You can use this idea, too. Select either the title of a book or movie you haven’t seen and aren’t familiar with at all. You could also make your title up, just as my daughter did. Write your story from the title only. Who is involved? What happens to these people? Have fun. Play. Explore.

Heather

Post from: Blisstree

Vintage Paint

If you don’t know anything about this novel writing challenge, please read more on their website. But, the basic idea is that you use the entire month of November to write a 50,000 word novel. I’ve been part of this challenge three times so far. It’s a lot of fun and very motivating. You sign up on the website and take part in local forums & loads of other fun.

If you’re needing any inspiration make sure to check out Chris Baty’s book No Plot? No Problem!

Unfortunately, I won’t be writing another novel this November, but please leave a comment if you intend to. I’ll read along on your blog and cheer for you to reach the finish line with your sanity intact.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Another NaNoWriMo Reminder

The book is easy to read and offers stacks of useful advice. I particularly enjoyed the writing exercises. I recommend working on these in your writer’s journal. You’ll be amazed how quickly you’re descriptive language improves on reading this book and applying the knowledge gleaned.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Recommended Journal Writing Book

For those with no clue to what I’m on about NaNoWriMo is simply the website which encourages writers worldwide to dedicate the month of November to writing a 50,000 word novel. I’ve participated several times myself, but not in the last couple of years. The arrival of my surprise baby has changed a lot of things for me.

With their reminder let me add my own thoughts. Now would be a perfect time to begin playing around with ideas, plots, characters, etc, in your writer’s journal. You could get a lot done between now and November 1st. I reckon if you did all the ground work in your journal the month of writing would be easy as pie.

I hope you will consider giving this challenge a go. I’m still unsure if I will join in, as there are all kinds of things happening around here for me. It isn’t clear if this will be something I can embrace this year. I’m hoping 2008 will be my next attempt at NaNoWriMo. Please leave a message in the comments section below if you’re joining the challenge this year.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

NaNoWriMo Reminder

So, you may have written your goals or adventure challenges in your journal. Why not head over to the NaNoWriMo Forum Adventure Log and share your plans for this year. Apparrently they’re going to make you accountable with follow-ups, etc. So, only share your goals if you’re serious.

Personally, I find a little accountability can be just what it takes to make my goals actually happen.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Adventure Challenge

Your writer’s journal is a great place to explore character. Take as much time as you need to learn all you can about your characters, for novels, short stories and even film scripts. The more you know the more realistic your characters become. So, the more you write about them the more confidently you can write about them and present their story.

Whenever I’ve taken part in the NaNoWriMo challenge I’ve spent a good week writing out each of the characters motives, backgrounds, and deepest fears and secrets. Once I needed to sit down and write the novel I found the hardest work had already been done. The writing went easier because I had a clear picture of my characters.

Use your writer’s journal to dig into the full depth of each and every character. It’s here you will find the reasons for everything that happens. Even if all you have is characters, your plot can develop out of simply writing as much as you can about the characters.

I recommend The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman. Work through the exercises and suggestion in his book and you can’t be far from developing interesting and believable characters that will inhabit your story and make a memorable impression on your readers.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Character Motivation

Probably the best advice I ever read concerning writing in my journal came from Natalie Goldberg. This quote is either from her book Writing Down the Bones or Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life; I always forget which one.

“You are free to write the worst junk in the universe.”

You have permission to write rubbish. I found giving myself permission incredibly freeing; to allow myself to be boring when I wrote. I hope this quote inspires you, too.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Blah Days

The event is presented by NYCMidnight.com. The prizes and awards should be enough to at least get your attention. Looks like a fun challenge. You even get a discount on the entry fee if you read carefully. So far the sponsors are Friendster and Write Brothers, but look out for more.

Post from: Blisstree

Short Story Challenge

You might want to write something similar for each of your characters if you’re writing a novel. The exercise helps you get into the head of the characters by writing in their voices, from their perspective. Or you might just have a giggle as you read, like I’m doing now.

Post from: Blisstree

Character Diaries

Steven Bradley writes;

“Don’t try to force your voice. It has a tendency to hide when you try hard to get at it. Keep reading and forming opinions and keep writing whether it’s on your blog or in your journal or even if it’s just your grocery list. The more you write the more your voice will come to the surface. The more you forget to look specifically for it the more it will reveal itself to you. ”

Earlier in the piece Bradley suggests;

“The best way to find and develop your voice is to continue to write and let it come naturally. Keep a journal and write, write, write. The reason for the journal is that your journal isn’t trying to impress anyone. You’re writing for you and you can see through all those big words you’re thinking make you sound more literary. You can see through your own BS so there’s no reason to put it there. Your private writing will be more you than anything you write for the public.”

So, if you’re trying to develop your unique voice keep a journal. Good advice in my opinion.

Post from: Blisstree

Another Good Reason to Journal