Last call folks!: If you want in on the Novel-Push Initiative, drop a message below.

For those of you already signed up, now’s a great time to do some pre-meditation on what you’ll be writing. After all, NPI is only one day away (yes, April’s one of those damnable months with only thirty days). 

For me, I think fine-tuning is key. It really helps my fingers fly later if I have that group of characters that the MC will be meeting soon fleshed out now; where they live/how they operate/back-stories/who they know, etc. I try to scrutinize my societies’ social mores and tweak them until they make more sense.

I’ll also daydream upcoming scenes in different ways from many different perspectives to better line up future events and figure out how to best narrate scenes without losing reader interest and key information. And (if I’m lucky) maybe even figure out ways to squeeze in some fun facts along the way without making it seem too much like exposition.

Are you preparing? If so, how?

THE BASICS:

• Event will run from May 1st-31st.
• Simply write 350+ words per day!
• To discourage project-jumping, please pick only one project for this event (preferably something novella/novel-sized).
• You’ll need to publish your daily word counts every day by midnight using a blog of some kind; something that I can check against a time-stamp (Even a Twitter account will do).

               The simplest Tweet can look like this:

               350 words.
               11:59 PM May 1st from web.

• Of course, you’ll want to double-check your local settings to make sure it matches your time zone.

ADDITIONAL RULES:

• You are allowed to project-jump if and only if you finish your manuscript during the event.
• If you’d like to participate but haven’t signed up yet, you’ll need to reply to this or any of my blog posts before May 1st, stating what project you’d like to work on and a link to the blog you wish to use for the event. Alternatively, you are also welcome to contact me.
• You can be as detailed as you want with your posts. The simplest post can just be a word count, but you’re welcome to keep track of your total word count, talk about what you’ve been writing, and maybe even share a snippet or two—if you’re feeling generous.
• Since we’re upping the ante from 250 to 350 words per day, and I’d like to see everyone make it to May 31st,  I am allowing one day of reprieve. Hopefully, this will go a long way to prevent burn-out/serve as padding in the event of an emergency.
• NaNoWriMo famously averages out to 1,667 words per day. So here’s the revised break-down:

1. A “Knock-out” is 0-349 words.
2. An “Update” is 350-999 words.
3. A  “Session” is 1,000-1,667 words.
4. A “Tougher-than-NaNo” is anything greater than 1,667.
5. An “End of the Book” is when you’ve completed your MIP and type ‘THE END’.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?:

• At the very minimum, if you keep up, you’ll end up with 10,850 words added to your work-in-progress. This is a great kick-in-the-butt for us procrastinators!
• I think you’ll find NPI is surprisingly uplifting and friendly—everybody participating (and the people watching from the sidelines) tend to be extremely supportive. Which leads me to…
• You’ll meet lots of new friends! :D
• I will periodically link to each of your sites and post your word-tallies up to a “Knock-out”.

So, still with me? Great! Again, I advise you to take no prisoners as you march your plots ever forward, towards—and beyond—May 31st. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Out-of-the-blue-rant time! A rant about … vegetables? No, don’t worry. This does have something to do with writing.

Brave souls may click below to proceed. …

Read the rest of this entry »

After some deliberation, we’re going to try the Novel-Push Initiative again.

There was some concern that I’ll be leaving on a trip in late May, so my personal goal will be to finish the rough draft of Five Rings before I go. I believe it’s a reachable goal, but there’s only one way to find out for sure, :)

This time, the minimum word limit will be amped up, +100, to 350 words per day. Let me know if you’d like to join up, I’d love to have you along.  It’s a ride you’ll never forget.

Okay! Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve crossed the finish line! The checkered flags have been waved, we’re less moody, our wives are happier, we’ve officially got all the word-counts, and boy, does it feel great~!

Now for the fun part: Taking a day off (And seeing how many words we’ve  produced).  Read the rest of this entry »