Haunting Blogs and Stressing over November

Theresa Milstein at Substitute Teacher's Saga is having a Halloween Haunting, for anyone wanting to make some new blog friends. I'm always up for finding new blogs to feed my addiction, aren't you? Plus she made it easy, which I like.

Make a comment and go haunt some new blogs, and if you spread the word you can win some great books. The rules are so easy that even those gearing up for NaNoWriMo and stressing out about it can do it-- leave a comment telling about your blog and if you are looking for a critique partner. Then go visit the other commenters new to you. Go blog trick or treating lol!

And for those of you planning on writing a novel in November, this cute guy may help you not stress out so much. 

He's the awesome design of Michelle Gregory over at Beautiful Chaos. He's going on my sidebar for the month and whenever I feel like giving up on my new November novel, I will look at him and smile. He and my giraffe are buddies. In fact I'm feeling less anxiety about NaNoWriMo just looking at his cute face.

Writing a Novel in Thirty Days

I used to think that NaNoWriMo was a bad idea. Who can write anything of worth in such a short time? Okay, it won't be ready to submit professionally, but there are reasons why a quick start is helpful.

* Writing that fast will help you keep your tone and voice consistent.

* An outline and/or clear structure diagram is a must to stay on track.

* When your mind and pen wanders and drifts, time will force you to rein things in and return to the story.

* The forced discipline will stimulate your imagination.

* In preparation, you'll take time off work, prepare meals ahead, stay home weekends--whatever will free up time for the writing frenzy.

* Once the thing is written-- first draft done, story and characters in there somewhere-- you can take your time revising. All year if necessary.

Robert Penn Warren said, "Some people pour it out and it is fine; some people pour it out and it's awful. And some people grind it out very hard, and it is awful; and some people grind it out very hard, and it's good."

But after the writing, whether you pour it out or grind it out, comes the critical thinking, the analyzing and revising. Not during. After. Then you go back to it, take your time and create something real out of that hectic, mad thirty day rush of awful words strung together. That's when you go back and find the story and the people, like a sculptor with his clay. That's when you create art.

Almost makes you wish for November, doesn't it?