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Blog Archive
ApriWriMo
It's that time again! You probably don't remember last year when I decided that I was going to dedicate the whole month of April to a writing frenzy similar to NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month). That's okay 'cause I'm here to remind you.
In November us ambitious writers tackle the challenge of writing 50k in one month- 30 days of writing until your fingers feel like they may melt away from the bone. Your keyboard is so hot it's smoking and setting off your fire alarms. Your rear-end feels like its permanently one with your desk chair. You live off candy and soda and caffeine. And you forget what it's like to sleep. Or what outside looks like. But that's November. The euphoria you feel when you've accomplished the 50k goal in November is unlike any high you've ever had before.
April Writing Month is simple. You, the writer, set your goal. The fun of April is it's realistic. You can have a life. We all have lives outside of our computer. And what keeps people from competing in November is that daunting 50k goal. Setting a realistic April goal will get your fingers moving and creative juices flowing. This goal is not to berate you if you don't accomplish the “number or pages” you set out to do by the end of April. This goal is to get you in the groove of writing again.
I've been writing non-stop since I came back from my trip in late January. A change in scenery always does my creative brain good but this time was different. I felt like I had the chance to renew my passion for writing. I've missed feeling like I have something to contribute as a creative writer. And I want to inspire everyone else to do the same. Let's participate in Apriwrimo together! Let's start something, finish something, revise something, build something- I know you can do it. Set a goal and get ready to write in April. (Or read! Hey, readers, how about setting a goal for books to read in April and maybe you could share them with us writers in May?)
My goal for Apriwrimo?
Finish my prequel of my urban fantasy world- 25K by April 30 at 11:59pm.
I'm 25k into it right now. I'm constructing the world to break it down. I'm building the background and the characters so I know how to introduce the alternate world to my heroine for the first time. I'm in the process of teaching myself how to write in third person. After much debate with my inner self, the story is much better suited for third person. My voice, however, is not well suited for third person. So the prequel is an opportunity for me to stretch and warm up before the main event.
How about you? What's your goal for April?
Books by the Crew
77 comments:
Okay, Sinsister, I'll play along a little bit. I will finish Almost Human. It's at 51.5 and I'm shooting for...I'm not sure. It will be done when it is done! I'm thinking 80k...but we'll see! I'm working with Scape and the Bosun to stay on track and keep the writing snarl from tangling my fingers.
I'm still in revision Hell with the last MS and I'll have to wade through the discovery phase for the next one before putting words on the page. Plus, I've got two trips to Knoxville in April which will burn off two weekends. Just ain't the month for me. But do this again in June and I'm totally on board. :)
Kudos on the word count AND all the progress. Third person. That's BIG for you. Can't wait to see how that turns out. I have a feeling we're all going to be really irritated with how well you do. LOL!
I've been wandering all over the place with this story. Mostly because I'm building as I go.
This will be fun Chanceroo! I can't wait to see how well we all do by the end of April.
Ter, we'll have to see about June. By June I might be ready to start working on the actual series of this urban fantasy. I don't plan to take much time off. So June might be a good time for me to settle down with a new goal to finish that first story up.
And I can honestly say that my third person is terrible. Awful. No good. But someone told me that's what editing is for after I finish the rough draft. lol
Cool. I'll go along for the ride ... But I probably won;t be the one writing. i'll be helping my lil'Apprentice find his “better voice” and thus his better story.
He's kickin' some revision butt btw.
Dear Lil' Apprentice,
Very proud of your ability to kick revision butt and plug away like the Lil' Engine that could. Jules has excellent techniques for handling butt kicking and I see she's rubbed off on you. She has excellent credentials. She did raise the Creature.
Sincerely,
Garbo
Jules, as long as you're helping the apprentice get his shit together that's all that matters. You can help him reach a goal.
I'm totally in for April!
Currently, I'm doing a personal set challenge of 2 pages per day, 6 days a week...and I'm accomplishing it! I've never written this much before and even though some days are harder than others it's been great so far.
Marnee joined me in the challenge and we're on a team together with a few other writers and it's been helpful to get that encouragement online, to have a chat challenge room and to know my team is counting on me (there's a point system & prizes).
BUT - that challenge ends April 1st. Yep. April Fool's Day. But I'm hoping I'm not fooling that I *might* - and this is really stretching & hopeful - *might* be able to say on April 1st that I wrote THE END. On my 1st WIP.
I'm also targeting having a 1st chapter, query and synopsis to submit to a fast track opportunity to Harlequin by April 23rd. So, I challenge myself to rewrite my first 3 chapters, write the synopsis and the query in April and submit by the deadline.
I'm in for April!! I'm starting a new book so it's perfect timing!
p.s. Proud of you for tackling third person pov!
Yay!!
So awesome about your personal challenge. I've never been able to do a daily challenge. I'm too ADHD. I don't have any prizes or point systems in place for April but I hope the reward of being able to show yourself that you can write consistently will be enough for writers to play along.
Yay Jill!! I would say you don't have to do this since you just finished the other manuscript but I know you've gotta get started on your next masterpiece. So glad you're taking a couple of weeks off to rest your brain.
PS. Don't be proud of my horrible third person. It's appalling. You'll die laughing if you read it.
I'll do something. I like Scapey's challenge of 2 pages per day, 6 days a week--that feels very doable and good habit forming. So that's like 48 pages in the month of April, right?
You can do it Hellie!!
You might as well make it an even 50. :)
Good for you, Scape! I remember that triumphant feeling when I finally started writing consistently. (Not that what I'm doing now could be called consistent, but whatever.) Go go go! You and Marn both!
Right. Ms. Shalvis needs to get on board here because that woman is such a slow writer. LOL! But we'll take her!
Fine. I'll set the (too easy) goal of having this MS out the door and at least the character detail sheets done on the next one. (I sure hope I find a plot for that one soon...)
Yay Ter you're on board! This is going to be a great month for writing. I can feel it in my bones. My writer's spirit is really high right now. I'm gonna cheer everyone on.
Jill tries to write 2k a day everyday. That woman has dedication. I sit down to write 2k a day and I'll pull my f*cking hair out. Her dedication is inspiring to me. Makes me feel challenged to sit my behind down and do it.
If my heroes were as hot as Jill's that 2K might not be so daunting. LOL! The woman is obviously a force of nature. Very inspiring, to readers and writers. :)
I can do about 1500 in a good 2-3 hr session. If I'd start earlier in the evening, I might could get that other 500. Huh. Might have to aim for this when I get the next MS going.
I have faith you can do anything you set your mind to doing. Do it Ter! I know you can.
Okay. Since we know my memory issues, someone remind me of this goal when the time comes. Seriously. I want to see if I can do this. I NEED to do this. I'm petrified of contract deadlines and I don't even have one yet.
We're going to need prizes for motivation. I'm thinking cookies ...
I need Ranger.
We're going to need prizes for motivation. I'm thinking cookies ...
I'm all about the chocolate...and the cookies...but I think access to Jill's secret stash of hottie pictures she uses to taunt Kristin Higgins is actually what would motivate me most. *LOL*
But since I failed as a babe this morning when you questioned me, I'm not even sure I deserve to have Ranger.
This is true. Sin doesn't deserve Ranger. Therefore, I should have him.
If we're talking about the movie version, y'all can have him. If not, I think the woman with the most pathetic sex life should have him. Since that would be me.
Did someone say cookies?!
Can we add donuts? I've been craving donuts lately. If they're virtual donuts, even better. Less calories.
I'm off chocolate until RT...but we're talking cookies at the end of April? Sure!
As long as I get Commander Taylor from Terra Nova, ya'all can knife fight for Ranger and I'll just tuck myself under Taylor's arm and be happy...
April's good for me since I have no deadlines on my other writing projects that month. I'll set my goal at 100 pages on the first draft of the new book. Maybe setting this goal will force me out of the research stage where I tend to linger for an unduly long period.
Yay, Janga! Are we going to have a weekly check in or something? I'll need the accountability or I'll slack off.
I'm totally in with some prizes - I can offer up some audio books in the genre of your choice, or some homemade brownies, cookies or a surprise dessert!
I'll volunteer to manage the tracking system etc.
If everyone likes the idea of tracking and some fun prizes I can set up the details and make it an official Challenge. :)
Wow. We've never had a pirate this organized. I'm not sure how to act.
You can "give away" audio books? I didn't know that.
*confused* What's organized? I've never heard of this word.
LOL - Well I have the actual CD's that I can mail to winners.
I'm thinking the same simple structure we have on our other challenge.
1 point each week for meeting goal 6/7 days
Random Extra points for challenges set through the month. Example: Stay off Social Media for a whole weekend.
It would be the honor system and each week you'd just email me if you met the goal or the extra goal.
Each week every point enters you to win the prize of the week. Winner Chosen Randomly.
So 4 weeks of prizes and then maybe 1 overall prize for all finishers at the end?
What do you pirates think?
*more confused* Honor system? Do pirates even have an HONOR system? Dude, I read the ends of books first to make sure I can handle the ending.
But otherwise, just so everyone knows my definition of honor is "subjective", I'm in.
Did she say no social media for an entire weekend? I'm gonna need more rum.
Hon, we're not this ambitious. That or we're not reward driven pirates. Which doesn't sound right at all, does it?
I do like one prize at the end of anyone who meets their goal. We should be able to handle that. We'll get Chanceroo to make up buttons!
If the honor system worked, people wouldn't be taking my candy bars and NOT putting money in the honor jar. Grrrr....
(Sorry, real life day job issue.)
First of all, Ranger is mine.
Second, oraganized? I don't recognize this word.
Third, I'd like to help with prizes. I can offer books. I'd offer cookies but to be honest, I don't share well. See my first point above.
Oh God, does this mean I have to give up the Kindle for the month of April?
I might as well jump off the plank now. lol
I like this. I like the enthusiasm everyone is showing today. I feel really kick ass right now. Like I could take down a whole posse of ninjas. And still have enough energy to rock Ranger's world. (Not Movie Ranger world. Meh. Fantasy Ranger's world where he can push me up against the wall in the stairway and ravish me in front of the security cameras.)
I can offer to make cookies. I make decent cookies. I can't swear to get to the post office. For some reason I fail at the post office.
*head scratching* What to offer... What to offer... Hm. How about a name your prize (within reason)? Like say you like music and I get you a music gift card? Something like that. Or I get you a book you had to postpone reading because you were too busy during the month of April to get it and read it.
I love how specific that is. LOL!
I think we've found the reward that can motivate this crew.
Poor Scape. She has no idea the lazy lot she's dealing with. LOL!
WHY would giving up a Kindle be required? Do we have to stop reading? That can't be right. We WILL have to budget our time wisely though. That should be interesting.
Everyone put the word out to participate next month. That's the goal- to get as many people as we can on board with April Writing Month.
Dude. I'd go a long way for an iTunes card.
The best cookies I make are the Buckeyes but they'd melt. I do make some good chocolate chip cookies (with the help of that little dough boy.) I'd be happy to send some cookies around.
Let's just say I've put some thought into my Ranger fantasy.
All I heard was putting away social media for the weekend and started to panic that Scapey was gonna try to wrestle my Kindle away from my gummy little fingers.
I'd go a long way for some iTunes cash too. I figure that would be good motivation. That would motivate the hell out of me.
I've pimped the challenge on twitter and FB. Let's get the word out.
I'm so glad you guys are social.
I can't do it alone!
*typed in the "I'm giving her all she's got, Captain" accent*
I don't Twitter. And I barely manage to use Facebook. Anyone and everyone! A call to arms! Use your social media to get the word out! Unless you're like me and don't use any of those and then it's perfectly okay to get out the megaphone and stand on rooftops.
I just got my smart phone! Will not surrender for any reason!
Scape, you're dealing with anarchistic pirates. We don't do organized.
If we checked in, I'd need specific word goals and I have no idea what the finish length of this book will be.
You'll know if you're making progress. That's what counts. Check in with "I wrote XX words this week and I believe I'm still on track to meet my goal."
I think that's the "honor" concept. Or so I hear...
I think I'll get one of those nifty little word counters for next month.
I wouldn't mind one of those, Sin. I'd rather get it for my phone, though. My blog is all about RT until well after RT...
And buttons!? Did I hear we may want some buttons? I could do that...
You want a word counter for your phone?
Uhm....Word has a built-in word counter. Or am I missing something? (highly possible)
Yeah, it don't make much sense... A word count is just more public, so it sorta belongs on a website... I'm just finding this phone so bloody BRILLIANT! I figured it would track my progress better than I could.
;-)
I told Terri earlier...if has Cthulhu in spellcheck... I mean, talk about brilliant! Never misspell the name of the Elder Gods again!
They make those word counter things that you embed into your blog. That way there is accountability. Getting it for my phone would be a cluster just waiting to happen. Having it on a blog no one sees is much better. I haven't touched my personal blog in almost three years.
Buttons- I did AWM and survived. Barely.
LOL
Sorry I posted and left but had to run to an actual work meeting. Don't they know not to bother me right now?
Okay, okay. So I won't get all official and organized on this. You have no idea how my little OCD organizer heart is breaking...LOL
I think we need to come up with a kick-ass name for our AprRiMo...something specific to us pirates and any others we can lure in that could be put on equally kick ass buttons if we finish!
Just to be organized a little...I can write down each person's goal to start and what prizes are being offered. At the end we can draw names to pick prizes from the finishers. Is that easy enough? :)
Work just a little with my OCD organizing-self ppl or I might make you sing for your rum...or give you a hug until you submit!
Scape, we will let you work your little OCD to your heart's content. Just remember the product you're working with here: unorganized pirates. We'll try.
Please don't hug me.
I'm ice picking anyone who gets near me for a hug.
And you guys are more than welcome to think up a kick ass name for our April Writing Month. It's just the name I used for it last year because I was too lazy to think up something cool.
I also love the idea of the challenge month. I'm in with Scape on this months but I didn't think I'd finish my edits so fast. (That was my challenge.) SO now I'm in the initial thinking and plotting phase of my next and trying to regroup to start writing again.
I have no idea if I'll be ready to write by April 1st. I suspect not. But, maybe by April 15.
So, I'm going to set two goals, maybe. Finish initial plotting phase by April 15. Then write the first 10K by end of the month.
And Scape, I'm not nearly the anarchist. LOL!!
Yes! Excellent goal setting Marn.
Awesome Marn! I'm so proud of you this month and for this next challenge!
Chiming in late because I am writing and staying off my usual distractions, uh, social networks and such. "Reasonable" for me would be 10K on the current WIP. Wishful thinking would be that I'd finish the other project, sequel to The getting done. But current WIP is in third person and the sequel in first. I think my brain will break if I try to do both.
So 10K on current WIP (I hit the 20K mark last night, so that'll put me 30K toward the 90K goal. I'm soooo slow.)
Nothing wrong with slow! Slow and steady. Awesome!
“I'm ice picking anyone who gets near me for a hug.”
"OoooohhhhhHuggyHuggyHug, SIN. And I’ll pat your head & pinch sweet little cherub cheeks just for good measure,” said the woman wearing the pink helmet and the Harley Davidson riding boots.
So cute Jules. I'm going to rust my ice pick just for you.
Kissss-kissssssssssSinnnniesinsin
Sorry, Scape...I should have warned you...do not try to hug the captain or the quartermaster... Though the threat of a hug may actually work!
Yeah Chance, I thought the threat of a hug was my deadliest weapon to choose with this lot. :)
Okay - I'm going to review the comments and post a round up one of all the goals and possible prizes. Then I can add to as more join, or offer prizes, or even if you want to change your goal!
Okay Pirates - You have risen to the Challenge and here are your goals:
2nd Chance - Finish Writing Almost Human
Terri - Get the MS out the Door & Character Details done for next WIP
Jules - Help Apprentice
Scape - Write THE END (if didn't by the 1st) & Rewrite Chapters 1-3, a synopsis and query to submit to Harlequin by April 23rd
Jill - 2k a day ( I believe based on what Sin said about her daily writing goals in the comments) (BTW - Can I lose my cool and say how freakin awesome it is that Jill's on board. Fan-girl squee!)
Hellie - 2 Pages per day
Janga - 100 pages of 1st draft
Sin - 25k of Prequel WIP
Marnee - Finish plotting phase of next WIP by 15th & 10k by end of month
P.Kirby - 10k on WIP
So what are the spoils of this challenge for these dread writing pirates? Why Cookies & Books of course! That's what every good pirate wants for treasure right?
Wonderful sum-up, Scape! Feel better? LOL!
This will be good for reference when we get to May 1 and no one remember what we said.
Yes I feel better!
And you're crazy if you don't think that on the last day of March you aren't all getting a friendly email reminding you to gear up for April - there's cookies and books on the line for goodness sake!
Jules - Help Apprentice
Great job, Scape. To make things more fair I’m gonna be more specific in my goals. My challenge to myself is to review all of his original material (again), review the reworked sections with him, encourage him to rewrite any problem passages, have him edit the new material in, and complete the first round of deep revisions for the entire MS.
Sounds great Jules!
Sin - I love how you've pumped us all up to write for April and how excited you are with your writing right now. It's infectious!
I just want us to do what we all love to do- write.
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