Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction, Blogger, & Journalkeeper
Author of Historical Fiction, Blogger, & Journalkeeper
My historical fiction blog & latest book information: test 2
Friday, September 30, 2011
Not writing... Working, though....
I am trying to come up with a new/cleaner/more streamlined signature and am doing that rather than writing. Sigh.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
How can anyone write 50,000 words in a month? (More NaNoWriMo Chronicles): Write that novel.
These are all dilemmas and questions at the same time:
~ How can anyone write 50,000 words in a month--and have a life?
~ How can anyone write 50,000 words in a month--and work?
~ How can anyone write 50,000 words in a month--and raise children, and fulfill all of their other life responsibilities?
~ Is it even possible?
Is this something you struggle with as a writer?
I think that all of these questions stem from one real question. The other questions are subsets of that real overlying question.
The real question, please personalize it, is:
Can I write a novel?
That is the most important question at all.
Can you (I) really write that novel you've always dreamed of--whether consciously or subconsciously (and even sometimes unconsciously)?
No. You can't. I know this for a fact. I have no doubt about my answer to you and I am not being sarcastic. You will NEVER write that novel.
Never.
Ahh. You are thinking there is a catch.
There is no catch.
You will NEVER write that novel because of you. You have already set yourself up to fail. Just asking the question already means you have failed. You've set yourself up to fail.
Tell yourself you WILL write that novel and NOTHING and NO ONE will stop you. That includes you.
Be determined. Quit being a statistic. Quit quitting. Quit telling yourself you can't.
Let me tell you a little secret about the word 'can't'. Can't implies can. It implies you are actively, intentionally choosing not to do something. In this case, it would be writing the novel you've always dreamed of (even if you just got that dream yesterday).
CHOOSE to write that novel from cover to cover. Be purposeful. Be intentional. Act on it. Quit paying mere lip-service to it and--do it.
It really is that simple.
If you choose to make writing a novel of 50,000 words in 30 days your priority, it will become one.
How? Simple.
What do you do with all of the REAL priorities in your life? Well, for starters, you don't let anything stop you from doing it. Nothing. No one. You have made it your priority and nothing gets in the way. You put it on your schedule and everyone in your life know it's there and knows not to get in the way of your priority. (Hint: I just told you how to do it. Read between the lines and apply to your life and your novel writing.)
How will you write a novel in a month?
You will make it happen through intentionality. It will be your priority.
Now, I know that you as you write, you won't like what you write. You may even end up hating your main character (which means, in turn, you hate the entire book). You may want to throw the whole thing away. It's trash. No one would want to read it. It doesn't even make sense. It's not something that will sell. It's... Fill in the blank.
Stop. You control your thoughts. They do not control you. Change the internal voice recorder to: "There is a reason why this is called a rough draft. It's... You've guessed it. Rough. This is not the final draft. I will edit it to be the next best literary great. That's what sets all other novels apart. The editing. I will edit it so that I like.... Fill in the blank. But, I will write this novel. I will finish this novel."
So, now, it's your turn.
Repeat after me:
"I, put your name here, WILL write my novel of 50,000 words and finish all 50,000 words by 30 November 2011."
And...
"I will write my rough draft version of my novel now and will worry about the editing to perfection later."
Now, go and do it.
Quit allowing anything, everything, and everyone stop you. Write that novel!
You can.
You will CHOOSE to do so.
You will figure out a way to eliminate, crawl-over, crawl-around, or crawl-under any and all obstacles and will write your novel. Period. End of story.
Tada! You have a written novel.
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You will figure out a way to eliminate, crawl-over, crawl-around, or crawl-under any and all obstacles and will write your novel. Period. End of story.
Tada! You have a written novel.
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Participating in NaNoWriMo 2011 (NaNoWriMo).
NaOWriMo Countdown
32 days 12 hours
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Participating in NaNoWriMo 2011 (NaNoWriMo).
NaNoWriMo Thoughts, Hints, Tips, Etc.
NaNoWriMo and the National Novel Writing Month of November is just around the corner. It starts in 33 way-too-short days. (Yikes)
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Are you crazy enough to write a novel of 50,000 words in a month? (Don't forget Thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving weekend are in there as well. So, it's actually shorter than 30 days.)
I am. That crazy. So crazy indeed that I have now done it three years in a row. (Pray for me.)
This year, I know the genre. I even know the subject. It's the Jamestown Settlement in 1607 here in Virginia. Beyond that, I have no idea. None. Zilch.
I am still trying to write the last half of a novel I am writing right now and haven't had much time to plan at all. Then again, I didn't realize NaNoWriMo was just around the corner until this weekend.
So, if you are like me, how can you prepare for NaNo in 33 very short days?
The answer is carefully.
The reality of the situation for me is this: I laugh. I really won't have a clue what I am writing about until Tuesday, 01 November. That's the reality of the situation. All of my head space needs to go to "Yorktown's Dawning" between now and then. I will set a few days aside in October to devote time to planning, for strategy, and hopefully meet up with a few people to start turning my mind in that direction. I will try to do a rough and very thin outline.
If I were to start to prepare for NaNoWriMo today, this is what I would do:
1 I would try to come up with a one-sentence hook.
2 Then a paragraph hook.
3 Then, the back cover material for the book.
4 Then, I would write a rough and thin outline for the book. What I mean by that is I take a piece of paper and fold it in thirds. Each portion represents the 3-acts of my novel (the beginning, the middle, and the end). Then, I write a couple of sentences for each scene in each of those acts. I get the character names, setting, and a couple of words or a sentence of what happens in that scene.
5 I walk into NaNoWriMo (or sit at my computer to be more precise) on 01 November and start.
6 As time allows, I try to get more of an outline prepared.
50,000 words in a month can be as simple as we make it. It's been simple for me. I refuse to have it any other way. Sure, complications come up. It seems like everyone and everything fights to divide my time in November of every year. However, I make it through. I finish. Why? I refuse not to.
Just like, I do NOT believe in writer's block. I refuse to succumb. It is a choice I've made. I worked and wrote for 7.5 years and I've written full-time for 2.5 years. I've never had writers block. I can always find something to write. I may throw some of it away later, but I keep writing.
However, I also leave room in there for me to not make it and get 50,000 words done. I cut myself grace and tell myself I have the next month or two to finish writing a real novel of 80,000 words on average. Rome wasn't built in a day, as the old cliche states. And a novel is no exception. If I don't finish in November, there are indeed eleven other months.
I write full-time now. But, that wasn't always the case. I worked and wrote for years. How did I find time to write?
The answer is simple. I STOLE time.
What do I mean by that? It's something that I still do today. I write when I can--wherever I can.
How do I steal time?
~ I have a voice recorder in the car. I write as I drive--through talking into my phone or mp3 player. Red lights are my best friend! I get the most done then. Then, when I get home, I type it up.
~ I carry a journal with me at all times.
~ I write if I am on hold while on the phone.
~ Doctors office waiting rooms are down-times and I write.
~ If I am standing in a line, I write.
~ I get up earlier--as necessary.
~ I stay up later--as necessary.
~ I limit my tv time and my reading time.
~ As I cook dinner I write.
~ I write in the bathroom as I get ready.
~ If my husband goes to do something, I steal a few minutes to write while he's gone--even if it's for 30 seconds.
~ As my husband watches tv, I write by his side.
~ I jot down ideas in the middle of the night--as necessary.
~ As I exercise, I am writing and planning in my head. I write everything down when I am done exercising so I don't forget what I came up with to add to my book.
~ Wait time to get my hair cut.
~ In the shower. That's the best time to come up with ideas. Keep a notepad in the bathroom at all times (or your cell phone so you can text yourself messages of your writing ideas)
~ I email myself my writing from my cell and send myself texts as necessary.
I am sure you get the idea.
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
NaNoWriMo Countdown
As of 29 September, we have 33 days to go before the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
Office Organizing: Writing Resource
Huh! I just got an e-mail about a book that looks pretty good. As writers, it is essential to be organized or else we won't have enough time to write. Therefore, I wanted to share this resource with you.
http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/eblasts/stayorganized/
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Check it out: Reading Addiction and Launching
I am a reading-nut. I LOVE books.
So you want to see what has me shaking today regarding books--which will undoubtedly add to my book-habit? Check out my blog post at: http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-cant-take-it-excitement-aaaahhhhh.html
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Irregardless... A pet-peeve
Okay... So, I have to admit that I have a pet-peeve. It curls my hair every time I hear someone say it.
Irregardless.
Irregardless is NOT a word. It is not in the dictionary.
Regardless is the correct word.
If you say irregardless, it's a double negative. 'Ir' is a negative. 'Re' is a negative. So, if you put them together, it isn't a word.
So, what are you pet-peeves about the way we humans speak? Come on. I know you have some.
I need to do some editing of my book and I am sure that through my writing I will be able to share several with you. I tend to get repetitive.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
Writing books, education, and learning
As a writer, I know the necessity to learn more about writing and then to hone my skill of writing. Consequently, I study up on writing every day. I read books and blogs on how to write. Therefore, I will share them with you. It will be a regular feature on this blog. I will call it: "Always Learning: A Writing Class."
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Why call it a class? I hope to get multiple degrees in writing, whether I ever step foot into a classroom. I can learn and have my own writing class here at my home. I just have to put in the time.
So, what are the texts/books on writing I am reading right now? I will share the tidbits I learn from them. They are:
~ "The Writing Group: Creating and Sustaining a Successful Writing Group" ed by Lisa Rosenthal
~ "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing" by Writer's Digest
~ "The Productive Writer" by Sage Cohen
~ "The Breakout Novelist" by Donald Maass
If you want to read any of these with me, let me know. We can do the book club and writing thing over the internet and/or through email.
If you don't have time to read these books, I hope my notes in this blog will help.
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
Writing Tips
The first tip I have about writing is this...
Write every day--without fail. You either want to really write, or not. Make the choice. Do you or don't you? If so, write every day--for at least half an hour--preferably an hour or more.
Writing is a skill. If it isn't practiced, it will become rusty and eventually, the skill will be lost.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Fiction Writing Group
My purpose of this blog is to share my passion with writing and to form a group where we can come together and learn from one another. So, I would love to hear from you if you write.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
NaNoWriMo: Join the Fun: Write a Novel... Why?
First of all, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is 34 days away. Yep. 34. The clock is ticking.
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Are you, as writer, going to participate?
Are you thinking about it?
Have you ever dreamt about writing a novel?
Or have you written a novel or done NaNo before?
I highly recommend doing NaNoWriMo. Why? First of all, you're actually writing a very short novel of 50,000 words. Most novels are between 80,000 and 100,000 words. So, it's not as daunting as you might think. It's more of a novella.
Next, if you've always wanted to write a novel, or are in the middle of doing so now, what a perfect opportunity to throw all caution to the wind and write like a crazy person, as fast as you can--not caring about editing or perfection for an entire month. It's more like a stream-of-conscious writing for a month--where you write as much as you can as fast as you can and you don't censor yourself. You just throw it up on the page and you can correct it later? NaNo is actually extremely nonthreatening for just that reason. It doesn't have to be polished.
Also, you don't have to finish 50,000 words in a month. It's just a goal. You can finish your novel later. You won't be judged if you don't finish it. The point is to throw all of yourself into writing for one month. Make the appointment and do it. Then, try that again the next month. The next thing you know, you'll write several novels.
Why else should you do NaNo? It's fun!
I don't know about you, but I love a challenge. I love to push myself.
So, sign up for it at www.nanowrimo.org and join me in writing like crazy for a month. I would love to support you and chat with you about it.
NoNoWriMo is a contest. But, you don't compete with others. You compete with yourself. Do you know how a winner is classified in NaNo speak? It's if you achieve the goal of writing 50,000 words in a month. That's it. Simple. Really. It's only complicated if you allow it to be. It's only stressful, complicated, dreaded, or anything toehr negative word if you choose. Make it be a fun goal to see how far you get. Take the pressure off of yourself and write.
I will write suggestions for NaNoWriMo on this blog, along with my preparation, in the next four weeks.
What do you have to lose? You actually lose more if you don't try and you've always wanted to do so.
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
NaNoWriMo Countdown
NaNoWriMo (NaNo) begins in 34 days.
(Yikes! That's quite quick. But, I am quite excited!)
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3) (NaNoWriMo Book 2011)
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
Monday, September 26, 2011
10,000 Year Calendar: A Writing Resource
Here is a very useful writing resource. But, I want to give credit to the original source.
Writing a book set in 1781 is difficult in not knowing the days. The same would be true if I was writing a book in the future. Here is a writing resource, a calendar maker to help you if you want to know the days of a particular year:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/4048882?page=0#comment-5982515
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Writing Habits
Check out this blog post on my other blog at: http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com/2011/09/progress-another-writing-confession-im.html
It's regarding writing habits and achievements.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Blogs:
http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com (my main blog)
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3)
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
My Historical Fiction Books
If you want to find out the latest information regarding the book I am working on currently,
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Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Check out my blog at: http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com (my main blog)
Also, that is my main blog. So, if you want to find out more information about me, Yorktown, Jamestowne, history, and historical fiction, this is where you want to go.
Thank you! Have a good evening.
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Blogs:
http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com (my main blog)
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Next Book Planned: Jamestowne (Book 1 of 3)
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
NaNoWriMo Advice: A Fantastic Resource
So, as a fiction writer, if you want to consider trying NaNoWriMo for the first time, or as a continuing participant, you will want to check out this incredible resource.It's a book called,
"The NEW NaNo for the New and the Insane"
Check it out. It was written by:
Lazette Giffordhttp:/lazette.net
Tenth Year NaNo Participant
NaNo Blog: http://zette.blogspot.com/
And you can get the book at (and find out more information about it at):
The book is FREE!
I will also include information about how to prepare, do, and live through NaNoWriMo on this blog.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning" (Book 1 of 7)
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
NaNoWriMo Confessions
So, I have a confession to make regarding NaNoWriMo.
I love it and am quite passionate about it. I started to do it in 2009, after I found out about it too late in 2008, and have found an interesting trend in my life. I will, unless I am unconscious or in the hospital, do NaNoWriMo every year. Period. As a matter of fact, in 2012, I want to do JulNoWriMo as well (July). It's a non-negotiable to me. It's important to my writing life and for me personally.
Here comes the trend and confession...
However, every single year, it hits the end of September and I look at the calendar and see that it's almost October...meaning November and NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Yikes! The pressure is then on and I have to work quickly to make up for loss time (at least in my mind to prepare myself mentally if nothing else. Although, a book idea at the very least is helpful.) It never hits me until the end of September for some reason. So, I now have a reminder set in my planner to remind myself monthly--starting 01 August about NaNoWriMo.
Here comes the trend and confession...
However, every single year, it hits the end of September and I look at the calendar and see that it's almost October...meaning November and NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Yikes! The pressure is then on and I have to work quickly to make up for loss time (at least in my mind to prepare myself mentally if nothing else. Although, a book idea at the very least is helpful.) It never hits me until the end of September for some reason. So, I now have a reminder set in my planner to remind myself monthly--starting 01 August about NaNoWriMo.
I can't help but chuckle and realize how wrapped up in life I can become to be so dense as to not to prepare for NaNoWriMo a little earlier in the year than at the end of September.
This confession gets worse. I am in the middle of writing my "Yorktown's Dawning" book, and am at 62,000 words of 135,000. So, I need to finish this novel first so I can start the novel for NaNoWriMo on 01 November 2011. Oh, boy! No pressure. So, it looks like October will be a preview for NaNoWriMo in November. Check out my blog at: http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com for how that goes (Along with what I mention on this blog).
Do I have any idea about what I am going to do for the real November NaNoWriMo? Yes. I know it's going to be on Jamestowne. Other than that, I don't have a clue. Maybe I should start thinking about that in between my personal OctNaNoWriMo.
So, am I out of my mind? Probably. But, hey. It's worth it! (Pray for my husband.)
--
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning"
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
NaNoWriMo #2: Where to find my book and information
Here is the link to find my NaNoWriMo information and page:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/846419
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month #1: A Blog Post Series:
November is NaNoWriMo every year and has been for 13 years as of this November.
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.
Check out their website at: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ for more information.
I took place in NaNoWriMo in 2009 and 2010 and was a winner both years. All that means was I actually wrote the required word count of 50,000 words in 30 days. Saying I am a winner sounds pretty impressive, but anyone can do it and can be a winner. (Trust me. If I can, anyone can!)
This is my first blog post regarding NaNoWriMo for 2011.
WANT TO JOIN ME?:
Writers, would you care to join me? I would love to link arms with you and run this race. Individually, we will compete with ourselves. But, it's far better to have someone by your side. If you're interested in going through NaNo together, let me know. Either attach a comment at the end of any of my posts on this blog or send me an email. We can encourage one another. Also, if you've never done this before, I can give you some tips.
It doesn't matter if it's online, through email, through comments posted on this blog, or phone call. Everyone is invited to join me in this crazy and fun endeavor.
HAMPTON ROADS AREA
If you live in Virginia in the Hampton Roads area, holler. We can meet-up somewhere for this venture as well.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Blogs:
http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com (my main blog)
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning"
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
This blog is for writers of fiction in particular
This blog is for writers of fiction in particular.
I will talk about writing, the process of writing, goals, hints/tips, how-to, how not, writing books and other writing resources, other writers, and anything else you can think of regarding the art and craft of writing.
I look forward to hearing from you. This blog is meant to be an encouragement for you and a place to go to get inspired about writing.
--
~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.) & Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Blogs:
http://ushistoryfiction.blogspot.com (my main blog)
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning"
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Welcome
Welcome to my newest blog.
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~ Stacy Duplease
Author of Historical Fiction (of Virginia and the U.S.)
of Remembering Your Present, LLC
Latest Book: "Yorktown's Dawning"
Latest Historical Fiction Series: "The Chronicles of the Siege of Yorktown"
Check me out on Facebook under my name. Also, check me out on twitter @hisfiction
Email: hisfiction@gmail.com
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