20 Questions with your mods
Oct. 21st, 2012 05:56 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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nanowrimo_ljIn November you're going to see some more faces (icons?) showing up here to help me run this place as well as seeing them host sprints in our lovely chatzy room (*cough* shameless plug*) or just around helping out. They're wonderful, kind, witty, and giving up many hours of valuable writing time to help us all get our novels done.
They deserve our respect, kindness, and appreciation.
Later on, I'm going to post some basic rules on how to behave during sprints and how to help the mods run clean rooms, but that's not what today is for. Today, I want to introduce you to my crew. These are some of the craziest, wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful people you will ever meet this side of of NaNoWrimo and most of them humored me in answering 20 questions about themselves and NaNo.
Take some time and read some of their responses and get to know them. We are here to serve and help you. We're ready to take on this challenge. I hope you come along with us.
Here are the 20 Questions I asked every mod:
Twenty Questions With...
Basics:
Name:Years doing Nano:Shameless Pimping: (blogs/published works/twitter/etc)
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
3. Have you won Nano?
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
8. What do you use for inspiration?
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
18. Who is your favorite author?
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Jill (LilBlackRainCloud)
Name: Lil Black Rain Cloud
LJ: llblckraincloud
Published Works: amazon.com/J.F.-Jenkins/e/B004P3HB6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_3
Twitter: @jfjenkinstweets
FB: http://www.facebook.com/jfjenkinsauthor
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I found it randomly online back in 2004 and I've been doing it ever since!
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
I just like having a holiday for writing. That's how I see it. Something about it is just so exciting!
3. Have you won Nano?
I've won every year since it started. So far that's 8 Years and counting.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
For me, it's not so much about winning as it is staying on task. That's what I think is successful. There have been nanos where I lose where I'm going and just randomly throw things out there. I still win, but I don't feel satisfied in the same ways as when I stay on task and finish.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I treat my writing life like I would a job. I make time to do it, like office hours, etc. Outside of those hours I'm known to poke on things, but if I don't set aside some REAL time to do it, then I'll get distracted by other things. This way I'm guaranteed to work on it, even for just an hour.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
No. There usually aren't too many in my area and finding a sitter is hard.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I've got my project idea. I might make an outline. I made a calendar too! Working on stocking up my Nano foods.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Visual inspiration helps. Pictures mostly. Sometimes I take awesome "plot naps" where I just lay down and think things out.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Take a break and do something else while you think about your book. Sometimes you only need a change in scenery.
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
Reading helps with writing. Do it.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
I think there's a point to that, but if you don't have an idea of what you want to do or where you want to go, it's easy to get frustrated.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I write in the afternoons or mornings the most. Which is when you'll find me in the sprint room. Night time I tend to shut down.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I don't write to music anymore. So i don't keep a playlist anymore.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Letting other people make you feel worthless unintentionally. There's the aspect of competition to Nano. You see other people who are ahead of you and feel like you suck. That's bogus. Remember, it's about you and only you. Don't let "power nanoers" ruin the experience for you.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Staying interested in one project.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Usually it's my dorky online role play habit.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Not sure I know what a Nano rebel is. lol. But...just write?
18. Who is your favorite author?
Stephen King
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Caramel Corn
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Just keep at it. Don't let it stress you out either. Adjust your word counts per day if you get behind. Don't try to catch up by doing double of you'll kill yourself.
Steph
Name: Steph
Years doing Nano: This is my 4th!
Shameless Pimping: None at the moment
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A friend of mine suggested it.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Meeting new people and being in such an awesome writing environment!
3. Have you won Nano? Once, 2010. Would have last year had it not been for family tragedy Thanksgiving weekend.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? Writing something, anything, whether you reach 50k or not.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? Caffeine, phone/calendar reminders, and telling people about NaNo so they understand if I don't reply to something or seem a bit on edge.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Yes.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I'm more of a pantser, though I do jot down ideas when they come to me.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Everything from real life experiences, books, music, to movies, TV, and anything else.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Take a breather and try writing at another spot for awhile.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? It varies, usually I vent to a friend and explain my problem. Sometimes talking out my ideas help me see how to connect the dots and an outside source can provide ideas you never thought of.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I believe it, I've been working on a project for about 3 years and I still don't know how I want it to end. I usually get a very broad spectrum idea and fill in the details as I go.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? I'm more productive writing at night but sometimes the bug hits during the day. Like I said above, I'm mostly a pantser and come up with the plot and things as I go.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? Yes, it varies and I change it often. I actually have multiple playlists, some are genre specific and others are a mixture of things. My music taste is very broad, I could go from The Wobble to Stray Cut Strut in the same playlist.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Getting easily overwhelmed and not knowing how to overcome it.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Staying on task in general or sacrificing sleep when I'm on a roll and semi-regretting it the next day.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Homework that I neglect and my own mind(generally characters trying to speed up events of the story before they need to happen). The homework I try to get out of the way before my "writing time", my characters like to get to the good stuff and forget about how to get from one point to another, this can cause me to block a lot but eventually I give in and write the scene to get on with my word count.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Doesn't matter what you write as long as you write it! I have been a rebel in the past, it's not really much different.
18. Who is your favorite author? J. K. Rowling, Justin Somper, Shel Silverstein, to name a few.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Nothing in particular, whatever I can find!
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Don't be afraid to ask for help!
JustMeJill
Twenty Questions With...
Basics:
Name: Jill (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
andersenmom, JustMeJill on AIM and Chatzy)
Years doing Nano: 10, including this year - because my oldest daughter was two months old when I first started.
Shameless Pimping: Nope.
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A friend of mine - not even a writer - told me about it. I'd just missed it, then, but she reminded me again a year later in time.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Getting out all the ideas I have in my head. I had a bunch rolling around, and this is the best thing to do to get them out. it's been a huge help in emptying my head of old ideas to let in new ones.
3. Have you won Nano? Yep! Eight times. This will be my ninth.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? That I've enjoyed myself, that I've done my best. The one year I didn't win, I didn't consider it a failure.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? Balance? What balance? I'm actually getting better at this, now that my children are older. Which makes no sense, but it's true.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? I try to, with varying success.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I'm still trying to decide which idea I want to do. I have a few of them, and can only anticipate more as the time draws nearer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get rid of one idea by finishing it.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Pictures. MVs. Random happenings. Something someone says. Oh. And songs. A lot of "what if's" - last year's novel came from an episode of Midsommer Murders, HIGHLY altered. Lyrics (my script for Screnzy came from just about the only English words on one of my favorite songs).
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing. It doesn't matter if you're inspired, just do it. I had a really bad time at the beginning of last year, and I set a minimum word count for the week (I started with 200 words) and just reached that. It wasn't long before I was writing more and more, and upped it. Also - back up and see if you can see where the problem is. Try a different option. brainstorm. OUTLINE. There are a lot of possibilities for outlining out there.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? sprints. music. Setting a daily / weekly goal has helped greatly. Oh, and brainstorming with friends. Even if they don't say anything, it helps me figure out which direction I want to go - especially when I know which direction I don't want to go, and that's all I see. Don't forget the dares thread. There are some awesome ideas there.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I think they're right. You get some good characters, they'll help you create a plot. It certainly worked a couple of years ago. Prompts help - I got through nano a couple of times using prompt tables from different comms on livejournal.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? This... depends a lot on things. it helps to get out of the house when I can, but on good days, I can get some serious word count in before my children get home from school.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? I have a few. I haven't created one yet for this year, but I will when I know what I'm writing about. It will have Infinite on it, U-Kiss, Super Junior, SS501 (and the solos from that group), Tasty - mainly kpop, with some American music thrown in, if I can find anything that fits.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Keeping going. Especially if they're a new person to writing. I know it was hard for me because I'd never actually written regularly - daily, I mean - even if had been writing for over 20 years. It takes dedication and persistence.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? trusting the process, even though I know it works. It's just... I don't believe it, sometimes, and I always find out I'm wrong.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? My biggest distraction is my family. I have three children and a husband, and I love them. But keeping up the house can be hard when I want to write (and is easy when I'm avoiding it). I also have many friends online, writing or not, and I spend a lot of time talking to them. So far, I haven't dealt with them at all. I might start by staying offline on IMs and stuff until I'm done for my goal for the day. That can be really powerful motivation.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? GO for it! Work the system, ignore it - write what you want. I love it. The whole point is to write, and if this works then go for it.
18. Who is your favorite author? Currently, Lois McMaster Bujold. She creates characters, and worlds, that just... take my breath away.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? I don't really have one... whatever I can find that won't kill me.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Keep writing. You can do it. And not reaching the 50k doesn't mean you failed. Have fun. Make friends. They last forever, and even if you don't talk to them until next year - they'll still be there. I do nano every year for the sheer support.
Sarah / Queen Grammar / Royal Pain
Basics:
Name: Sarah
Years doing Nano: Year 6
Shameless Pimping: SarahCB1208 on most social media sites (Twitter, Tumblr, Plurk)
http://tm2ts.sarahsmidnightfantasy.com/
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
Heard it involved writing and pushing myself
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
The sense of accomplishment one has when they complete it
3. Have you won Nano?
Yes. Twice now. Going for 3... or is it four? I don't know
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
completing your goals. It doesn't matter if you hit 50K, if you don't feel finished in that 30 days, it doesn't feel successful
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I do my "chores" when I host the sprints. A set time, each day, during NaNo. Sometimes it lasts after, but at least, during the week, I get some cleaning and stuff done.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Yes I do
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
Some pre-writing, character building
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Life around me.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Just write. DON'T just sit at a blank screen. Just start typing something, anything in your head.
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
If all else fails, kill everyone (in your story)
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
it!
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I usually write in the evenings, during the evening and "NaNo Into the Night" series. I can focus more easily.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
Not really. Just random.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Sitting down and doing it. If you haven't done it before, you have no idea what you're getting into. It's SO much hard than it sounds.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Doing it, and getting sick. I always end up sick during November.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
KIDS! I have two of them.
I'm also a Girl Scout leader, so I have meetings and things for that. November is PRIME TIME COOKIE TIME, and yeah, that SO doesn't help!
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
KICK NANO ASS!!
18. Who is your favorite author?
Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, Diana Palmer, Nora Roberts
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, and fruit by the Foot. Easy, fast sugar.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Enjoy. Have fun. Go wild!
Danielle/Muzical
Basics:
Name:Years doing Nano:Shameless Pimping: Danielle, this is year 5! I'm also on Twitter: @muzical07, LJ- lcviolin07, and AIM- muzical07
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A college friend of mine did it and I thought it'd be a fun time
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? The mad, furious rush of trying to get words down on to paper/computer.
3. Have you won Nano? yes, twice! This will be the 3rd!
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? If I've gotten a draft, if not several successful chapters. Even if I don't win, as long as I've got something!
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? It's difficult, but I try to write during planning times or lunch, and then lots on the weekends.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Nope, I stay in solitary
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I outline, sketch out character bios, write interviews with my character, try to get out a playlist.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Lots of music, and other books
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing. Even if you get nothing useful out of it, it might help break through the block.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? I skip to a new chapter or scene and then go back later.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I personally need an outline or I'm lost. I have to have at least a basic plot in order to start.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? I tend to write at various points during the day, and then from 6-8pm.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? Yes, and at the moment, nothing. I have to do that this weekend!
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Forcing yourself not to go back and edit!
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Finding the time to write! Last year was my lack of an outline though
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? The husband! I joke! As a teacher, I have to force myself not to worry about school work once I'm home. 6-8pm is NaNo time!
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Do what makes you write! My whole idea with NaNo is that as long as you're writing, you're fine!
18. Who is your favorite author? Like I can pick! I do love: Sarah Dessen, Mary Higgins Clark and J.K. Rowling.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Popcorn, pretzels, leftover Halloween candy!
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Just keep writing! It's like "Just Keep Swimming" only cooler
Jennifer:
Basics:
Name: Jennifer
Years doing Nano: This will be year 4!
Shameless Pimping: Skiesfyre on Tumblr, Twitter, and LJ
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? …I actually can’t remember, but it sounded like an awesome thing when I looked it up.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Having a (reasonable) goal and a deadline, and the NaNo community, especially in the sprinting rooms!
3. Have you won Nano? All three years so far
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? Getting all that writing done! Especially the last two years, when I used NaNoWriMo as a kick to finish half my WIPs.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? …There’s real life during November?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? It's a big area, so usually the meet ups aren't actually local for me.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? Prepared a list of my WIPs, with their pre-Nov word counts. Listed sketch ideas/prompts for characters/situations/etc I don’t have a concrete storyline for but want to play with.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Music. Randomly picking out a card or page from my prompt deck/books. Go through my dream journal.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Video games that require lots of smashing. The Lego ones are the best. Knitting – productive but gives the brain a break. Keysmashing – sometimes just writing nonsense (and giving yourself permission to write nonsense) destroys the block.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? Sprint rooms. Writing by hand to avoid clicking on my browser if I stall. Change locations – move rooms, go to a café. Write something random or silly or non-essential.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? It gave me the final push to do NaNo my first year – I had nothing going into that November, and the permission to have nothing, to have no idea what I was doing was great.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? First thing in the morning, or last thing at night is when I write the most freely, because my inner editor wakes up slower/goes to bed earlier than the rest of me.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? No particular playlists unless I’m in a mood or it’s going badly, and then instrumental soundtracks (LOTR is a fav) or just instrumental music.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Having the confidence that it can be done. Giving yourself permission to experiment. Not giving into frustration when it’s not going well.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Frustration. Time. Support from family.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Work. Wanting/needing to get holiday presents knitted up. Family. INTERNET.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? …NaNo Rebels?
18. Who is your favorite author? No you can’t make me pick just one!
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Grapes, kettle corn, peanut butter M&Ms, apple slices, things easy to pick up that aren’t too messy.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Just start writing. Ignore your inner editor – there’s a National Novel Editing Month it can have all to itself.
Emmy:
Icon(LJ) - http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h472/1339CommonHouse/nanowrimo/brides_koneko2012.jpg Basics:
Name: Emmy
Years doing Nano: this'll be my 8th
Shameless Pimping: you can find me here:
LJ/DW: brides_koneko (public/networking), dreamwriteremmy (locked/fandom/personal)
AO3: ehryniewi (fanworks)
deviantart: dreamersunited (original stuff)
twitter: @ehryniewicz
aim: sanuraausbloom or brideskoneko
facebook: http://facebook.com/dreamwriteremmy
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I can't even remember anymore lol.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
NaNo has such great comraderie connected with it. I love how it's not JUST a writing challenge.
3. Have you won Nano?
Nope.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Discovering new things about myself as a writer. Having something/anything written, no matter how small.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
(1) Delegate things whenever possible.
(2) schedule things whenever possible.
(3) Along with 2, if you have outside obligations, do not neglect them, but set aside specific times FOR them.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Yes.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I usually do prep work right up until the day of kickoff: backstories, playlists, vague outlines/scene lists, pop culture and running gag reference sheets
8. What do you use for inspiration?
music, art, quotes, pictures, prompts, nature, people watching, reading similar stuff
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
(1) Give yourself permission to write badly. NaNo's all about Quantity, not quality.
(2) Join sprints! It's what we're here for!
(2b) Write FAST and DON'T LOOK BACK.
(2c) Talk to folks in the chatroom on sprint breaks -- you can ask us mods if the next sprint can be a prompt-sprint or ask the whole room for help with a choice you're stuck on. Someone's bound to have an idea you can run with!
(3) Take a break and set a timer for 5 minutes. In those 5 minutes, write a fast list of all the reasons WHY you don't feel like writing. When the timer goes off, read your excuses. After you do this, some of your excuses might strike you as rather silly. I know mine usually do! Then with the excuses out of your head, get back to writing.
(4) change of scenery -- go out for a brisk walk, move to a new room, go out to a cafe, head to a write-in if there's one in your area! If you're a handwriter, change your writing utensil for 5 minutes. If you're a computer writer, take a break and be a handwriter for 5 minutes!
(5) I tap the crown of my head with my finger tips quickly to wake myself up and get myself back into thinking brain mode (this is especially useful during both our The Night of Writing Dangerously AND my regional's variation of the same).
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
(1) Sprints!
(2) Set up a specific time and place to write everyday and show up to write.
(3) carry around a small notebook or journal to jot down ideas and scenes during the day.
(4) Have a specific item of clothing or a mug that you ONLY use when you're writing. (I have what the folks at my local writeins call "The Classy Hat" -- it's the felt top hat in my icon).
(5) Using the chat for a springboard either by requesting prompts or just discussing what choice i'm stuck at.
(6) Using any of the dirty tricks you can find on the reaching 50k section of the NaNo forum (no one has to know you're using them!)
11. No Plot? No Problem! What's your take on the NaNoWriMo motto?
Like all things NaNoWriMo, take all tips, tricks and mottos with a grain of salt. Know Yourself and what works for you will follow.
For me? I'm a percolator to use the blog term that went around earlier on the facebook group referring to the NaNo blog. I usually have a teeny bit of plot planned out when I get my idea but I don't lock myself in with a super strict plot outline. My "outlines" this year are: the first challenge for each major character, the climax for each major character, and the ending for each major character. Then a list of scenes I want to write or reference with whatever details I know about the scene (might be a line of dialogue, might be a setting, might just be the characters involved) and a list of pop culture and running gag references to pepper in the story, since the source has both as an essential part of canon.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? Time of day varies. I write in the morning. I write at as many regional writeins as I can. I have a notebook that is used for jotting down ideas when I can't access a computer or my phone. I use my phone's notepad to jot down ideas too. I write when my fiance's sleeping. I come home and write at night if I still have words to go.
Most often I end up writing at this little table by the window in my bedroom, hooked up to my big monitor with my phone by my side ready to be a timer if I have to step in to host.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I always have a writing playlist for each verse I'm working in. This year's playlists includes ABBA, Copeland, Kelly Clarkson, Collin Raye, and various tracks from musicals and movie soundtracks.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Toss up between prioritizing writing time and outside obligations, and getting intimidated by the overachievers.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Generally, the same as the first years.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Uh... all my roleplaying games/online sims/LJ stuff... Classes. Family. Fiance.
Roleplaying games I announce I'm slowiatusing and will backtag as time allows.
Online sims I do as much as I can in advance.
Things I can't put off like homework and the online sims that don't post advance work and LJ activities for land comms, I schedule in -- I pick a time of day and I set aside however long I think it'll take me to do homework/games/etc while I do my household chores that I haven't been able to delegate.
With family & fiance I'm mostly at their mercy, so this year I'm aiming to get up early (thus why I've volunteered to do quite a few Sunrise shifts this year).
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Same advice as for the regular folks. Write. Write. Write. Doesn't matter what you're writing long as you're writing! I'm technically by NaNo definition in the rebel camp again this year (2 stories being combined for 50k).
18. Who is your favorite author?
Stephen King and Brad Thor are my current tops atm.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? smarties, poptarts, marshmallows, cookie dough bites, hard candies if I'm hosting because they last longer sitting times than the rest.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Even if you don't feel like writing, show up to write. Don't be afraid to write badly -- you'll find some gems in the bad stuff. Don't be intimidated by the folks who are ahead of you, they might be in flow today, but there's no guarantee they'll still be in flow tomorrow. No matter how far you get by the end of NaNo, be proud of how many more words you have than you had on October 31st at 11:59:59PM!
RachJoan
Rachjoan - 3rd year doing NaNo! Some of my works can be found here: http://www.protagonize.com/author/WhiteWine
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? I discovered NaNo through a group of people talking about it on Protagonize - the moment I started reading about the challenge, I was enchanted with the idea!
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? I love the connections I am making through Nano - between All Year and my local meetups, I feel like I belong to a unique community that I never want to leave.
3. Have you won Nano? I have not hit my 50k yet, although my first year I did finish my story around 47k
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? I consider myself having succeeded when I have put in the effort to sit down and put ideas on paper, at least every other day, and for me, just accepting the NaNo challenge is a walk in the right direction of my life.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? There are few parts of my life that I am able to set aside - I can't really get a break from Mothering - but I do watch much less tv so that I can focus on writing during those evening hours
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Yes, my group is small, but dependable and we have a lot of laughs when we get together
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I do not usually do much preparing. I am more of a sit down and pound it out. Anything I plan would likely be discarded anyway.
8. What do you use for inspiration? I know that when I have written, my attitude and inner peace repairs itself, so I keep in mind that the difficulty of concentrating on my writing will bring increased mental health, which is nice for my whole family!
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? When I have writer's block, I tend to use writeordie and some little piece of random blabber turns into a usable idea for a scene in my story. I also will skip a scene if it is just not flowing
10. What tips/tricks do you use? I keep the tv off, a drink prepared ahead of time, and headphones with no-word music playing.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I have learned after 3 NaNo attempts to just keep pushing through. I work pretty well with one small detail morphing into a full fledged plot and I am anti-outlining, so the motto suits me!
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? Through trial and error, I know that I have to be in a room alone to really write well. This mostly means sitting at my living room desk in the evening when the kids are in bed. Some evenings I also cannot write without a [Sprint] timer giving me goals and deadlines. I will not get anything done unless I know I have at least an hour to dedicate to typing.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? I use Epic Movie Soundtracks on Pandora - anything with words has to be eliminated, so my choices tend to be limited. Depending on the story, I can sometimes work with a Baroque or Classical station.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? There is a large tendency to either over or under calculate how those words will morph out. First years don't always realize that missing 1600 words at a time ( a day) can really effect whether or not you will reach your goal in the end
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? As mentioned above, it really gets to me when I miss just one day of writing - I look at that estimated word count and have to fight the urge to give up because I am behind. Pushing myself with Sprinting goals helps that immensely
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? I am a working procrastinator - in that you will always find me doing anything I can just to not be doing what I am supposed to be doing! My usually messy house will suddenly be amazingly clean when I am supposed to be writing. I do not handle this distraction well - again, sprinting helps this in that I am more likely to be in front of my computer and not off doing something else when during writing time
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Rebels? One can advise a rebel??
18. Who is your favorite author? This would be Anne Rice - Her details, character development, and dramatic imagery appeal greatly to me. I cannot put her stories down, as I just want to know what is going to happen next at every page.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? I keep a bag of dark chocolate raisins and classic Twizzlers and Dr. Pepper or sweet coffee for my writing copanions
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Keep trying! I have not won yet but I am proud of myself every time for trying - 30,000 words is still an accomplishment in my books, as is 5,000. These ideas stuck up there in our brains need to be released and this is a great event and community to help get it all out there on paper. Prove it to yourself that you can do this.
Pam/Kitty
Name: Pam (better known as Kitty)
Years doing Nano: 4 maybe? Never won due to work and school.
Shameless Pimping: www.twotowrite.com; self-published: Night's Final Hour
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
My best friend Natalie first introduced me to the concept of Nanowrimo.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
The community that forms around it.
3. Have you won Nano?
Not yet.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Getting anything written - it's more than I had before I started.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
Not very well - my life typically takes precedence over NaNo.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Sometimes. I actually met a local writing group that I attend every other week through NaNo. I've made some good friends through this group and I'm very thankful for it.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
It varies - soundtrack making, character bios, etc.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Music, real life (this year), books.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Keep writing...even if what you're writing is horrible, keep going...something good will come!
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
I try a little bit of everything until I get it right.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
I think you need a plot to get started. I have a hard time getting started without one.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I write mostly at night because I teach during the day. For some reason, I write best after the sun has gone down.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I do have a playlist for each novel I write. I have not created the one for this year yet though. I will be working on it between now and NaNo. A good portion of it will probably be formed the night of "Let the Music Guide You," a playlist making workshop I am hosting.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
I think time management is the biggest struggle for anyone.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
My biggest struggle has been finding time and focus. I've had a lot of life events get in the way. So far this year looks relatively free of those.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Life is always my biggest distraction to writing.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Do they really need advice? They are rebelling after all. Follow your heart?
18. Who is your favorite author?
Jane Austen for classics and Sophie Kinsella for modern
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Chips, carrots, brownies
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
The most important thing I can think of is to have fun!
Alethessa
Name: Lauren (known as Alethessa)
Years doing Nano: I did 2008 and have been hanging in the sprint rooms since, though I have only partially attempted NaNo in the years since.
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I came across a discussion about it on a Harry Potter fanfiction forum.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
3. Have you won Nano?
Yes, in 2008.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Getting the words on paper (or rather on the computer). Fleshing out a story and seeing how it fits together (or seeing how you have to completely change it around to make it work!).
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I'm not very good at it. Don't look for advice from me on this one!
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
I went to my first in-person write-in last year, but that's it.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I wrote down some basic information about my characters, came up with a couple names, started thinking about where my story was going, but not too in-depth.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Ask your friendly sprint mod for a prompt! Or go visit the NaNo forums
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
I jumped around in my story. Since I had two characters' perspectives to write before they met, I could switch characters when I got stuck on the one I was writing.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
There are people who plot, there are people who go by the seat of their pants. I think it depends on the style of the person-- are you plot-oriented or character-oriented?
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
When I can find time. Unfortunately that has been infrequent in recent years.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
My computer's "shuffle all". It's a dangerous place.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Not losing ground in the second & third weeks when you start hitting the hard parts and losing the first-week enthusiasm.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Go for it! NaNo doesn't have to be about a novel if there's some other format that you're more interested in-- set your goal and go from there.
18. Who is your favorite author?
I'm not sure I can decide on this one...
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Trail mix or popcorn. In 2008 I rewarded myself with a Starburst every certain amount of words written.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Mel/WritingVixen/Captain M/Sarge/Moe/KitchenAid Addict
Name: Mel
Years doing Nano: This will be my 5th win
Shameless Pimping: @paisleypuddles http://melissadouthart.blogspot.com
Questions:
1. What first got you into NaNoWriMo? I was depressed and lonely and feeling frustrated with my writing. I heard about nano and went "eh, why not?" The rest is history.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Sprints, hands down. But beyond that, it's the sense of community. How we are a united group, heading towards the same goal. It's what keeps me coming back againa nd again to this crazy program.
3. Have you won Nano? Yes. :)
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? I complete my nano, meet at least one new cool person, and gain at least 2 solid pounds from drinking nothing but Mountain Dew.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? I don't. Basically my real life friends and family hear me say, "Shut up and don't talk to me! I'm writing!" a lot. I mean a lot. Like, I have to buy them chocolate and diamonds once December hits.
I really don't have a lot of friends?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? I live in Iowa. Unless I want to write with bovine and ears of corn, I take this journey solo or virtually.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? See my binder of joy.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Nature. I take a lot of pictures in October and put them all around my writing space for November
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing through it. Don't use the excuse that the muse isn't talking to me. Just write. Even if it's awful. Especially if it's awful. Don't let the lie that you can only write when you're feeling inspired plague your novel this month. Just write.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? Sprints.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? It doesn't work for me. I have to have a plot and a focus or I'm just running in a field somewhere screaming about the meepits.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? I do my best when no one else is around - so late at night when no one even drives by my house. I can't think when I keep expecting to be interrupted.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? The sound of silence and butterfly wings.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Getting plugged into a community. Writing is a lonely activity - get plugged into a group, this one or sprints or your local group or the website. Somewhere. Do it.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Perseverance.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Suddenly everything seems important from games to cleaning to every other project but my novel. I usually grab a mountain dew and a nice chunk of cheddar and shut up those voices and write.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? You rebel like you've never rebelled before.
18. Who is your favorite author? Sarah Dessen
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Mt Dew and cheddar
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? You are about to partake in an amazing endeavor. My advice: don't panic or worry. Even if you don't get your 50k, you started this project. You are a champion. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
They deserve our respect, kindness, and appreciation.
Later on, I'm going to post some basic rules on how to behave during sprints and how to help the mods run clean rooms, but that's not what today is for. Today, I want to introduce you to my crew. These are some of the craziest, wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful people you will ever meet this side of of NaNoWrimo and most of them humored me in answering 20 questions about themselves and NaNo.
Take some time and read some of their responses and get to know them. We are here to serve and help you. We're ready to take on this challenge. I hope you come along with us.
Here are the 20 Questions I asked every mod:
Twenty Questions With...
Basics:
Name:Years doing Nano:Shameless Pimping: (blogs/published works/twitter/etc)
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
3. Have you won Nano?
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
8. What do you use for inspiration?
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
18. Who is your favorite author?
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Jill (LilBlackRainCloud)
Name: Lil Black Rain Cloud
LJ: llblckraincloud
Published Works: amazon.com/J.F.-Jenkins/e/B004P3HB6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_3
Twitter: @jfjenkinstweets
FB: http://www.facebook.com/jfjenkinsauthor
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I found it randomly online back in 2004 and I've been doing it ever since!
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
I just like having a holiday for writing. That's how I see it. Something about it is just so exciting!
3. Have you won Nano?
I've won every year since it started. So far that's 8 Years and counting.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
For me, it's not so much about winning as it is staying on task. That's what I think is successful. There have been nanos where I lose where I'm going and just randomly throw things out there. I still win, but I don't feel satisfied in the same ways as when I stay on task and finish.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I treat my writing life like I would a job. I make time to do it, like office hours, etc. Outside of those hours I'm known to poke on things, but if I don't set aside some REAL time to do it, then I'll get distracted by other things. This way I'm guaranteed to work on it, even for just an hour.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
No. There usually aren't too many in my area and finding a sitter is hard.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I've got my project idea. I might make an outline. I made a calendar too! Working on stocking up my Nano foods.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Visual inspiration helps. Pictures mostly. Sometimes I take awesome "plot naps" where I just lay down and think things out.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Take a break and do something else while you think about your book. Sometimes you only need a change in scenery.
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
Reading helps with writing. Do it.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
I think there's a point to that, but if you don't have an idea of what you want to do or where you want to go, it's easy to get frustrated.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I write in the afternoons or mornings the most. Which is when you'll find me in the sprint room. Night time I tend to shut down.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I don't write to music anymore. So i don't keep a playlist anymore.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Letting other people make you feel worthless unintentionally. There's the aspect of competition to Nano. You see other people who are ahead of you and feel like you suck. That's bogus. Remember, it's about you and only you. Don't let "power nanoers" ruin the experience for you.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Staying interested in one project.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Usually it's my dorky online role play habit.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Not sure I know what a Nano rebel is. lol. But...just write?
18. Who is your favorite author?
Stephen King
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Caramel Corn
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Just keep at it. Don't let it stress you out either. Adjust your word counts per day if you get behind. Don't try to catch up by doing double of you'll kill yourself.
Steph
Name: Steph
Years doing Nano: This is my 4th!
Shameless Pimping: None at the moment
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A friend of mine suggested it.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Meeting new people and being in such an awesome writing environment!
3. Have you won Nano? Once, 2010. Would have last year had it not been for family tragedy Thanksgiving weekend.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? Writing something, anything, whether you reach 50k or not.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? Caffeine, phone/calendar reminders, and telling people about NaNo so they understand if I don't reply to something or seem a bit on edge.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Yes.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I'm more of a pantser, though I do jot down ideas when they come to me.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Everything from real life experiences, books, music, to movies, TV, and anything else.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Take a breather and try writing at another spot for awhile.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? It varies, usually I vent to a friend and explain my problem. Sometimes talking out my ideas help me see how to connect the dots and an outside source can provide ideas you never thought of.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I believe it, I've been working on a project for about 3 years and I still don't know how I want it to end. I usually get a very broad spectrum idea and fill in the details as I go.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? I'm more productive writing at night but sometimes the bug hits during the day. Like I said above, I'm mostly a pantser and come up with the plot and things as I go.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? Yes, it varies and I change it often. I actually have multiple playlists, some are genre specific and others are a mixture of things. My music taste is very broad, I could go from The Wobble to Stray Cut Strut in the same playlist.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Getting easily overwhelmed and not knowing how to overcome it.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Staying on task in general or sacrificing sleep when I'm on a roll and semi-regretting it the next day.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Homework that I neglect and my own mind(generally characters trying to speed up events of the story before they need to happen). The homework I try to get out of the way before my "writing time", my characters like to get to the good stuff and forget about how to get from one point to another, this can cause me to block a lot but eventually I give in and write the scene to get on with my word count.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Doesn't matter what you write as long as you write it! I have been a rebel in the past, it's not really much different.
18. Who is your favorite author? J. K. Rowling, Justin Somper, Shel Silverstein, to name a few.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Nothing in particular, whatever I can find!
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Don't be afraid to ask for help!
JustMeJill
Twenty Questions With...
Basics:
Name: Jill (
andersenmom, JustMeJill on AIM and Chatzy)Years doing Nano: 10, including this year - because my oldest daughter was two months old when I first started.
Shameless Pimping: Nope.
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A friend of mine - not even a writer - told me about it. I'd just missed it, then, but she reminded me again a year later in time.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Getting out all the ideas I have in my head. I had a bunch rolling around, and this is the best thing to do to get them out. it's been a huge help in emptying my head of old ideas to let in new ones.
3. Have you won Nano? Yep! Eight times. This will be my ninth.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? That I've enjoyed myself, that I've done my best. The one year I didn't win, I didn't consider it a failure.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? Balance? What balance? I'm actually getting better at this, now that my children are older. Which makes no sense, but it's true.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? I try to, with varying success.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I'm still trying to decide which idea I want to do. I have a few of them, and can only anticipate more as the time draws nearer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get rid of one idea by finishing it.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Pictures. MVs. Random happenings. Something someone says. Oh. And songs. A lot of "what if's" - last year's novel came from an episode of Midsommer Murders, HIGHLY altered. Lyrics (my script for Screnzy came from just about the only English words on one of my favorite songs).
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing. It doesn't matter if you're inspired, just do it. I had a really bad time at the beginning of last year, and I set a minimum word count for the week (I started with 200 words) and just reached that. It wasn't long before I was writing more and more, and upped it. Also - back up and see if you can see where the problem is. Try a different option. brainstorm. OUTLINE. There are a lot of possibilities for outlining out there.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? sprints. music. Setting a daily / weekly goal has helped greatly. Oh, and brainstorming with friends. Even if they don't say anything, it helps me figure out which direction I want to go - especially when I know which direction I don't want to go, and that's all I see. Don't forget the dares thread. There are some awesome ideas there.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I think they're right. You get some good characters, they'll help you create a plot. It certainly worked a couple of years ago. Prompts help - I got through nano a couple of times using prompt tables from different comms on livejournal.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? This... depends a lot on things. it helps to get out of the house when I can, but on good days, I can get some serious word count in before my children get home from school.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? I have a few. I haven't created one yet for this year, but I will when I know what I'm writing about. It will have Infinite on it, U-Kiss, Super Junior, SS501 (and the solos from that group), Tasty - mainly kpop, with some American music thrown in, if I can find anything that fits.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Keeping going. Especially if they're a new person to writing. I know it was hard for me because I'd never actually written regularly - daily, I mean - even if had been writing for over 20 years. It takes dedication and persistence.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? trusting the process, even though I know it works. It's just... I don't believe it, sometimes, and I always find out I'm wrong.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? My biggest distraction is my family. I have three children and a husband, and I love them. But keeping up the house can be hard when I want to write (and is easy when I'm avoiding it). I also have many friends online, writing or not, and I spend a lot of time talking to them. So far, I haven't dealt with them at all. I might start by staying offline on IMs and stuff until I'm done for my goal for the day. That can be really powerful motivation.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? GO for it! Work the system, ignore it - write what you want. I love it. The whole point is to write, and if this works then go for it.
18. Who is your favorite author? Currently, Lois McMaster Bujold. She creates characters, and worlds, that just... take my breath away.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? I don't really have one... whatever I can find that won't kill me.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Keep writing. You can do it. And not reaching the 50k doesn't mean you failed. Have fun. Make friends. They last forever, and even if you don't talk to them until next year - they'll still be there. I do nano every year for the sheer support.
Sarah / Queen Grammar / Royal Pain
Basics:
Name: Sarah
Years doing Nano: Year 6
Shameless Pimping: SarahCB1208 on most social media sites (Twitter, Tumblr, Plurk)
http://tm2ts.sarahsmidnightfantasy.com/
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
Heard it involved writing and pushing myself
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
The sense of accomplishment one has when they complete it
3. Have you won Nano?
Yes. Twice now. Going for 3... or is it four? I don't know
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
completing your goals. It doesn't matter if you hit 50K, if you don't feel finished in that 30 days, it doesn't feel successful
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I do my "chores" when I host the sprints. A set time, each day, during NaNo. Sometimes it lasts after, but at least, during the week, I get some cleaning and stuff done.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Yes I do
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
Some pre-writing, character building
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Life around me.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Just write. DON'T just sit at a blank screen. Just start typing something, anything in your head.
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
If all else fails, kill everyone (in your story)
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
it!
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I usually write in the evenings, during the evening and "NaNo Into the Night" series. I can focus more easily.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
Not really. Just random.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Sitting down and doing it. If you haven't done it before, you have no idea what you're getting into. It's SO much hard than it sounds.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Doing it, and getting sick. I always end up sick during November.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
KIDS! I have two of them.
I'm also a Girl Scout leader, so I have meetings and things for that. November is PRIME TIME COOKIE TIME, and yeah, that SO doesn't help!
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
KICK NANO ASS!!
18. Who is your favorite author?
Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, Diana Palmer, Nora Roberts
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, and fruit by the Foot. Easy, fast sugar.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Enjoy. Have fun. Go wild!
Danielle/Muzical
Basics:
Name:Years doing Nano:Shameless Pimping: Danielle, this is year 5! I'm also on Twitter: @muzical07, LJ- lcviolin07, and AIM- muzical07
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? A college friend of mine did it and I thought it'd be a fun time
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? The mad, furious rush of trying to get words down on to paper/computer.
3. Have you won Nano? yes, twice! This will be the 3rd!
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? If I've gotten a draft, if not several successful chapters. Even if I don't win, as long as I've got something!
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? It's difficult, but I try to write during planning times or lunch, and then lots on the weekends.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Nope, I stay in solitary
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I outline, sketch out character bios, write interviews with my character, try to get out a playlist.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Lots of music, and other books
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing. Even if you get nothing useful out of it, it might help break through the block.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? I skip to a new chapter or scene and then go back later.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I personally need an outline or I'm lost. I have to have at least a basic plot in order to start.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? I tend to write at various points during the day, and then from 6-8pm.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? Yes, and at the moment, nothing. I have to do that this weekend!
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Forcing yourself not to go back and edit!
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Finding the time to write! Last year was my lack of an outline though
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? The husband! I joke! As a teacher, I have to force myself not to worry about school work once I'm home. 6-8pm is NaNo time!
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Do what makes you write! My whole idea with NaNo is that as long as you're writing, you're fine!
18. Who is your favorite author? Like I can pick! I do love: Sarah Dessen, Mary Higgins Clark and J.K. Rowling.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Popcorn, pretzels, leftover Halloween candy!
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Just keep writing! It's like "Just Keep Swimming" only cooler
Jennifer:
Basics:
Name: Jennifer
Years doing Nano: This will be year 4!
Shameless Pimping: Skiesfyre on Tumblr, Twitter, and LJ
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? …I actually can’t remember, but it sounded like an awesome thing when I looked it up.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Having a (reasonable) goal and a deadline, and the NaNo community, especially in the sprinting rooms!
3. Have you won Nano? All three years so far
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? Getting all that writing done! Especially the last two years, when I used NaNoWriMo as a kick to finish half my WIPs.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? …There’s real life during November?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? It's a big area, so usually the meet ups aren't actually local for me.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? Prepared a list of my WIPs, with their pre-Nov word counts. Listed sketch ideas/prompts for characters/situations/etc I don’t have a concrete storyline for but want to play with.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Music. Randomly picking out a card or page from my prompt deck/books. Go through my dream journal.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Video games that require lots of smashing. The Lego ones are the best. Knitting – productive but gives the brain a break. Keysmashing – sometimes just writing nonsense (and giving yourself permission to write nonsense) destroys the block.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? Sprint rooms. Writing by hand to avoid clicking on my browser if I stall. Change locations – move rooms, go to a café. Write something random or silly or non-essential.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? It gave me the final push to do NaNo my first year – I had nothing going into that November, and the permission to have nothing, to have no idea what I was doing was great.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? First thing in the morning, or last thing at night is when I write the most freely, because my inner editor wakes up slower/goes to bed earlier than the rest of me.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? No particular playlists unless I’m in a mood or it’s going badly, and then instrumental soundtracks (LOTR is a fav) or just instrumental music.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Having the confidence that it can be done. Giving yourself permission to experiment. Not giving into frustration when it’s not going well.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Frustration. Time. Support from family.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Work. Wanting/needing to get holiday presents knitted up. Family. INTERNET.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? …NaNo Rebels?
18. Who is your favorite author? No you can’t make me pick just one!
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Grapes, kettle corn, peanut butter M&Ms, apple slices, things easy to pick up that aren’t too messy.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Just start writing. Ignore your inner editor – there’s a National Novel Editing Month it can have all to itself.
Emmy:
Icon(LJ) - http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h472/1339CommonHouse/nanowrimo/brides_koneko2012.jpg Basics:
Name: Emmy
Years doing Nano: this'll be my 8th
Shameless Pimping: you can find me here:
LJ/DW: brides_koneko (public/networking), dreamwriteremmy (locked/fandom/personal)
AO3: ehryniewi (fanworks)
deviantart: dreamersunited (original stuff)
twitter: @ehryniewicz
aim: sanuraausbloom or brideskoneko
facebook: http://facebook.com/dreamwriteremmy
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I can't even remember anymore lol.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
NaNo has such great comraderie connected with it. I love how it's not JUST a writing challenge.
3. Have you won Nano?
Nope.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Discovering new things about myself as a writer. Having something/anything written, no matter how small.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
(1) Delegate things whenever possible.
(2) schedule things whenever possible.
(3) Along with 2, if you have outside obligations, do not neglect them, but set aside specific times FOR them.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Yes.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I usually do prep work right up until the day of kickoff: backstories, playlists, vague outlines/scene lists, pop culture and running gag reference sheets
8. What do you use for inspiration?
music, art, quotes, pictures, prompts, nature, people watching, reading similar stuff
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
(1) Give yourself permission to write badly. NaNo's all about Quantity, not quality.
(2) Join sprints! It's what we're here for!
(2b) Write FAST and DON'T LOOK BACK.
(2c) Talk to folks in the chatroom on sprint breaks -- you can ask us mods if the next sprint can be a prompt-sprint or ask the whole room for help with a choice you're stuck on. Someone's bound to have an idea you can run with!
(3) Take a break and set a timer for 5 minutes. In those 5 minutes, write a fast list of all the reasons WHY you don't feel like writing. When the timer goes off, read your excuses. After you do this, some of your excuses might strike you as rather silly. I know mine usually do! Then with the excuses out of your head, get back to writing.
(4) change of scenery -- go out for a brisk walk, move to a new room, go out to a cafe, head to a write-in if there's one in your area! If you're a handwriter, change your writing utensil for 5 minutes. If you're a computer writer, take a break and be a handwriter for 5 minutes!
(5) I tap the crown of my head with my finger tips quickly to wake myself up and get myself back into thinking brain mode (this is especially useful during both our The Night of Writing Dangerously AND my regional's variation of the same).
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
(1) Sprints!
(2) Set up a specific time and place to write everyday and show up to write.
(3) carry around a small notebook or journal to jot down ideas and scenes during the day.
(4) Have a specific item of clothing or a mug that you ONLY use when you're writing. (I have what the folks at my local writeins call "The Classy Hat" -- it's the felt top hat in my icon).
(5) Using the chat for a springboard either by requesting prompts or just discussing what choice i'm stuck at.
(6) Using any of the dirty tricks you can find on the reaching 50k section of the NaNo forum (no one has to know you're using them!)
11. No Plot? No Problem! What's your take on the NaNoWriMo motto?
Like all things NaNoWriMo, take all tips, tricks and mottos with a grain of salt. Know Yourself and what works for you will follow.
For me? I'm a percolator to use the blog term that went around earlier on the facebook group referring to the NaNo blog. I usually have a teeny bit of plot planned out when I get my idea but I don't lock myself in with a super strict plot outline. My "outlines" this year are: the first challenge for each major character, the climax for each major character, and the ending for each major character. Then a list of scenes I want to write or reference with whatever details I know about the scene (might be a line of dialogue, might be a setting, might just be the characters involved) and a list of pop culture and running gag references to pepper in the story, since the source has both as an essential part of canon.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? Time of day varies. I write in the morning. I write at as many regional writeins as I can. I have a notebook that is used for jotting down ideas when I can't access a computer or my phone. I use my phone's notepad to jot down ideas too. I write when my fiance's sleeping. I come home and write at night if I still have words to go.
Most often I end up writing at this little table by the window in my bedroom, hooked up to my big monitor with my phone by my side ready to be a timer if I have to step in to host.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I always have a writing playlist for each verse I'm working in. This year's playlists includes ABBA, Copeland, Kelly Clarkson, Collin Raye, and various tracks from musicals and movie soundtracks.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Toss up between prioritizing writing time and outside obligations, and getting intimidated by the overachievers.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
Generally, the same as the first years.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Uh... all my roleplaying games/online sims/LJ stuff... Classes. Family. Fiance.
Roleplaying games I announce I'm slowiatusing and will backtag as time allows.
Online sims I do as much as I can in advance.
Things I can't put off like homework and the online sims that don't post advance work and LJ activities for land comms, I schedule in -- I pick a time of day and I set aside however long I think it'll take me to do homework/games/etc while I do my household chores that I haven't been able to delegate.
With family & fiance I'm mostly at their mercy, so this year I'm aiming to get up early (thus why I've volunteered to do quite a few Sunrise shifts this year).
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Same advice as for the regular folks. Write. Write. Write. Doesn't matter what you're writing long as you're writing! I'm technically by NaNo definition in the rebel camp again this year (2 stories being combined for 50k).
18. Who is your favorite author?
Stephen King and Brad Thor are my current tops atm.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? smarties, poptarts, marshmallows, cookie dough bites, hard candies if I'm hosting because they last longer sitting times than the rest.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Even if you don't feel like writing, show up to write. Don't be afraid to write badly -- you'll find some gems in the bad stuff. Don't be intimidated by the folks who are ahead of you, they might be in flow today, but there's no guarantee they'll still be in flow tomorrow. No matter how far you get by the end of NaNo, be proud of how many more words you have than you had on October 31st at 11:59:59PM!
RachJoan
Rachjoan - 3rd year doing NaNo! Some of my works can be found here: http://www.protagonize.com/author/WhiteWine
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo? I discovered NaNo through a group of people talking about it on Protagonize - the moment I started reading about the challenge, I was enchanted with the idea!
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? I love the connections I am making through Nano - between All Year and my local meetups, I feel like I belong to a unique community that I never want to leave.
3. Have you won Nano? I have not hit my 50k yet, although my first year I did finish my story around 47k
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? I consider myself having succeeded when I have put in the effort to sit down and put ideas on paper, at least every other day, and for me, just accepting the NaNo challenge is a walk in the right direction of my life.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? There are few parts of my life that I am able to set aside - I can't really get a break from Mothering - but I do watch much less tv so that I can focus on writing during those evening hours
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? Yes, my group is small, but dependable and we have a lot of laughs when we get together
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? I do not usually do much preparing. I am more of a sit down and pound it out. Anything I plan would likely be discarded anyway.
8. What do you use for inspiration? I know that when I have written, my attitude and inner peace repairs itself, so I keep in mind that the difficulty of concentrating on my writing will bring increased mental health, which is nice for my whole family!
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? When I have writer's block, I tend to use writeordie and some little piece of random blabber turns into a usable idea for a scene in my story. I also will skip a scene if it is just not flowing
10. What tips/tricks do you use? I keep the tv off, a drink prepared ahead of time, and headphones with no-word music playing.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? I have learned after 3 NaNo attempts to just keep pushing through. I work pretty well with one small detail morphing into a full fledged plot and I am anti-outlining, so the motto suits me!
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? Through trial and error, I know that I have to be in a room alone to really write well. This mostly means sitting at my living room desk in the evening when the kids are in bed. Some evenings I also cannot write without a [Sprint] timer giving me goals and deadlines. I will not get anything done unless I know I have at least an hour to dedicate to typing.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? I use Epic Movie Soundtracks on Pandora - anything with words has to be eliminated, so my choices tend to be limited. Depending on the story, I can sometimes work with a Baroque or Classical station.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? There is a large tendency to either over or under calculate how those words will morph out. First years don't always realize that missing 1600 words at a time ( a day) can really effect whether or not you will reach your goal in the end
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? As mentioned above, it really gets to me when I miss just one day of writing - I look at that estimated word count and have to fight the urge to give up because I am behind. Pushing myself with Sprinting goals helps that immensely
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? I am a working procrastinator - in that you will always find me doing anything I can just to not be doing what I am supposed to be doing! My usually messy house will suddenly be amazingly clean when I am supposed to be writing. I do not handle this distraction well - again, sprinting helps this in that I am more likely to be in front of my computer and not off doing something else when during writing time
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? Rebels? One can advise a rebel??
18. Who is your favorite author? This would be Anne Rice - Her details, character development, and dramatic imagery appeal greatly to me. I cannot put her stories down, as I just want to know what is going to happen next at every page.
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? I keep a bag of dark chocolate raisins and classic Twizzlers and Dr. Pepper or sweet coffee for my writing copanions
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? Keep trying! I have not won yet but I am proud of myself every time for trying - 30,000 words is still an accomplishment in my books, as is 5,000. These ideas stuck up there in our brains need to be released and this is a great event and community to help get it all out there on paper. Prove it to yourself that you can do this.
Pam/Kitty
Name: Pam (better known as Kitty)
Years doing Nano: 4 maybe? Never won due to work and school.
Shameless Pimping: www.twotowrite.com; self-published: Night's Final Hour
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
My best friend Natalie first introduced me to the concept of Nanowrimo.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
The community that forms around it.
3. Have you won Nano?
Not yet.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Getting anything written - it's more than I had before I started.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
Not very well - my life typically takes precedence over NaNo.
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
Sometimes. I actually met a local writing group that I attend every other week through NaNo. I've made some good friends through this group and I'm very thankful for it.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
It varies - soundtrack making, character bios, etc.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
Music, real life (this year), books.
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Keep writing...even if what you're writing is horrible, keep going...something good will come!
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
I try a little bit of everything until I get it right.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
I think you need a plot to get started. I have a hard time getting started without one.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
I write mostly at night because I teach during the day. For some reason, I write best after the sun has gone down.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
I do have a playlist for each novel I write. I have not created the one for this year yet though. I will be working on it between now and NaNo. A good portion of it will probably be formed the night of "Let the Music Guide You," a playlist making workshop I am hosting.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
I think time management is the biggest struggle for anyone.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
My biggest struggle has been finding time and focus. I've had a lot of life events get in the way. So far this year looks relatively free of those.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
Life is always my biggest distraction to writing.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Do they really need advice? They are rebelling after all. Follow your heart?
18. Who is your favorite author?
Jane Austen for classics and Sophie Kinsella for modern
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Chips, carrots, brownies
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
The most important thing I can think of is to have fun!
Alethessa
Name: Lauren (known as Alethessa)
Years doing Nano: I did 2008 and have been hanging in the sprint rooms since, though I have only partially attempted NaNo in the years since.
Questions:
1. What first got you in to NaNoWriMo?
I came across a discussion about it on a Harry Potter fanfiction forum.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano?
3. Have you won Nano?
Yes, in 2008.
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you?
Getting the words on paper (or rather on the computer). Fleshing out a story and seeing how it fits together (or seeing how you have to completely change it around to make it work!).
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November?
I'm not very good at it. Don't look for advice from me on this one!
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events?
I went to my first in-person write-in last year, but that's it.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo?
I wrote down some basic information about my characters, came up with a couple names, started thinking about where my story was going, but not too in-depth.
8. What do you use for inspiration?
9. What are your tips for writer’s block?
Ask your friendly sprint mod for a prompt! Or go visit the NaNo forums
10. What tips/tricks do you use?
I jumped around in my story. Since I had two characters' perspectives to write before they met, I could switch characters when I got stuck on the one I was writing.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto?
There are people who plot, there are people who go by the seat of their pants. I think it depends on the style of the person-- are you plot-oriented or character-oriented?
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this?
When I can find time. Unfortunately that has been infrequent in recent years.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it?
My computer's "shuffle all". It's a dangerous place.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer?
Not losing ground in the second & third weeks when you start hitting the hard parts and losing the first-week enthusiasm.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos?
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano?
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels?
Go for it! NaNo doesn't have to be about a novel if there's some other format that you're more interested in-- set your goal and go from there.
18. Who is your favorite author?
I'm not sure I can decide on this one...
19. What’s your go to snack while writing?
Trail mix or popcorn. In 2008 I rewarded myself with a Starburst every certain amount of words written.
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers?
Mel/WritingVixen/Captain M/Sarge/Moe/KitchenAid Addict
Name: Mel
Years doing Nano: This will be my 5th win
Shameless Pimping: @paisleypuddles http://melissadouthart.blogspot.com
Questions:
1. What first got you into NaNoWriMo? I was depressed and lonely and feeling frustrated with my writing. I heard about nano and went "eh, why not?" The rest is history.
2. What is your favorite thing about Nano? Sprints, hands down. But beyond that, it's the sense of community. How we are a united group, heading towards the same goal. It's what keeps me coming back againa nd again to this crazy program.
3. Have you won Nano? Yes. :)
4. What makes a successful NaNoWriMo to you? I complete my nano, meet at least one new cool person, and gain at least 2 solid pounds from drinking nothing but Mountain Dew.
5. How do you balance real life with writing during November? I don't. Basically my real life friends and family hear me say, "Shut up and don't talk to me! I'm writing!" a lot. I mean a lot. Like, I have to buy them chocolate and diamonds once December hits.
I really don't have a lot of friends?
6. Do you participate in your local NaNo events? I live in Iowa. Unless I want to write with bovine and ears of corn, I take this journey solo or virtually.
7. What preparation did you do for NaNo? See my binder of joy.
8. What do you use for inspiration? Nature. I take a lot of pictures in October and put them all around my writing space for November
9. What are your tips for writer’s block? Keep writing through it. Don't use the excuse that the muse isn't talking to me. Just write. Even if it's awful. Especially if it's awful. Don't let the lie that you can only write when you're feeling inspired plague your novel this month. Just write.
10. What tips/tricks do you use? Sprints.
11. No plot? No problem? What’s your take on Nano’s motto? It doesn't work for me. I have to have a plot and a focus or I'm just running in a field somewhere screaming about the meepits.
12. Where/how do you write - writing style? Time of day - etc. Expound on this? I do my best when no one else is around - so late at night when no one even drives by my house. I can't think when I keep expecting to be interrupted.
13. Do you have a playlist? What’s on it? The sound of silence and butterfly wings.
14. What do you think is the biggest struggle to a first year NaNoer? Getting plugged into a community. Writing is a lonely activity - get plugged into a group, this one or sprints or your local group or the website. Somewhere. Do it.
15. What’s been YOUR biggest struggle during past Nanos? Perseverance.
16. What is your biggest distraction during the month? How do you deal with distractions during Nano? Suddenly everything seems important from games to cleaning to every other project but my novel. I usually grab a mountain dew and a nice chunk of cheddar and shut up those voices and write.
17. What’s your advice for NaNo rebels? You rebel like you've never rebelled before.
18. Who is your favorite author? Sarah Dessen
19. What’s your go to snack while writing? Mt Dew and cheddar
20. Any final advice or tips for our Nanoers? You are about to partake in an amazing endeavor. My advice: don't panic or worry. Even if you don't get your 50k, you started this project. You are a champion. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
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