NaNoWriMo 2011: Day 1

Today, NaNoWriMo 2011 began. Having taken the day off of work, I went to the all-day write in in the morning. It was quite a productive handful of hours. The novel got off the ground, and my final word count after leaving the write-in was around 2,700. Each day, we need to write at least 1,667 words in order to make the 50K goal by November 30. I've still got some writing I want to do tonight, but I've got a great head start.

Here's an excerpt from today that I particularly enjoyed writing. It's a description of the view outside Princess Chan's window.

I gulped down the lukewarm tea, staring out the stained glass window into the fields around the castle. The forest spread out to the west, nestled up against the slate rock of the mountains. Snowy peaks whispered misty secrets to one another high in the light blue sky. Royal dragon riders circled the formations as they scouted the borders for signs of invasion by Westonia’s sworn enemy across the sea.

Day 1 Word Count: 3,764
Words Remaining: 46,236

The Dark Side of White by Inkaholics VI

The latest book from the Inkaholics Collaborative Writers Groups is now available! We tried something totally new with this story, which ended up making this our longest book yet. Another first is that the cover art was commissioned by my dear friend Rachael Selk. She did a fantastic job capturing our characters! (Check out the preview below to see the wraparound art on the back.)

Kevin, Parker, and Mŭshi Rū are all running—from the past, the present, the future. Curiously odd circumstances thrust them together when Kevin’s adversaries come to kidnap him. The adverse allies are compelled to unite, but differing opinions and peculiar secrets keep them from fully becoming one.

Meanwhile, the beginning of a terrible penguin reign is about to befall the earth. Kevin, Parker, and Mŭshi are forced into battle. Will they learn to trust and lean upon one another as they face a common enemy? Or will their own fears tear apart the fragile friendships?

Young Wrimos: The Plan for Write-Ins

NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, and it's time to start making plans about how we're going to reach that word count by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. To make 50,000 words, that's 1,667 words per day. Now, if 50K is a bit too high, check out NaNo's Young Writers Program, where you can set your own goal at a grade-appropriate level.

Colorado Springs Young Wrimos are invited to join me for several FUN, FREE write-ins throughout the month of November. Let's cheer each other on and most importantly--WIN CANDY. Check it out:

• Tuesday, November 1
  Official NaNoWriMo All-Day Write In: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Official NaNoWriMo Kick-Off Party: 7:00-8:30 p.m.
  Panera Bread (Powers & S. Carefree)
  Day 1 events are open to all ages, adults & young writers alike.
• Saturday, November 5
  The Lost Hour YW Write-In: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
  Panera Bread (Powers & S. Carefree)
  Mourn the loss of the hour we'll lose to Daylight Savings Time on 11/6 by writing 2K in one day. Everyone who comes to the first YW write-in will receive an Epic Pen for scribbling down those novel-related thoughts on napkins, toilet paper, or whatever's convenient.
• Friday, November 11
  Costume Party YW Write-In! 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  Starbucks (Powers & Stetson Hills)
  Get the most out of your Halloween costume, and wear it to the write-in! In celebration of 11-11-11, we'll try to reach 11,111 words as a group.
• Wednesday, November 16
  Pens & Pancakes YW Write-In: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  Village Inn (Powers & S. Carefree)
  They have outlets and wi-fi! Bring your laptops, some cash for pancakes or drinks, and join us at the booths for a mid-month catch up session.
• Monday, November 21
  Drive In YW Write-In: 4:00-6:00 p.m.
  Kangaroo Coffee (434 W. Fillmore)
  Bring your laptop fully-charged or a good, old-fashioned spiral and your Epic Pen. Grab a coffee or hot chocolate and park with us for some outside/in-car Word Wars. (You might want to bring a blanket or a jacket if it's a little chilly that day!)
  
• Sunday, November 27
  Last Minute Dash YW Write-In: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
  Panera Bread (Powers & S. Carefree)
  Try to reach your word count before the weekend ends, then you can gloat to your fellow Wrimos. Or catch up on all that homework you neglected...
• Wednesday, November 30
  Midnight Cram YW Write-In: 8:00 p.m. - Midnight
  Old Chicago (Powers & S. Carefree)
  It's the last day to get your last words in! Join us and cram those final words into your novel before 11:59 p.m.

It's going to be a crazy month, young Wrimos. Brace yourselves. But you CAN do it! Make 2011 your year to win NaNoWriMo! See you at the write-ins!

NaNoWriMo 2011: Dude. It's ON.

National Novel Writing Month. A.K.A. NaNoWriMo. A challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Been there, done that. Five times. Even got the t-shirt. Thrice.

But this year, I've kind of got it in my head that I want to lead out the local young writers who are attempting to do NaNoWriMo--whether through the Young Writers Program or on their own, with a mission to reach 50K.

This idea has been stirring in my head over the last couple months, and it has finally reared its sparkly head. Hopefully there are some young writers out there who are interested in doing some write-ins. I will most definitely be hosting some writing events for all writers 18 and under! (And anyone who is brave enough to come support some borderline-insane, creative teenagers.)

Young Writers Write-Ins:
THERE WILL BE CANDY.

Bribery is not above me. No, not at all...

If you're 18 or under and you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, please sign up either on the NaNo YWP site or the main NaNoWriMo site. If you do the latter (that means you use the main site), then GO HERE to visit the forum and introduce yourself. Include your personal word count goal (if you're in the YWP) and/or share what crazy lengths you plan to go to in order to hit that 50K mark.

As for me--yes, I do plan on writing a novel. There has been an entire series simmering in the back corner of my brain, tucked under the silk slippers and wrapped with a tangle of copper wiring. Perhaps NaNo is just the thing to get the dust blown off and breathe some life into those tiny, trembling ideas.

Undead Sparkles by Inkaholics V

I am thrilled to announce that Undead Sparkles, the book composed by the Inkaholics V Writers Group last August, is now published! This was an extra special group where my dear friend MightiMidget assisted in writing and leading while on an extended visit to Colorado. Having her in one of my writers live groups was wonderful. She had a great time with us, and with my awesome local young writers, who wouldn't?

Paclo’s simple life as a Flor-Mart greeter is interrupted when a co-worker slips him the zombie virus as a joke. Rejected by the public and his parents, Paclo takes refuge at a mortuary. His only friends are his brother Smith, a vainless alien blob named Phyl, and a duct tape-obsessed robot called Mac.


Before Paclo can even accept his new undead fate, the Earth is attacked by a scintillating foe riding upon clouds of delectable depravity. Against all sensibility, the misfit friends garner up the courage to squelch the sparkly adversaries. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

First: a serial audio novella

I've got an idea to serialize the novel I am currently writing in audio format. If this is interesting to you, please let me know, and I'll begin posting the chapters when the story gets off the ramp.

Watch for Magic by Inkaholics IV Writers Group

The long-awaited Inkaholics IV Writers Group book just completed production. With five fun and creative young writers, we put together a fantastic steampunk adventure called Watch for Magic last July. Here's the back cover copy for you:

He can’t hide forever.

Javian is an orphaned boy living as a hunter in a magical forest outside of Ducal, with a flying llama as his only companion. Rumors abound in the city about how magic is disappearing, but Javian is unconcerned until he accidentally traps a mythical dragon named Airimyth.

The giant cogs of his life are set in motion when a run-in with Eylec the gryphon gets them captured by migrating dwarves. Escape is paramount, but Javian’s convoluted past tick-tocks to the present, putting all their lives at risk.

Will the new friends discover the power of three and restore magic to the world? Or will the dwarves and the Duke pilfer everything they have ever loved?


This novella was written as a part of a 6-session Collaborative Writers Group.

Red Ink Club Learns "Show, Don't Tell"

We're been having a grand time on Wednesday nights at The Red Ink Club. A few weeks ago, we were talking about one of the great writers' mantras: SHOW, DON'T TELL.

Telling is like shaking the reader and saying, “Here’s what’s happening.” Example: When the dragon approached, she felt scared.

Showing is giving the reader a visual of what’s going on, letting them picture it well. Example: The dragon stalked forward, smoke curling from its nostrils. The young princess’s eyes grew wide, and a tiny whimper escaped her lips.

See how the second example paints a more vivid picture? Now we have physical cues that help the reader deduce emotions or actions without TELLING that fact. If you’re telling the reader what to see or feel, they aren’t going to enjoy the story or get the point of what you’re trying to say. Replace the “tells” with “shows” and enhance your story and the reader’s experience in your world.

Here's the prompt we tackled: Write a story about Amelie waiting in a public place, about to meet someone for the first time. (You choose who it is.) She’s very nervous about meeting this person. Show her waiting, then meeting the someone. Do not use the following words in any form: Nervous, Scared, Upset, Anxious, Worried, Hopeful.

Show, don’t tell! Use visuals, any or all of the five senses, plus the setting to enhance Amelie’s emotions. Time: 12-15 minutes
-------------------------------------------------

First Meeting
By MangyCat

Amelie tapped the bench with her long, manicured nails. A lump sat heavy in the pit of her stomach. Her heart had been racing since she got here. This would be the first meeting. The only chance she would have to get to know him before she took him home.

Would they like each other? Would she be able to live with him and trust him completely?

The scent of rain carried on the wind that rustled through her hair. Amelie shivered and ran her fingers over her chilly arms. Goosebumps rose on her skin when she heard the shuffling footsteps and the jingling of chains.

"Miss Amelie Tortan?" came a woman's voice to her left.

Amelie stood and extended her hand into the darkness. "That's me. You must be Jennifer."

A warm hand wrapped around hers. "It's nice to see you in person."

Amelie nodded and blinked, then adjusted her sunglasses. The pleasant odor of dog shampoo drifted up to her. She stooped and held out her palms.

Soft fur brushed her fingertips. A wet kiss ran across her wrist.

"And you must be Rusty." Amelie breathed deeply and smiled. "We're going to be great friends, aren't we?"

The dog barked and kissed her face. The weight in Amelie's stomach disappeared as she welcomed her new seeing-eye dog into her arms.

Astounding Kids' Book On iPad

Wowza. Like I needed another reason to covet the iPad. Here's a HUGE one.



Here's the whole story on this Pixar animator's new interactive children's book, designed exclusively for iPad.

Attack of T.G.B. by the Inkaholics III Writers Group

I am thrilled to announce that the Inkaholics III Writers Group has finished their novella and production is now complete. With six incredibly crazy and creative young writers, this was quite the ride, let me tell you! Attack of T.G.B. is now available on Lulu.com. Here's the back cover copy for you:

In a plague-stricken world, trapped in a quarantine zone, Zeke faces the hard questions of life: What does the future hold? Will mankind survive the epidemic? Will he ever find another couch?

After insane, infected victims set fire to the hospital, Zeke and his new friends, Dr. Jo Trishton and her brother Cole, embark on a dangerous mission to find a cure. Instead, they uncover a beary beastly plot by a sweet but malevolent force.

Will the trio overcome their fears and defeat the bizarre battalions? Or will the Rainbow King succeed in his evil plan to rule supreme over Liberty City and then the world?




This novella was written as a part of a 6-session Collaborative Writers Group.