November Checklist:
Post progress reports. Done.
Cook Thanksgiving dinner. Done.
Oh, and a little thing like write a 50,000-word novel. Done.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 26
It's Saturday evening and I'm looking at the finish line on Wednesday with 6,000 words to go! I know one of you already finished 50,000 words (yahoo!) and the rest of us are still plugging along. Don't give up. Keep moving forward.
If you haven't uploaded your word count yet, make sure you do so before the end of NaNoWriMo so your words will count toward our class goal!
If you haven't uploaded your word count yet, make sure you do so before the end of NaNoWriMo so your words will count toward our class goal!
Friday, November 25, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 25
Update:
I'm at 41,000 words as of 1:30 a.m. Yes - a.m.! I wrote about 6,000 words today. A certain group member is ALMOST FINISHED with her 50,000-word book! She's in sixth grade (can't mention her name on the Internet) but we know who she is! Woohoo! Congratulations to you!
Mark your calendar: The NaNoWrimo TGIO Party (Thank Goodness It's Over) will be held on Tueday, December 6th from 3:45p - 5:00p in my classroom. Spread the word! All writing club members are invited. Here's what you need to be admitted to the party:
I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving yesterday! I think the best part for me about the holidays is the day afterward. The house is clean. There's a ton of leftover food in the refrigerator so I don't have to cook. I don't have to work and I finally have some time to write!
I looked at our virtual classroom and I'm pleased with the progress everyone is making! Keep up the fabulous work, Wrimos! Don't give up. We're so close to the finish line!
I'm at 41,000 words as of 1:30 a.m. Yes - a.m.! I wrote about 6,000 words today. A certain group member is ALMOST FINISHED with her 50,000-word book! She's in sixth grade (can't mention her name on the Internet) but we know who she is! Woohoo! Congratulations to you!
Mark your calendar: The NaNoWrimo TGIO Party (Thank Goodness It's Over) will be held on Tueday, December 6th from 3:45p - 5:00p in my classroom. Spread the word! All writing club members are invited. Here's what you need to be admitted to the party:
- 100 words of a favorite section of your NaNoWriMo book to share with the group.
- $3.00 to pay for pizza and soda.
I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving yesterday! I think the best part for me about the holidays is the day afterward. The house is clean. There's a ton of leftover food in the refrigerator so I don't have to cook. I don't have to work and I finally have some time to write!
I looked at our virtual classroom and I'm pleased with the progress everyone is making! Keep up the fabulous work, Wrimos! Don't give up. We're so close to the finish line!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 23
This is the first time in my NaNo history that I have been lagging in my word count on Day 23. Life happens, as they say, and my life has been happening at an exponentially busy pace lately. Those of you who know me know that we're making a huge tech transition at work, so my normal writing times before/during/after school have been non-existent due to my involvement with the transition.
BUT
No excuses for me. None for you, either. Tomorrow is turkey day and I intend to write for the next four days to get caught up, get ahead, and possibly finish before November 30th.
Some of you have begun to back out of NaNoWriMo because it's getting harder and harder to write. Please don't give up. You're so close to the end of this endeavor. It would be a shame to stop now! If you need inspiration, download the NaNoWriMo workbook for your grade level. There are many helpful suggestions to keep you moving forward.
So, what if you don't make your word count? Keep writing no matter what. Look at the words you've written since the beginning of NaNoWriMo. Did you think you could write even that many? That's a huge accomplishment. Focus on the positive and keep writing! There's still time.
Yougottawannasoquityerwining! See you at the finish line.
(-:
BUT
No excuses for me. None for you, either. Tomorrow is turkey day and I intend to write for the next four days to get caught up, get ahead, and possibly finish before November 30th.
Some of you have begun to back out of NaNoWriMo because it's getting harder and harder to write. Please don't give up. You're so close to the end of this endeavor. It would be a shame to stop now! If you need inspiration, download the NaNoWriMo workbook for your grade level. There are many helpful suggestions to keep you moving forward.
So, what if you don't make your word count? Keep writing no matter what. Look at the words you've written since the beginning of NaNoWriMo. Did you think you could write even that many? That's a huge accomplishment. Focus on the positive and keep writing! There's still time.
Yougottawannasoquityerwining! See you at the finish line.
(-:
Monday, November 21, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 21
Are you backing up your data every day? If not, what are you waiting for?
1. Email the files to yourself.
2. Put a copy on the school's server.
3. Save it in Google Docs.
Do it now!
1. Email the files to yourself.
2. Put a copy on the school's server.
3. Save it in Google Docs.
Do it now!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 20
I went to see a movie which I thought would be a pleasant diversion from NaNoWriMo and a source of inspiration. I saw Breaking Dawn and I am sick to my stomach. It has to be the worst movie I have ever seen. A few years ago, I couldn't finish this book from the Twilight series. It was ridiculous in print. Today, I left the movie twice because the storyline was worse visually than written. The whole plot was totally unrealistic, even in the land of werewolves and vampires. It was beyond over the top and contrived. The acting hasn't improved much since the Twilight movie. Not to mention gory.
A mother brought her young daughter (age 10?) to the movie, and all I can say is shame on her. Had I brought my child to the movie (which I wouldn't have) I would have gotten up and walked out. It's the stuff young girl's nightmares are made of.
So, I wasted two perfectly good writing hours.
Enough said except...eeeeew! and yeck! And I'll never buy it on DVD.
A mother brought her young daughter (age 10?) to the movie, and all I can say is shame on her. Had I brought my child to the movie (which I wouldn't have) I would have gotten up and walked out. It's the stuff young girl's nightmares are made of.
So, I wasted two perfectly good writing hours.
Enough said except...eeeeew! and yeck! And I'll never buy it on DVD.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 19
https://store.lettersandlight.org/merchandise/nanowrimo-winners-circle-t-shirt-2011
T-shirts for the 50,000-word winners. Order now if you think you're going to finish 50,000 words.
Dear Wrimos:
Here are my thoughts on this novel writing process...
A part of me loves it, a part of me dreads it, but all of me won't give up. I'm 4,000 words behind in my word count because I've spent all of my writing time in the past two days tending to other more urgent needs (like work XP!). But I know, as well as you, that there are no excuses for not writing, if you're really serious. And I am. So as soon as I'm done posting this blog, off I shall go into NaNoLand. Are ya' comin'?
Keep writing, everyone! I'm proud of you!
BTW - Don't forget that club pictures will be taken for the yearbook on Tuesday. Wear your black uniform shirts, if possible.
T-shirts for the 50,000-word winners. Order now if you think you're going to finish 50,000 words.
Dear Wrimos:
Here are my thoughts on this novel writing process...
A part of me loves it, a part of me dreads it, but all of me won't give up. I'm 4,000 words behind in my word count because I've spent all of my writing time in the past two days tending to other more urgent needs (like work XP!). But I know, as well as you, that there are no excuses for not writing, if you're really serious. And I am. So as soon as I'm done posting this blog, off I shall go into NaNoLand. Are ya' comin'?
Keep writing, everyone! I'm proud of you!
BTW - Don't forget that club pictures will be taken for the yearbook on Tuesday. Wear your black uniform shirts, if possible.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 17
Just checking in to say I don't want to say anything. I'm pooped. I'll bet you are, too. Go to sleep, Wrimos!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 16
I have written twenty-five chapters so far (25,000 words), and that may seem like an impressive number to someone who is not participating in this endeavor (like well-meaning relatives on Thanksgiving, "You wrote 25 chapters? Fab-u-lous, dahling!")
The 25 chapters are what I call skeletal chapters. Each chapter contains characters, plot, conflict and dialogue that further the storyline. But those characters are nakee (eeeek!) and need some clothes (pulhease!), and the dialogue is pretty basic ("Huh?" "Wha?"), so I'm going back to each chapter and flesh them out.
This is not editing, so don't freak out and report me to the NaNo Police! OMG! At this point in the writing process, I've said all I need to say to make the story work, but it's oh so flimsy in some places! Time to add some backbone and muscle (hoo-rah!).
I'm going to add setting, annotations (he said, she said, they cheered, yada yada), and reactions and actions, like...
"Oh, really?" she sniffed, shifting the long-stemmed glass of wine to the other well-manicured hand.
That kinda of stuff.
These tasks will make my story more believable and increase my word count.
Now, if I could just find my headphones...
The 25 chapters are what I call skeletal chapters. Each chapter contains characters, plot, conflict and dialogue that further the storyline. But those characters are nakee (eeeek!) and need some clothes (pulhease!), and the dialogue is pretty basic ("Huh?" "Wha?"), so I'm going back to each chapter and flesh them out.
This is not editing, so don't freak out and report me to the NaNo Police! OMG! At this point in the writing process, I've said all I need to say to make the story work, but it's oh so flimsy in some places! Time to add some backbone and muscle (hoo-rah!).
I'm going to add setting, annotations (he said, she said, they cheered, yada yada), and reactions and actions, like...
"Oh, really?" she sniffed, shifting the long-stemmed glass of wine to the other well-manicured hand.
That kinda of stuff.
These tasks will make my story more believable and increase my word count.
Now, if I could just find my headphones...
Monday, November 14, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 14
Yes, I skipped posting yesterday (Day 13) but I exempted myself since I had to post your progress report grades. XP
Okay, so here's my thought for the day...BACK UP YOUR DATA! Shall I say it again? BACK UP YOUR DATA, YOU SILLY WRITERS!
There. I said it. I yelled it. I shook my fists. I implored you on my knees. I sent smoke messages toward a cloudless sky. I tapped out Morse code. I wrote with logs on a deserted island. I rigged my neighbor's outside Christmas lights to spell B-A-C-K-U-P.
Get the picture?
Soooooooooooo - don't blame me if you lose your entire novel that you've sweat and cried over because you forgot to back it up.
1. Send an email to yourself and attach the file.
2. Save the file to an external USB hard drive.
3. Save the file to a USB thumb drive.
4. Use Google Docs and save it there.
5. Burn it to a CD.
Whatever you do - back it up, you silly writers! Now, leave me alone. I need to find my inner tranquility so I can pound out 3,000 words by tomorrow. XP
Okay, so here's my thought for the day...BACK UP YOUR DATA! Shall I say it again? BACK UP YOUR DATA, YOU SILLY WRITERS!
There. I said it. I yelled it. I shook my fists. I implored you on my knees. I sent smoke messages toward a cloudless sky. I tapped out Morse code. I wrote with logs on a deserted island. I rigged my neighbor's outside Christmas lights to spell B-A-C-K-U-P.
Get the picture?
Soooooooooooo - don't blame me if you lose your entire novel that you've sweat and cried over because you forgot to back it up.
1. Send an email to yourself and attach the file.
2. Save the file to an external USB hard drive.
3. Save the file to a USB thumb drive.
4. Use Google Docs and save it there.
5. Burn it to a CD.
Whatever you do - back it up, you silly writers! Now, leave me alone. I need to find my inner tranquility so I can pound out 3,000 words by tomorrow. XP
Saturday, November 12, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 12
Pep Talk
Our halfway mark is Tuesday, November 15th! Regardless of your word count, keep writing. If you don't meet your word count goal by the 30th, you can still continue writing your book. In fact, one year I finished with 50,000 and went on to write another 30,000.
The most important thing to remember is that you are writing, and that makes you a winner!
Okay - so let's get down to business. Where are you in your book? There are so many aspects of writing besides moving the storyline forward. You can write about the setting, the characters' background, the backstory, the antagonists' motivations... If you're stuck, go back to the basics of journalism: who, what, when, where, why and how. Ask yourself these journalistic questions on every aspect of your book. Trust me - you'll see the holes in your story and realize you've got more to write.
Keep going, Wrimos!
Our halfway mark is Tuesday, November 15th! Regardless of your word count, keep writing. If you don't meet your word count goal by the 30th, you can still continue writing your book. In fact, one year I finished with 50,000 and went on to write another 30,000.
The most important thing to remember is that you are writing, and that makes you a winner!
Okay - so let's get down to business. Where are you in your book? There are so many aspects of writing besides moving the storyline forward. You can write about the setting, the characters' background, the backstory, the antagonists' motivations... If you're stuck, go back to the basics of journalism: who, what, when, where, why and how. Ask yourself these journalistic questions on every aspect of your book. Trust me - you'll see the holes in your story and realize you've got more to write.
Keep going, Wrimos!
Friday, November 11, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 11
Who is online today? Go to our classroom forum on the ywp.nanowrimo website and reply to this question or post a new message in the forum. Let's support each other today.
What are you doing to keep yourself motivated?
What is your word count?
Are you encountering any problems with plot?
Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?
Mrs. Procopio
Later that day....
Okay, so I'm at 16,668 words today, which is about 5,000 more words than I had when I woke up. (I updated my daily word count without checking my previous balance.) I plan to write another 1,000 by the end of the day.
I spent some time reorganizing my planning spreadsheet and labeling my Word Docs into chapter numbers. The book is coming together like wide, swirling ribbons of colorful paint. Eventually, the colors will be mixed evenly and smoothly, but right now, it's still preliminary. But hopeful.
And that's why I keep writing. I'm curious. I'm excited. But mostly, I'm hopeful that the book at the end of this NaNo tunnel will be what I envision. Interesting. Insightful. And fabulous.
Check ya' later...
What are you doing to keep yourself motivated?
What is your word count?
Are you encountering any problems with plot?
Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?
Mrs. Procopio
Later that day....
Okay, so I'm at 16,668 words today, which is about 5,000 more words than I had when I woke up. (I updated my daily word count without checking my previous balance.) I plan to write another 1,000 by the end of the day.
I spent some time reorganizing my planning spreadsheet and labeling my Word Docs into chapter numbers. The book is coming together like wide, swirling ribbons of colorful paint. Eventually, the colors will be mixed evenly and smoothly, but right now, it's still preliminary. But hopeful.
And that's why I keep writing. I'm curious. I'm excited. But mostly, I'm hopeful that the book at the end of this NaNo tunnel will be what I envision. Interesting. Insightful. And fabulous.
Check ya' later...
Thursday, November 10, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 10
I pronounce tomorrow to be NaNoDay! I'm getting up early and planning to write all day (with a few well-planned moments of rest).
Can I write 6,000 words? I sure hope so! Let's do it together!
TTFN
Can I write 6,000 words? I sure hope so! Let's do it together!
TTFN
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 9
Some of you have told me that you're running out of words to say. Welcome to Week 2. The way I see it, we wait in great anticipation for NaNoWriMo to start, and when it does, we type (or write) furiously because we have so many ideas! They flow from our fingertips like floodwater rushing over a dry riverbed (yes, I live in the desert). But...there's Week 2. Our words dry up and our fingers tap nervously on the table top. Is this the end of my book? Do I have nothing more to say? Will I never make it to the NaNo finish line?
To you worriers, I say "Pish Posh!" Yes, pish posh! (I think I heard that phrase from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!") Anyway, pish posh to you! Nonsense! Silliness! You have plenty to say, you just have to dig deep. DIG DEEP. You've written the superfluous words that rolled off your creative conscience, bearing the deeper layers of your story. The guts. The pain. The fear. Your characters are exposed and they are nakee!
So - what's a writer to do?
I urge you to use this time to contemplate your protagonist with the Five W's and H - who, what, when, where, why and how?". Why does my character act as h/she does? What happened to him/her? What does h/she fear? What does he/she want and why does h/she want it?
Then ask the same questions of your other characters. With these questions in mind, just start writing.
Here's an example: "My character is angry at her brother because..." and then keep going. Next, create a conversation between the character and her brother. Throw an argument into the mix. Soon a new scene will appear on your fingertips. Just let it flow. You'll be surprised where the conversation takes you. Doors slam! Dishes crash! Tears are shed! The new scene will have a deeper meaning than what you've written thus far because you dug deep.
Now, keep asking those questions and keep digging. Your character will have more realistic, believable qualities. Your reader will thank you.
146,000 and counting, Wrimos!
To you worriers, I say "Pish Posh!" Yes, pish posh! (I think I heard that phrase from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!") Anyway, pish posh to you! Nonsense! Silliness! You have plenty to say, you just have to dig deep. DIG DEEP. You've written the superfluous words that rolled off your creative conscience, bearing the deeper layers of your story. The guts. The pain. The fear. Your characters are exposed and they are nakee!
So - what's a writer to do?
I urge you to use this time to contemplate your protagonist with the Five W's and H - who, what, when, where, why and how?". Why does my character act as h/she does? What happened to him/her? What does h/she fear? What does he/she want and why does h/she want it?
Then ask the same questions of your other characters. With these questions in mind, just start writing.
Here's an example: "My character is angry at her brother because..." and then keep going. Next, create a conversation between the character and her brother. Throw an argument into the mix. Soon a new scene will appear on your fingertips. Just let it flow. You'll be surprised where the conversation takes you. Doors slam! Dishes crash! Tears are shed! The new scene will have a deeper meaning than what you've written thus far because you dug deep.
Now, keep asking those questions and keep digging. Your character will have more realistic, believable qualities. Your reader will thank you.
146,000 and counting, Wrimos!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 8
Week Two has begun!
You guys rock - 140,000 words and counting! I am so pleased with the efforts of our writing group. You make me proud!
Follow this link for important information about publishing your NaNo Novel...
http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/node/1075382
You guys rock - 140,000 words and counting! I am so pleased with the efforts of our writing group. You make me proud!
Follow this link for important information about publishing your NaNo Novel...
http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/node/1075382
Monday, November 7, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 7
Cumulative club word count - 110,000! Whoo hoo!
Tomorrow we will begin Week 2! The second week is considered the hardest. You may have been writing furiously up until now, and suddenly you've run out of energy, desire, inspiration, time, etc. Hang in there and keep forging ahead. I promise you - if you get through Week 2 (and you will) it's truly downhill from there.
Good time to back up your novel! Wouldn't want you to lose all of your hard work!
TTFN
Tomorrow we will begin Week 2! The second week is considered the hardest. You may have been writing furiously up until now, and suddenly you've run out of energy, desire, inspiration, time, etc. Hang in there and keep forging ahead. I promise you - if you get through Week 2 (and you will) it's truly downhill from there.
Good time to back up your novel! Wouldn't want you to lose all of your hard work!
TTFN
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 5
Cumulative word count - 85,000! Go Academy Wrimos!
Five days into the book writing process. How's it coming along? It's possible that you're in need of a break, so I'd like to share with you a fun activity that will keep your story moving forward (you'll focus on character development) and give you a break from typing (or writing - if you're a purist!)
Create a character montage (or collage). What is a montage? you may ask. Here's a definition straight from Merriam Webster online.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/montage?show=0&t=1320541152
mon·tage noun \män-ˈtäzh, mōⁿ(n)-\
1: the production of a rapid succession of images in a motion picture to illustrate an association of ideas
2a : a literary, musical, or artistic composite of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements b : a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures.
I'm referring to definition 1, but not rapid (just every five seconds). You can do this activity with Power Point and clip art or electronic images (to create the montage), or with a scissors, paper, magazines and a glue stick (to create a collage).
Montage
1. Create a Power Point slide show, one slide per character.
2. From PPT (insert > clip art), find one main image (sort under photographs) that most resembles your characters main features (hair, eyes, nose, age, gender, etc.)
3. Find 10 - 20 additional images that help to describe your characters' world, i.e. family, interests, goals, fears, concerns, possessions - cars, houses, places of school or employment).
4. Copy, paste and crop these images around the main image (see #2).
5. Repeat this process for each of your characters.
6. Using textboxes and Word Art, create simple statements that they character would say or think. Place these statements over the images.
7. Set Power Point as a slide show presentation with a timer of 5 seconds.
8. Sit back and watch your presentation and take notes on 3 x 5 cards as plot or backstory inspiration hits you.
Collage
1. Gather a stack of magazines and newspapers around you.
2. Cut images that depict your characters. (See step #2 above).
3. Glue these images onto a piece of sturdy paper (construction paper works)
4. Cut out words and glue them to the images. Create simple statements that the character would say or think. Place these statements over the images.5. If you are super artistic (not me!) you can cut up the pieces to make a larger image, like a person's face. The smaller pieces can become the shading of the eyes, face and mouth.
Have fun!
(0:
Five days into the book writing process. How's it coming along? It's possible that you're in need of a break, so I'd like to share with you a fun activity that will keep your story moving forward (you'll focus on character development) and give you a break from typing (or writing - if you're a purist!)
Create a character montage (or collage). What is a montage? you may ask. Here's a definition straight from Merriam Webster online.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/montage?show=0&t=1320541152
mon·tage noun \män-ˈtäzh, mōⁿ(n)-\
1: the production of a rapid succession of images in a motion picture to illustrate an association of ideas
2a : a literary, musical, or artistic composite of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements b : a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures.
I'm referring to definition 1, but not rapid (just every five seconds). You can do this activity with Power Point and clip art or electronic images (to create the montage), or with a scissors, paper, magazines and a glue stick (to create a collage).
Montage
1. Create a Power Point slide show, one slide per character.
2. From PPT (insert > clip art), find one main image (sort under photographs) that most resembles your characters main features (hair, eyes, nose, age, gender, etc.)
3. Find 10 - 20 additional images that help to describe your characters' world, i.e. family, interests, goals, fears, concerns, possessions - cars, houses, places of school or employment).
4. Copy, paste and crop these images around the main image (see #2).
5. Repeat this process for each of your characters.
6. Using textboxes and Word Art, create simple statements that they character would say or think. Place these statements over the images.
7. Set Power Point as a slide show presentation with a timer of 5 seconds.
8. Sit back and watch your presentation and take notes on 3 x 5 cards as plot or backstory inspiration hits you.
Collage
1. Gather a stack of magazines and newspapers around you.
2. Cut images that depict your characters. (See step #2 above).
3. Glue these images onto a piece of sturdy paper (construction paper works)
4. Cut out words and glue them to the images. Create simple statements that the character would say or think. Place these statements over the images.5. If you are super artistic (not me!) you can cut up the pieces to make a larger image, like a person's face. The smaller pieces can become the shading of the eyes, face and mouth.
Have fun!
(0:
Friday, November 4, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 4
Last time I checked, we were at 77,777 cumulative word count! I know most of you were at the Fall Festival tonight (I was the one squirting cherry syrup on the snow cones!) so you are exempt from writing your daily word count (unless you're staying up late like me).
I hope you bought some books at the book fair. Next year, your NaNoWriMo book could be on one of those tables...
I hope you bought some books at the book fair. Next year, your NaNoWriMo book could be on one of those tables...
Thursday, November 3, 2011
NaNoWriMo - Day 3
It's Day Three of NaNoWriMo and the cumulative word count for our club is 61,497! Woohoo! We are moving right along! Last year, our club wrote 800,000 words. Can we beat our 2010 record? I hope so!
I'm totally psyched about my NaNo book. It's progressing in ways I expected and in ways I did not. I don't want to say much here - you know - spoiler alert - but suffice to say I'm quite pleased.
This is my third NaNoWriMo book and my fourth book overall. I must say that the novel-writing process does get easier. The pre-planning helps immensely. I'm undertaking a new challenge this year. Writing a novel in first person. OMG! So foreign and a bit painful. I've always written in third person, but last year I wrote a short story in first person (Nobody) and won honorable mention for it in the district writing contest, so I thought I'd try my hand at using first-person this year. It feels like I'm learning to drive a stick shift all over again. Kinda' bumpy and jerky, but once I get into the groove, the ride is smooth.
TTFN. Keep writing.
I'm totally psyched about my NaNo book. It's progressing in ways I expected and in ways I did not. I don't want to say much here - you know - spoiler alert - but suffice to say I'm quite pleased.
This is my third NaNoWriMo book and my fourth book overall. I must say that the novel-writing process does get easier. The pre-planning helps immensely. I'm undertaking a new challenge this year. Writing a novel in first person. OMG! So foreign and a bit painful. I've always written in third person, but last year I wrote a short story in first person (Nobody) and won honorable mention for it in the district writing contest, so I thought I'd try my hand at using first-person this year. It feels like I'm learning to drive a stick shift all over again. Kinda' bumpy and jerky, but once I get into the groove, the ride is smooth.
TTFN. Keep writing.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Totally Cool
NaNoWriMo Kick-Off
It was totally cool.
Forty-six writing club members met in my classroom after school yesterday with laptops and headphones, wearing the determined expressions of marathoners awaiting the bang of the starting gun.
3 - 2 - 1. It's NaNoWriMo time...
To fuel our writing engines, we stuffed ourselves with pizza, cookies and soda, and snuggled into our respective creative grooves.
After the last bell of the day, my classroom becomes a sacred writing place, a place of total focus and absolute respect for the creative process. I turn the lights low, and blast music through my headphones, drowning out the day's events and concerns. In this roomful of people, I was comfortably alone in my own world, yet surrounded by writers working toward a common goal. Sometimes I just have to reflect on the coolness of it all, because when you really think about what we're doing, it's absolutely amazing.
Forty-six writing club members typed furiously, each creating their own worlds from their own unique recipes of characters, plots and conflicts. Fourth graders sat beside eighth graders. No boundaries here. We are all writers, all sharing the same moment.
It was a totally cool moment that I will never forget.
And that's what I love the most about NaNoWriMo.
The coolness.
It was totally cool.
Forty-six writing club members met in my classroom after school yesterday with laptops and headphones, wearing the determined expressions of marathoners awaiting the bang of the starting gun.
3 - 2 - 1. It's NaNoWriMo time...
To fuel our writing engines, we stuffed ourselves with pizza, cookies and soda, and snuggled into our respective creative grooves.
After the last bell of the day, my classroom becomes a sacred writing place, a place of total focus and absolute respect for the creative process. I turn the lights low, and blast music through my headphones, drowning out the day's events and concerns. In this roomful of people, I was comfortably alone in my own world, yet surrounded by writers working toward a common goal. Sometimes I just have to reflect on the coolness of it all, because when you really think about what we're doing, it's absolutely amazing.
Forty-six writing club members typed furiously, each creating their own worlds from their own unique recipes of characters, plots and conflicts. Fourth graders sat beside eighth graders. No boundaries here. We are all writers, all sharing the same moment.
It was a totally cool moment that I will never forget.
And that's what I love the most about NaNoWriMo.
The coolness.
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