Category: november nano

Camp NaNoWriMo, General Updates, november nano

Holidays Are Here

J.I. Soucie

You have probably noticed I have not posted anything recently. No updates on my writing…. This doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing something here and there or at least thinking about my writing, but the holidays are here and it is that crazy time for buying gifts, wrapping gifts, making gifts…not to mention the cooking and baking involved and planning out what is going to be on the menu for dinner and dessert.

I have been quite busy planning our menu for Thanksgiving as well as ordering Christmas gifts, wrapping a few of them, and I still have to make some of the other Christmas gifts. The gifts I have to make are taking up most of my time, so my writing really has been pushed to the back burner.

I have tried to keep up with NaNo but this month seems to be the hardest for me. November just seems to busy. I tend to have better luck with the Camp NaNo months, but I know those aren’t taken as seriously by most as the November NaNoWriMos.

There really is no telling what next year will bring, if I’ll be participating in the NaNos or not. I predict it will be busy with house searching, however, my daughter starts pre school so that will give me some more time to sit and write and not feel so rushed. Still, everything is in God’s hands and we’ll shall see what happens. I’ll keep praying and remaining flexible to what God’s will is. I know that is important. We shall see what He has in store. Keep up the writing! God bless & an early Happy Thanksgiving!!

november nano

Seventh Day of NaNo

J.I. Soucie

Man oh man am I ever behind! I started out with one story for NaNo and then changed it a few days in. I erased the word count I had for that one story and started over with this new story.

Yeah, sure I could have kept my word count for the old story but I didn’t feel right about it and it felt unfair to others who are trying their best this month to write a novel.

I am working on a novel that is written as fiction, but is based on true events. I love stories like this and I hope my readers will to.

So right now we are supposed to have about what 12,000 words roughly…eesh! I think I am approaching the 2,000 word mark. Ugh! I really don’t know how I am going to make this one, but I am going to keep trying.

Hubby is putting the daughter to bed right now so I have a few minutes to write…I think…but I have popcorn calling my name with butter and parmesan cheese. Yummm!

Maybe a movie and popcorn will come first and then writing before I go to bed. Good thing I am a night owl! Easier to work after everyone is in bed and the house is quiet. I don’t like waiting that long though. I feel so rushed to catch up with everyone else, or at least to be “on schedule” it seems so overwhelming I just want to give up. I have only finished one NaNo so far even though I have competed in one November NaNao and three Camp NaNos. Rather disappointed but sometimes things happen that just aren’t in our control and you have to go with it. It’s a bummer, but worse when you feel defeated early on because you are so far behind, you wonder “why bother” but that is not the way to think about this. Best to be positive or the negativity will just eat you away and win over and you’ll never achieve anything. Yes, the “you” here is myself talking to me. Trying pump myself up and get myself on the right track, I guess.

Well, I should get going and get things rollin’.
Best of luck everyone!

november nano

New NaNo Story

J.I. Soucie

Well, I have started work on a new story for NaNo. It will be fantasy. I am runny far behind on being ready for NaNo to start, but that’s okay. I can still work on some development as I go.

Still need to come up with a title and some character names, but the final decisions will come later. Right now I may just throw some names in there as fillers.

I have the basic story idea about done. Then it will be developing the characters I am seeing carry out various actions to make this story work. Man, I am having dialogue coming to me and my story crying to be written. Oh, how am I going to be able to wait until Nov 1st to begin writing? It’s so hard!!!!

How are you fellow NaNoWriMos coming along with your story? Are you ready for the month long event? Do you plan on staying home and writing or getting out with other writers in your area? I haven’t fully decided what I am going to do. Will have to see if there are any meetings close to me.

Well, I know this isn’t much of an update this time. Hopefully, I’ll have more to say later. Best of luck and happy writing!

Janis

 

General Updates, november nano

Sci Fi Research On Hold, New Ideas

J.I. Soucie

My Sci Fi research is on hold. I’m not sure for how long. I am taking a writing course through Winghill Writing School and they say not to start writing in a genre you know nothing about. They say to write what you love to read about and for me, I love to read fantasy and historical fiction. So, I think that is the way I will go for now for writing for NaNo, but that is not to say I will never try my hand at Sci Fi. Oh, no. I love to watch it, but I need to spend some time researching the genre and reading Sci Fi to get a good feel for it. I just didn’t feel I could come up with a good Sci Fi story in just a couple of weeks of NaNo starting. It would be a forced story and not a good one.

So what am I working on for the November NaNo this year? That is a good question. I have had some ideas for nonfiction pieces I’ve been wanting to write and have written a rough draft several years ago, but have not published the book because it didn’t seem to work. I have been through the health trials of PTSD, gluten intolerance that when undiagnosed for so many years I developed allergies (food and environmental  and asthma. The thing is I have so MUCH information due to journal entries I get so overwhelmed and writing strictly nonfiction can bring back some of the emotions with those situations.

So my question to all the readers of nonfiction out there: Would you prefer a strictly nonfiction book on someone’s life experiences  or would you enjoy a fiction story that is “based on true life experiences”?

I feel personally that writing my experiences in a fictional setting would be easier emotionally for me, but what I really want to write is what my readers prefer to read.

I pray I get a LOT of response to this blog post. I really do want to know what readers prefer regarding this issue.

Thank you so much for you time.

Have a wonderful, blessed day!

Janis

Camp NaNoWriMo, General Updates, november nano

Sci Fi Research Ongoing

J.I. Soucie

Well I have been reading a book titled The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction: 6 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Bestseller.

This is the book description:

Publication Date: June 18, 2010

Science fiction and fantasy is one of the most challenging–and rewarding!–genres in the bookstore. But with New York Times bestselling author Philip Athans and fantasy giant R. A. Salvatore at your side, you’ll create worlds that draw your readers in–and keep them reading!

Just as important, you’ll learn how to prepare your work for today’s market. Drawing on his years of experience as one of the most acclaimed professionals in publishing, Wizards of the Coast Edited by Athans explains how to set your novel apart–and break into this lucrative field. From devising clever plots and building complex characters to inventing original technologies and crafting alien civilizations, Athans gives you the techniques you need to write strong, saleable narratives.

Plus! Athans applies all of these critical lessons together in an unprecedented deconstruction of a never-before-published tale by the one and only R. A. Salvatore!

There are books on writing science fiction and fantasy, and then there’s this book–the only one you need to create strange, wonderful worlds for your own universe of readers!

——————————-

I have read a decent way through this book already and am finding some useful information, but I know I still have more to read and a LOT to learn about writing SCI FI. I have a feeling if I started writing a SCI FI novel for NaNo this year, that it may end up being a fantasy instead. I guess that is because fantasy is what I am most familiar with.

When I think SCI FI, I think aliens, spaceships, strange planets. I admit my range of SCI FI knowledge is quite limited even though I love Star Trek and Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. I am still a little confused on what makes up SCI FI other than there has to be some element of Science in the book. Now when it comes to Science there is a whole world out there of what could be used. I get stumped on where to go and so forth. At this point I am just feeling rather overwhelmed with this and how it all works. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Maybe once I finish reading the book I’ll have a better understanding. Let’s hope!!! :) So far the book is good and I have learned about several SCI FI authors that I have never heard of before but now that I know about them, can begin reading their work. I am thinking a SCI FI novel may have to wait until Camp NaNo next year after I have had time to learn more about the SCI FI writing world. Something I will have to think about and make a decision on.

Best of luck to all you writers!!!

 

november nano

Research for November NaNo Story

J.I. Soucie

Well, I talked some things over with my hubby who is a great sounding board for me. I was struggling with what genre I wanted to try and write a story in. We are both Trekkies and so he suggested watching Star Trek for ideas for a sci fi story. I thought about it for maybe a split second and totally agreed it was a good idea. Of course I would start with the Original TV series which is my favorite no matter how unrealistic it may seem to today’s TV series and movies. And then perhaps, when I am finished with the original series I’ll watch the Next Generation, which I have seen some of but not much.

Then this gets me thinking further about other space like movies or TV shows I like and I am led to Star Wars. Ah, so there goes more research and ideas.

…..Then there is also Battlestar Galactica which I have seen several episodes and find it very intriguing. Still need to continue watching the series.

Okay, okay. So you’re probably wondering: “How far is she going to go with all this ‘research’?” Good question. I really don’t know. I watch these until I have enough ideas to form a story. Let’s just hope I am able to get this all in BEFORE NaNo starts, or at least have enough to start a story and then watch more of these at night while my husband is in bed. Will be fun trying to watch these movies on my laptop with my headphones on and a notebook and pen in my lap for any ideas that pop out at me.

I can just see myself now and it makes me laugh! Ah, but what fun this is being a creative soul. You never know where your imagination will take you or what precarious situations you will find yourself in just to get those good ideas.

Well, off to do some fun “research”! Night all and best of luck in your story planning!

 

november nano

National Novel Writer’s Month Is Around the Corner

J.I. Soucie

Here we are and it’s almost mid October already. Can you believe it? November is soon approaching and with that means National Novel Writers’ Month and writing so many words a day to reach that word count of at least 50,000 words.

Now is the time we must be thinking about what kind of story we would like to write, and live in for the next month….and really longer as I am sure many will continue to work on their books even after November ends until the book is finished. I know that is what I plan to do.

I am not sure what my story is going to be about. I love so many time periods it is hard to choose, but I also love fantasy and science fiction. Then there are always stories written based on real life experiences. I am not sure which I want to do yet. Thankfully I have a little time to think about it, but really I can’t think too long as I will need some time to work on background work for characters for whichever I choose to write. Ugh! It is so hard to decide when you have so many interests.

Do any of you find it hard to begin a story because you have so many things you are interested in writing about, or including in your story? How do you decide what to write about? I’d love to hear your comments.

 

General Updates, november nano

Busy Days

J.I. Soucie

 

I tell ya, last night and this morning have been busy. My bedroom is also my office right now and you can imagine the papers and books everywhere and how I have to keep the floor clean and… ugh. It’s not just writing things that get piled up, it’s magazines and newspapers I like to read that may become places to submit material, and then craft projects I am trying to work on to make sure they are done by Christmas…and gifts to send to family members who have had babies recently…

So, I have been really cleaning up and going through my files to see if there are papers I still need or not. I guess it’s like spring cleaning at the end of summer.  lol Guess I’m late on getting the spring cleaning bug. Well, not really. All year I have been trying to clean and organize so I can get to my cooking school, my writing school, and my Bible study, but the clutter was just too much. Today, I think I will manage to get a system together and FINALLY have things straightened out and have a work flow at my desk and be able to accomplish all that I would like in a day.

I’m off to finish the rest of the cleaning and organizing and then to get some tasks such as snail mailing some friends, and working on my schools and Bible study. Also to track my foods and activity at Sparkpeople.com which has helped me to lose about 39 pounds so far. I am thinking of writing about my experiences with SparkPeople and how the websites tools and supportive community have helped me so far as well praying to God to help me keep going on this way to renewing my body for His service.

So many ideas swimming in my head for things to write. It’s old times where my imagination is just wild at the moment and itching to get to writing. I must go for now, and finish what little cleaning and organizing I need to do and then get to work.

Take care all, and don’t forget that the November NaNo is not far away!!! I’m excited! Are you excited?

Also, do any of you writers have desks that just never seem to be clean. You find something interesting and set it on your desk to look at it later and then it just seems to keep happening? How do you deal with clutter and keep it from happening?

Until next time,

Have a great day!

 

Camp NaNoWriMo, november nano, PTSD, Writing Updates

So Many Ideas

J.I. Soucie

Okay, so my mind is going totally crazy with all sorts of ideas. I have two books I started last year. One was with Camp NaNo and the other was with the regular NaNoWriMo. So I could work on those…but then my mind is like, you have been through some things that could help others like PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, being highly sensitive to certain things, gluten intolerance…why not write those first since more people would benefit? Then, there are these ideas for creating a magazine or two, problem with that is getting contributors who will work for free at the start. Ugh!!! I desire to write, but why can’t I decide what to write about? Can’t figure out why this decision is so hard!

Has anyone else run into this same problem? Maybe it’s just something someone with the “idealist” personality goes through such as me. I am an INFP.

So darned hard to focus on one thing. But I think I will work on the book about PTSD since I most have that written, just need to make some changes and I’ll be done with the first draft.

After that will be the book on gluten intolerance, which I have mostly written as well and just need to make a few changes on that will have another rough draft.

Wow! Guess I was closer to having two more books done and didn’t even realize it. I think after those two books are done I can make another decision on what to write. I will keep everyone updated on my progress. Best of luck to everyone!

A Forever Friend, november nano

Updates On NaNo Book

J.I. Soucie

I had not realized how long it has been since I have written a blog post about my writing. Where have I been? lol Well I am back, having cleared off my writing desk, and with everyone else in the house asleep, I am here to let everyone know what I have been up to. I have been writing in a small book all of the projects I am looking forward to working on, but the most pressing is the book that I wrote for NaNo this year. I have a couple of titles for this book “My Christian Journey” and “A Forever Friend” and I am not sure which title I like the best. The book still has to undergo it’s first major edit and then maybe another edit or two, but I am excited to be working on this book and can’t wait to see it in its final stages. Here is a picture of the book.

A Forever Friend
So this is the manuscript I have to edit and looking through it tonight, I have realized that this book is not going the way I had hoped and that a MAJOR part of it may be dumped in the trash. I want this book to be a testimony of faith to others for all that God has done for me but it is not turning out that way. So now I am back to the drawing board and nead to learn some basics on how to write a good faith based testimonial before I can move on. I’m nervous about all these changes and just hope I can make this new book meet the standards of at least 50,000 so I can have it printed by CreateSpace for free thanks for having won this years NaNo I can do that. Oh so many things to think about and research. I may start on that tonight and then get to bed. Take care all and I wish the best for you all, especially those of who NaNoers who are also in the field of editing. God bless.