exciting writing that keeps readers engaged.

Combining action beats with varied synonyms as well as "said" yields the most interesting and varied results.

Here are some examples you can use in your next project to keep you writing varied:

Instead of "said quietly"

whispered

murmured

muttered

croaked

purred

hissed

crooned

breathed

buzzed

Instead of "said affectionately"

admired

gushed

praised

flattered

lauded

beamed

complimented

approved

exalted

Instead of "said sadly"

sobbed

cried

lamented

pleaded

wept

grieved

wailed

sniffled

bawled

Instead of "said angrily"

growled

fumed

demanded

hissed

scolded

mocked

yelled

bellowed

berated

Instead of "said fearfully"

stuttered

gasped

stammered

gulped

cautioned

screamed

wavered

croaked

blanched

Instead of "said excitedly"

cheered

sang

beamed

rejoiced

hailed

exclaimed

celebrated

exulted

blurted

Instead of "said uncertainly"

inquired

hesitated

balked

deferred

speculated

floundered

pondered

wavered

vacillated

Neutral synonyms to use instead of "said"

voiced

expressed

insisted

noted

uttered

continued

replied

went on

began

#nanowrimo #writing tips #writing advice #writing help #novlr #synonyms #writing dialogue #writers #writing #creative writing #creative writers #creative inspiration #writing resources #writing community #authors #writing fiction #writing books #writeblr

[unmellowyellowfellow]

please soothe my curiosity by answering this poll. i've been thinking about it forever

#i write each chapter in a different doc so i can find what i need to edit easier and break it into sections #writing #but i have found that a lot of you do it all in one doc??? that sounds so exhausting and impressive #writeblr #zoey says shit #writers on tumblr #writing community #authors #currently writing #writeblr intro #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2023 #writing poll #writeblr community

[leave-her-a-tome]

#writeblr #writing #eris talks #writing community #writers on tumblr #nanowrimo

[jen-writes93]

Whenever someone asks me how I'm doing, I just say, 'I'm writing.'

It's a multi-purpose answer that covers everything from 'I'm great' to 'I'm drowning.'

#writers on tumblr #writing community #writing #national novel writing month #writerscommunity #writers and poets #writerslife #writerscorner #writer things #writeblr #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2023

[todayontumblr]

Wednesday, November 1.

NaNoWriMo.

As one door closes, another door opens. So if you are feeling a little glum, a little blue, a little crestfallen this morning, as you pack your coffins, drone-controlled ghouls, pumpkins, and Normal Human Man costumes into the attic for another year, fear not. Because the passing of October 31st can only mean the arrival of November 1st. And the arrival of this date will be exciting and daunting news for y'all in Tumblr's writing community—it's #nanowrimo. 

Keyboards, touchscreens, typewriters, pens, and quills at the ready, folks. You've got 30 days to do 50,000 words. They are not going to write themselves. 

Good luck x

#today on tumblr #writblr #art #artists on tumblr #writers on tumblr #nanowrimo #nano 2023 #nanowrimo 2023 #nanowrimo prep #nanowrimo tips #writers of tumblr #national novel writing month #writerblr #writing community #nanowrimo23 #writing #writers #writing prompt #creative writing #writing inspiration #my writing #on writing #writer #writers block #writeblr #writing tips #writing advice