It's Time for NaNoWriMo!

November has arrived and it's that time of the year we've all been waiting on. Nope, not Thanksgiving, it's time for NaNoWriMo! First, let me give you some background info on NanoWriMo. It was started in 1999 by freelance writer Chris Baty with 21 participants. NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and 30. Entries are accepted from around the world. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing, no matter how bad their writing is, and complete their first draft. I met Chris Baty recently and we talked about NaNoWriMo and its purpose. I'll post parts of the interview throughout the month. So to get you started, here's what you need to know.


Who: Any aspiring writer, published author or writer, screenwriter, blogger or anyone that wants to take on the NaNoWriMo challenge.

What: A literary work in which your goal is to write a 50,000-word novel and complete the first draft.

Where: Anywhere. It's open to anyone, anywhere in the world. You can write from your home at your desk, in groups, at the library, at a cafe, or anywhere you can find the time.

When: Starts TODAY, November 1, and ending at 11:59 pm on November 30.

Why: Because you love a challenge. Because you want to stop talking about writing and actually do it. Because no one ever has to read it if you don't want them to. Because you have a story to tell and you're ready to tell it.

How: Sign up at NaNoWriMo.org. There are great resources available to help you plan and track the progression of your novel. You can track your word count and receive badges for your progress as well. You can visit the Official Store, which is a licensed charity that supports both the website and November effort, and programs for young writers. You can purchase founder Chris Baty’s how-to guide, No Plot, No Problem, for $1.99 on Kindle through Amazon. And most helpful is the message boards/forums, where you can interact with other participants, get feedback and motivation, as well as attend local events such as launch parties, writing sessions and social events. Check to see if anything is available in your local area.

So now you're armed with all the info you need to get started. Are you up for the challenge? I am. Check back for my progress and don't forget to check back for my interview with the founder of NaNoWriMo, Chris Baty, next week.

Good Luck!

Top 12 Books for Writers

Today I'm giving a short seminar for the Marc Lacy and Friends SWAGPPAC. I'll be discussing writing and how to go from talking about becoming a writer to owning up to your destiny and being a writer. One of the most valuable resources when writing is reading. So here are my top twelve book selections for writers on honing your craft and what to do with your manuscript once you've finished. I own and have read every book on this list. I highly recommend each and every one for your library.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.

Stein on Writing by Sol Stein

Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella

Characters, Emotions and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress

Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood

The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot by Charles Baxter

Description and Setting by Ron Rozelle

Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published by Eckstut and Sterry

The Author Indie Guide by April L. Hamilton

Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt-Thomas

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

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Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"

~William A. Ward

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.

~Frank A. Clark

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it. 

~William Arthur Ward

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do. 

~Edward Everett Hale

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Saw this photo and thought it was unfortunate, yet funny. Hope you get a few chuckles too.

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

My vision board for 2013. What's your vision for 2013?
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!!!

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Would anyone help your child?

This is called the Bystander effect, where strangers don't act when it comes to helping someone in trouble. Amidst all the tragedies lately, it's nice to know some people out there in the world do care and will help. I actually cried at the end when someone did come to the 7 year old's rescue.

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Have a truly blessed holiday and Merry Christmas!!!

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

I've been recuperating from one of many surgeries I've had this year and I apologize for not responding to comments. I'm going to go through all of them this week....promise.

This week my thirteen year old daughter was inducted into the Theta Theta Sigma Rhoer Club of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, along with eight other beautiful and intelligent young girls. I'm the advisor of this youth program for the local chapter and I was truly delighted to see them all become a part of this community service program.

I was sent a video about two young ladies belonging to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc at the undergraduate college level. They created the video for a project for one of their college classes. It was very moving to me because so many of our young people are facing challenges and one issue that rarely gets discuss is suicide. It also touched me because they are a part of the organization that I belong to. So for this not so Wordless Wednesday, watch the video and tell me what you think. If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone please call 1-800-273-TALK for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Remember...Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You are loved!

Happy Wordless Wednesday and 

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Here are two ribbon pearl bracelets I made as gifts for some young girls in my youth organization. They were really simple to make. I made eighteen bracelets. Nine blue, nine yellow. It took me about 2 hours to make them all. Below is the YouTube tutorial I used.

                                       Are you making any handmade gifts for Christmas?

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Here are a few of my Do it Yourself Projects for Christmas. They are pretty simple and easy to make. I have the flu..coupled with a sinus infection so I can't get any sleep which is a major bummer, but I was still able to make the the following three items today. I used a tutorial on YouTube. You can check them out below. Happy Wordless Wednesday!

A butterfly pin for the girls in the Rhoer Club of Sigma Gamma Rho.

My version of a cobra style bracelet with chain

My version of a helloberry bracelet.

Hello berry bracelet tutorial

Helloberry bracelet tutorial

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday. I recently attended the Sheer Good Fortune event celebrating Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize author Toni Morrison. There were so many acclaimed authors, poets and professors in attendance. To read more about my experience check out My Sheer Good Fortune post. In the meantime, enjoy some of the photos taken while I was there. Don't forget to add your Wordless Wednesday photo to the Linky list below.

Toni Morrison at the Sheer Good Fortune event.

India Arie performing at the Sheer Good Fortune Celebration

Nikki Giovanni at the reception before the Sheer Good Fortune celebration

Me and Nikki Giovanni after the press conference.

Wordless Wednesday w/ Linky

The theme is illusions. Even in our writing, illusions are needed to make the reader believe, think, and imagine a scene is real. To do this, the writer uses sensory detail by providing cues and hints that allow the reader to imagine the story as it unfolds. Sometimes the illusions can lead the reader to interpret a story one way, then the writer persuades them to perceive it another way. Same thing with the photos below. 

What did you see first? 

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Guest Post By Rachael Anderson w/ Giveaway

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it's up to the viewers--not her--to decide which bachelors stay or go. Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke's an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she's up to, it means revenge. But when their pranks go south, will they screw up any chance they have at a future together, or will they be able to forgive and forget and prove that love really does conquer all?

My journey into the world of publishing is probably one of the most uneventful stories ever. I wrote a book (that took me six years to complete), submitted it to one publisher, and got accepted. It's something I credit to divine intervention because I didn't know a whole lot about writing back then. The only thing I knew is that I enjoyed creating a story.

That being said, if hadn't made it off my computer, I really don't think I would have kept writing. I realize that makes me sound like a quitter, but writing is a HUGE time investment, and I wasn't willing to continue to give up that much time without seeing any results of all that labor. I hate the idea of wasted time, and I would rather do something worthwhile than endlessly type out words on a computer screen. Like spending time with my family or creating scrapbooks for my kids or keeping my house cleaner and cooking better meals.

But my book got published, and so I continued to write. I started going to conferences, reading books on writing, and doing everything I could to improve my meager skills. I saw it as my opportunity to put more clean, uplifting, and fun books out there that are becoming so much harder to find these days.

I know that my journey to this point sounds pretty easy, but I still get discouraged. It still stings when I read a negative review. And I still sacrifice a lot of time to keep at this. But early on, I found a purpose--my own reason to keep on keeping on even when life throws you a mountain to climb.

So for all of you up and coming authors out there, if I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to find your own purpose.

~ Rachael
www.rachaelreneeanderson.com

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To enter the Reluctant Bachelorette Giveaway for a $15 Amazon gift card plus other goodies, fill out the rafflecopter form below. A special thank you to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting this blog tour. You can visit her blog for the complete tour schedule.

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Wordless Wednesday w/ Linky

                                           

Would you play tennis this high up? In 2005 a helipad 650 ft above the ground on top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates was temporarily converted into the world's highest tennis court.

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Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Photo by Astro Twilight

Is this not a great writing prompt? Who is this person? Where is he going? Is he hiding behind the glasses and the hat? Hmm. The creative juices are flowing. Now type away!

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Wordless Wednesday w/Linky

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Wordless Wednesday w/ Linky

Wordless Wednesday is a weekly meme where I post a photo, usually interesting, intriguing or unique to prompt writers or innovative minds to get inspired to create, imagine and invent. You can join in the weekly meme by posting a photo on your own blog. The only rule is, you can't post any words to explain the photo.

I hope you like my meme and continue to stop by and perhaps you'll join me in Wordless Wednesday every week by posting a photo on your blog and then linking up to the list below each weekly post. The Linky list will say, You're next...click to enter. Then go ahead and enter in your blog url so others who stop by my blog may come to your blog and view your photos. Don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know what you thought about the photo.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. :-) Have a great day!

Here's my Wordless Wednesday Photo