Comments on: NaNo Tips No. 26: Giving Thanks

By: Sarah Allen

Sarah Allen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:57:21 +0000

Thanks for this! I'm not doing NaNo this year because I'm working on something that I feel I need to take slower then that, but this is still very applicable. Everyone feels that things aren't working out for them at some point, and its good to be thankful for the times that it does. So thanks! (my creative writing blog)

By: Sandy Shin

Sandy Shin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:36:41 +0000

This is such a wonderful advice, especially this:

“Those of you doing NaNoWriMo may discover that you’re thankful that you have the time, resources and support to spend the month of November trying to write a novel. There are plenty of people without any of those things.”

So very true.

By: Addy-la

Addy-la — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000

Im so thankful For my 30k! Im just glad i got this much! Thanks for all the tips they make all the difference!

By: wandering-dreamer

wandering-dreamer — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:01:37 +0000

I am glad that I discovered this event since it gives me the motivation I need to sit down and write. In fact, if I was to look at that website in July I would probably be struck with the sudden urge to start writing for a few hours straight. And thanks to you and Scott for giving out the useful (and sometime quirky) tips that make this just a little bit easier and bit more interesting. Happy turkey day y’all!

By: Cyndy Otty

Cyndy Otty — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:59:12 +0000

Nan?

By: Kristan

Kristan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:06:46 +0000

Great advice. I am thankful for my 14k words. Happy thanksgiving!

By: kai charles

kai charles — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:16:41 +0000

Justine you rock! it’s so true I never realised what ita gift it is to have the Time and tools to write some many people don’t

By: Katie-wa

Katie-wa — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:47:47 +0000

I am thankful that God has given me a talent for writing and has filled my head with lots of amazing stories. I am thankful that it is possible to share those stories with others. I am thankful that I learn everyday to write better. I am thankful for other writers to learn from. I am thankful for the joy that writing and the community of writers can be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Tweets that mention Nan Tips No. 26: Giving Thanks | Justine Larbalestier -- Topsy.com

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:47:24 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Scott Westerfeld and kami garcia, Jo Treggiari. Jo Treggiari said: RT @ScottWesterfeld: Nano Tip No. 26 from @justinelavaworm: Giving Thanks. http://tinyurl.com/ylchlc8 hallelujah! [...]

By: Philip

Philip — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:37:54 +0000

I know I won’t finish my book by next Monday. Hell, I didn’t finish part 1 until Tuesday morning. Even if I write 1,667 each day in December I probably won’t finish. The characters keep getting away from me, no matter what I do to try to keep the story on track.

But I am thankful that NaNoWriMo provided me a structure to keep to that actually worked. Every time I’ve come up with a story or a series idea I’ve approached it as if I need to have everything set up and in line before I did any serious work. Have the characters developed, have every twist and turn of the plot planned out, have the themes determined.

With my novel here, I just dived in. I had some ideas for the story and the characters, but I’m on a different route entirely. I’ll get to where I wanted to be when I started, but I’m taking the scenic route. It’s the word count, trying to have something tangible done, that keeps me going. Because even though I’m going to do so much trimming and editing later, I’m at least building up something. I have over 40K right now and I’ll hit 50K by Monday midnight no problem. Then I’ll keep going to 60K and 70K and on it goes until I’m done.

By: Addy-la

Addy-la — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:34:12 +0000

Okay… if you say so!!!

By: Angieanything

Angieanything — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:12:56 +0000

That’s brilliant advice. Be thankful that we are blessed with the ability to write. I’ve only got about 20k, but it’s a good 20k and I’m happy with it.

By: Alberto Lung

Alberto Lung — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:12:48 +0000

Hi Justine. I love your blog. I had a terrible writing week and wanted to ask you something:

How much of what you write (on your first draft, first sit) actually stays in the book?

I found that every time i open my word document and it comes up on the first page i fell sick of how “overwritten” some of the stuff happens to be.

Some things like “Light came into the room invading the space of darkness” Fells way too much when what i really want to say is “He opened the window”

(ps. sorry if my English sucks i am Brazilian… i write in Portuguese.)