What year(s) did you participate in NaNoWriMo?
2010 and 2011
Tell us if you won or not, and what you learned from the experience
I won both times.
I learned that it is very difficult to discipline yourself to write 50,000 words in a month but very doable…
The best tool is writeordie.com it makes you write.
It is better to go into the competition with a solid outline, solid characters and a real idea of what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it….even if you are drafting.
It was easier for me to convert Relentless in to a book than to convert my second book which will require more cutting and pasting to finalize. Not impossible but time consuming. Things kept opening up because I wasn’t as tightly organized.
What specific advice do you have for someone attempting NaNoWriMo ?
Start outlining now. Work on characters. Know what you are going to do before the contest. It makes it much easier.
And don’t be worried if you have to drag yourself to the computer – even if you love writing that’s part of the whole thing.
I always listen to classical music when I write. It’s like Pavlov’s Dog – the music goes on I start writing.
Try to be regular during the competition. If you write best in the morning then if you can write when you’re fresh.
Truly writeordie.com is your best friend.
In your opinion who do you think is a good fit to do the challenge and who is is *not* for.
I have no idea who’s a good fit. If competition drives you you’ll probably do well. I like taking classes or participating in competitions because they provide me with more motivation than normal….But I write several thousand words a week every week anyway so it’s not difficult….and I still get really resistant some days.
Author Bio:
Joan Meijer is the author of over 20 books and 60 short stories under several pen names plus numerous magazine and newspaper articles and stories.
Her novels include:
“Relentless: The Search for Typhoid Mary,” “The President’s Dirty Little Secret,” “The Initiative,” and “Provenance”…. all available on Kindle and Nook.
Non-fiction includes:
“Date Rape It’s Not Your Fault,” “How To Write A Book That Positions You As An Expert In Your Field,” “The Character Book” also available on Amazon and Nook.
Co-Authored with Suzy Prudden books include:
“MetaFitness: Your Thoughts Taking Shape,” “Change Your Mind Change Your Body,” Starting Right,” “Suzy Prudden’s Itty Bitty Weight Loss Book,” “Suzy Prudden’s One Stop Diet Revolution.
Website(s)
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