The Pros and Cons of NaNoWriMo

A few years ago, I completed a NaNoWriMo novel. While the product remains (rightfully) in a file
drawer, it was an intense month and an exhilarating experience to pass that 50k word mark in 30 days. I learned lot about myself as a writer. Since then, I've published two novels with Viking, been battered around a bit by the industry, and continue to work with other writers who have books in the pipeline. And I've got a few thoughts and tips to share about the NaNo experience.

CRAFT-WISE
1. NaNo is like boot. It's amazing to move your muscles way more than usual, learn your limits, your aptitudes and your optimal style of exercising/drafting.

2. NaNo forces you to avoid line-edits, ignore your inner critic and write with a wonderful amount of freedom.

3. NaNo, like an intense gym work-out, can leave your manuscript (like your muscles) a little sore, imperfect and longing for a slower, more measured pace of work.

4. Please stick the manuscript in a drawer for at least a week (or possible until New Year's) and allow your brain to rest and regain some perspective. While it's marinating, search the web for your favorite 10 (or more) "How to Revise Your NaNo Novel" articles. Print them out. If it's gonna take time, print out your novel, too, so it's ready to read on whatever date you have selected.

CAREER-WISE
5. Trust me. Your NaNo manuscript is not a finished product and does not represent your best work. It may have great potential but SEE #s 3 & 4 above. Do not send this unrevised baby to an agent or editor.

6. Seriously, don't.

7. Be aware that agents and editors get thousands and pages of NaNo novel submissions in December, just before they take a holiday vacation. (Heard any good "Editor walks into a NaNo Write-In... jokes?) They do not enjoy this and it nearly assures your work a nap in the slush pile.

8. Waiting to have a truly ready-to-submit manuscript probably won't slow down your path to publication. Submitting a weak, unedited manuscript will very probably slow down your path to publication. (Not gonna say definitely. I mean, we all know crap gets published sometimes.)

NOW...GOGOGOGOGO and get all you can out of this writing adventure.

It's like broccoli--good for you and someday you may like it!

Rewarding Courage with a Long Nap

Following up on my previous CHICKEN-HEART post, I am happy to report that last night, after many days of angsting, rereading and tweaking, I sent my completed ms, along with a synopsis and opening chapters of something new, to my editor with the note: 

"Yes, you can read this now." 

This morning, I woke up early, made breakfast for the kids, packed lunches, loaded the dishwasher and...went back to bed for an hour. 

It was a delightful treat and a necessary break from thinking about the fact that I have again let pages fly out into the universe which I find awfully stressful. I am not alone. Scrolling through the social media portals of writers, you will find... 

• laments over weight gained while revising
• opuses on the struggle to stay physically active while committing to daily word counts
• worries about giving up paying jobs to take a risk on one's own fiction
• panic Tweets about being out on sub
• and general musings on the tension between writer-life and, well, life.

Being a writer takes courage, people.

In sum, I'm just saying I think I earned my nap. And it was faaaantastic.

CHICKEN-HEART, C'EST MOI

Do you know what I did this week?

Sent a manuscript to my agent. Threw up. Emailed her not to read it. Printed it out (again). 

All 356 pages now sit on my kitchen table waiting for me to feel ready to give it one more read and find the courage to email Catherine again to say "go ahead."

Have I mentioned I've done this before with other manuscripts? It's kind of getting to be a pattern.

Any amateur shrinks out there have any thoughts on this? Comments always open.

2014 YA Contemporary Scavenger Hunt: MEET ANGIE STANTON!

WELCOME TO THE 2014 YA CONTEMPORARY SCAVENGER HUNT!

If you're so inclined (or want a free copy of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO), pop on over to Jenny Hubbard's site to read my thoughts about murky line between fiction and nonfiction. Meanwhile, I'm thrilled to be hosting the delightful Angie Stanton to get the "Scavenger Scoop" on her new novel, ROYALLY LOST, including some personal "facts" that find their way into her amazing books. And, if you want to win a copy of Angie's book, just leave a message in the comments below (North America only)!

WotS: Royally Lost is set in Europe. Have you been to Europe? 

ANGIE STANTON: Yes! In fact, I took the exact trip that Becca takes including the side trip to Prague. Most everything in the book I saw first hand. Except the chapter where they swim in their underwear.

WotS: Describe Royally Lost in 10 words or less. 

AS: American girl, dashing prince, on the run from the world. (That was hard!)

WotS: How has the writing process changed for you between writing your first novel and your most recent one? 

AS: I’m much more organized and do more research Writing is no longer a hobby, writing is my life. I can finish a book much faster than when I started.

WotS: Is there any other genre that you'd ever consider writing in? 

AS: Time travel. I’m not sure what genre that would be.

WotS: What do you like to do when you're not reading or writing? 

AS: I’m a reality TV show junkie. I love Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol. My DVR is busy.

About Royally Lost...Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. Then she meets Nikolai.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for--he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

About the Author... Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down and the rest is history.