#NaNoPrep 2014

NaNoWriMo is fast approaching. For those who don't know, every November there is a writing challenge where writers race to write 50k words. Crazy right? It's the perfect time to challenge yourself and have a large chunk of the writing community writing along with you. I'm super excited this time around and am in hopes of coming away with not only a finished first draft, but also a better writing habit, since lately my habit is next to zip...

Aside from write-in's, word sprints, and all the buddies you make, if you don't have a plan, your going to have a tougher time of it (just my experience). Feel free to add me as a buddy!

This year I've spent most of October for #NaNoPrep.

First I chose a stand alone horror story that has haunted me for a couple years now. It's had plenty of time to brew, so writing out plot points only took one evening. I then set out to S&S the entire outline. This takes a bit more brain power, but will be like a GPS vs a printed road map. I wrote this in my little NaNo Survival planner, along with mind maps, research, names, a NaNoWriMo calendar, and of course reward stickers. I then plug that outline into Scrivener, and set the target goals.

Outline, check!

Next I downloaded every Pomodoro app I could find in the app store. The Pomodoro technique is great for focus. You work in 25 minute intervals, and are rewarded a 5 minute break. After 4 complete Pomodoro you get a 15 minute break. Toss in a couple of rewards like cookies and you have yourself a great tool to keep your butt-in-chair!

I have an Android (Samsung Galaxy S4) and only found a few apps that worked the way I wanted. The top three in order of most favorite to least is Simple Pomodoro, TimeWise, and Clockwork Tomato. Simple Pomodoro is just that... Simple. It does have an awesome way of keeping you from getting internet distracted by turning off your phones internet. If you like widgets though, you may prefer using Clockwork Tomato. Check them out, and see what works for you. If you are on the computer and want to keep from using the net, I suggest Cold Turkey. Set up a time for when you are working and it will lock you out of the net until the time is complete.

Timer, check!

I'm a graphic artist as well, so I'm inspired by images. So anytime I am working a novel, it helps if I do up a cover. Here is the one I did for my NaNoNovel.

Cover, check!

Next week I will be preparing pre-made freezer meals. It will take up an entire day to get the shopping done, put the food together, and store them all in the deep freeze. This is so I have more time to write and the family wont starve while Mom is on a writing binge... You can check out Pinterest for hundred of great meals.

Food, check!

Backup. I like to store my writing in several places after a session. I have a USB, my laptop, my desktop, and my GDrive for on the cloud storage. Make sure you back it up! Nothing worse than getting to the 50k mark and then losing all that hard work because of hardware failure, or tiny button pushing hands... In Scrivener you can set up your automatic backup to go to your dropbox or GDrive file by going to tools > Options > Backups > Backup Locations and choose the file you want it to save to.

Backup, check!

I'm a mega tech junkie so I write on several platforms. All have to be updated and prepped for writing. That means Scrivener is updated and backups are set up to go to my GDrive file so that I have auto backups to the cloud. My Ellipsis 7 tablet has a word processor and plenty of space on my SD card. The bluetooth keyboard is charged and ready to go. When I do decide to hit up a coffee shop for a write-in or whatever, I won't have to waste a ton of time getting things ready to go. Just grab my bag and go!

Tech, check!

I'm sure I will have plenty more to add to my prep list, but for now I think I am ready for a month of binge writing.

How do you prepare for NaNoWriMo?

Main Character Blog Hop

I was tagged for the Main Character Blog Hop by the lovely Katie Doyle at Writing, Reading, and Life! First let's get to know this amazing lady.

About Katie Doyle

Katie Doyle is an avid reader, writer of Young Adult fiction, a mom to two tornadoes that resemble an eight and five year old, and pet to a tuxedo cat named Oz and a German Shepherd/Boxer rescue named Charlie. If she's not reading, writing, or getting Oz out of a tree, she's staring out the window daydreaming about magic and mythical creatures.

Go check out what her character had to say for the blog hop.

Now for the questions:

What is your name? Are you fictional/historical?

Lina Townsend, but it was Evalina Ross before my murder. Fictional or Historical? Well, I suppose if I were you, I would think my life too crazy to be real too...

When and where is your story set?

In the small town of Libby Montana.

What should we know about you?

The genetic key was broken and I’m the result. The first of my kind.

What is screwing up your life?

Well these other voices in my head are pretty distracting. This isn’t your average case of split personality you know… No Eva, I will not tell the nice people ‘Hi’ for you. *sigh*

What is your goal?

To find out what I am, who created me, and why. Also it would be nice to get control over these other personalities before they make me do something really terrible.

What is the title of your book?

Wild Fire

So, when will the book be published?

I’m still doing the last round of edits, but hopefully soon. 2015 for sure!

Now I was supposed to tag some people to do the challenge, but I forgot (fish brain) to ask around and see if anyone wanted to participate... (Most of my blogger friends are currently dashing around doing editing, and prepping for NaNo).

So instead, if you are reading this consider yourself tagged ;) Copy the questions above, and answer in your main character's own voice!

IWSG: Do what makes you happy

It's been a few month's since I was last able to make an IWSG post. The Insecure Writer's Support Group is there for writers to support one another in all the trials of writing. For more about IWSG follow the link.

I've been away from writing for some time. More than I like to admit. With Hubby's sudden job change and the move, I let writing slid right out of my life. As a result I started to suffer some pretty intense depression symptoms. I never knew how much writing was helping keep those hurtful feelings at bay.

We are finally starting to get things settled in this new tiny town. If it weren't for my online friends I'm sure I would have lost it already. The hubby's job keeps him away a lot, which leaves me home alone with the kiddies. I never know when he will be home. One week away turns to two, then four. It's lonely, but at least I have my books and my writing to escape into.

It got to a point that my Hubby told me I needed to get back to my writing.

"Do what makes you happy," he told me one night after an wave of irrational anger sent me to my room, hiding behind a closed door until I could get control over it.

The past couple weeks I have tried my best to make a better writing habit, be it working on my edits, filling out my outline for NaNoWriMo, or keeping up with my blog. Either these stronger meds the Doc gave me for my fibromyalgia and depression are working perfectly, or my new writing habit have resulted in a happier me. I'm not sad, angry, or self- loathing as much anymore. Getting back into Morning Pages and dumping all those negative feelings first thing in the morning have also helped, leaving my mind fresh and ready to create.

I'm happy right now, and it feels great!

Now all I have to do is work on my workout routine!