November's Writing Challenge.

November is looking to be a hectic month for me. I'll be working on my paranormal novella, as yet untitled, which will be part of #TheForsakenSeries. As well, I'm going to be working on the Booktube channel Patricia and I have, and the podcast channel Ciara and I share. Patricia (my alter ego) is working on a historical romance she's been dying to write, so our time will be well spent.

So this month is busy as we prepare for the writing challenge, continuing our blogging, and look to release another title.

To ensure I am able to meet the goals I'm setting myself, I've taken advantage of having this month to prepare for each project and work on getting some blogs written and scheduled, as well as doing a number of recordings for podcasts and videos. This way when November 1 rolls around, I'm ready to start the month by focusing on the projects I'm planning.

My Nanowrimo this year

October is slowly ticking away as I prepare for Nanowrimo. For those who are unfamiliar with this wonderful annual event - it is a challenge. The concept is scarily simple - write a 50k novel in one month, this works out to 1,666 words per day for thirty days.

Lets be realistic though. Is your real life and maintaining your health during this challenge going to allow for you to write 1,600+ words per day? Probably not. From past events, I have found its often best to give yourself few days to write say twenty-five of them to write and recalibrate your numbers to best suit the new data. This allows you to have days where you may not even get on to write in the novel because of outside forces.

So with such thoughts in mind, this year I am aiming to write 50,000 plus words in the space of twenty-five days. Can I do 2k a day? I have done so in the past. There are factors which must be taken into consideration for me to ensure success on this project. Firstly, I need to have my notes, research, world built as best as I can before November 1. This will ensure I am able to simply able to sit down and allow the story to carry me away.

And what am I writing this year?

I am extremely excited to return to my historical romance roots. I will be writing a Celtic romance set in early 6 or 7th century Ireland. Sounds daunting I know but I have been researching the topic for the past couple of years. Learning all I could about the history of Ireland specifically, and reading titles featuring the era I'm looking at. I've also had some help with an friend who used to work at a Library and who is Irish!

I haven't titled the work other than "Celtic Romance" but it is the story of two young people who are from clans who are bitter enemies. The heroine is a strong willed, opiniated woman who is used to standing on her own two feet. She is the youngest of thirteen children with only one boy - who is her twin and ten minutes older. The hero is a minor chieftain - his uncle is the high king of their clan who has to find out what happened to his younger cousin. When the heroine's brother and the hero's cousin vanish it puts warring clans at odds and on the brink of war.

The truth however, is far more dangerous to the kings because it has far reaching consequences. Its also the second story playing out within the novel - but in the background. Amid treachory, youthful inpulsiveness, and forbidden love, the hero and heroine will have to find a way to stop their families from going to war - and stop those who would use their hostilities to seize power.

Research is invaluable in writing a novel such as this for a couple of reasons. I find inacuracies affect the story - for example if you're reading something about Elizabethan England and there's details from the Victorian era it makes one stumble. As well, have the mixture of details can make a reader question the author or editor of the piece even if they don't realize it. I'm not critisizing anyone, this is simply my opinion and why I am so criticial of my own researching ability.

But it definitely means I need to ensure my accuracy when I'm writing a period novel.

With my plans for Nano this year, I've dug out my workbook I created and am updating for patrons (It will be available later this month with a pledge for Distinct Author's Patreon! )

It's something I use when I'm short on time and need to keep track of things. It has multiple sections, pages, for everything from the correct spelling of names - with meanings - to space for cultural trivia, recipes, fabrics, and more. My workbook is formatted so you can print it off and tack it up to a work board, or manipulate it to show the high points or specific details you really need to keep at the forefront of your mind. I like to think its a handy tool to use with your plotting (if you plot) and handy if you're a pantser because you can do all your note take, research etc and have it in one place.
As well, there's a spot to put links and list your sources of historical details - you never know when someone is going to question where you got your details from. 

Let the Nanowrimo Fun Begin

Hello readers and writers alike. It is October...the month preceding the biggest challenge for a writer which until recently only happened once a year...now there are events three times a year. What am I speaking of?

Oh the horror...the stomach twisting nerves, the gut clenching insanity...okay you get my point.

If you aren't aware of what I'm speaking about, let me fill you in. I am speaking of Nanowrimo...otherwise known as writing a novel in a month. Yes, a whole novel. 50,000 words of creativity and mind numbing word craft.

Have I scared you off yet? No, well then come on in, pull up a chair and let me bend your ear. Coffee? Tea? Pumpkin Spice Latte? 

Nanowrimo is an event I've taken part in for the last four years, and I've won it by reaching my 50,000 word goal. But there is more to it than simply writing 50k, there's maintaining your mental and physical health, learning how to function with deadlines and goals. For myself, learning to forgive myself for not reaching my goal of 50,000+ words was tough. Real life kind of kicked me in the behind and I just wasn't able to do what I wanted.

I know this year is going to be hectic - heck, it's going to be insane. I'm doing two projects one as Elise Whyles and one as Patricia Bates. (I've got blog posts detailing Patricia's story) For Elise Whyles, I'm going back to Forsaken Heart, book one in #TheForsakenSeries and telling the story of two of the characters from the novel.

To ensure success, I'm building worlds, creating lives, and cultures, and really expanding on some of the cultural details revealed in Forsaken Heart while I'm also bringing the two characters forward into the current hostilities in Dreken. As I pondered this, I realized, I needed to be prepared. I need to have notes jotted down for quick reference, to ensure I can maintain my writing goals. As loathed as I am to plot anything, for November I realize if I am to have any semblance of success I'm going to have to plan for things before November 1st, and utilize some of my note taking resources.

I'm a huge fan of spreadsheets you can manipulate them in any number of ways to help you keep on track. Currently I have two open on my computer, one for the Forsaken Novella and the other for the Celtic Romance (See Monday's Post) ;). The one for the Forsaken Novella is a mix of information from now, as well as information from the Treatment for Forsaken Heart detailing the physical characteristics of the characters, the setting, and space for me to add in more details.

There are several sheets opened in each file, allowing for me to document character wants and needs, conflicts, goals, motivators, and more. Having everything in one place this way allows for me to color code details, move them around, and really get everything laser focused. I can hear some say, well isn't that what plotting is. And the simple answer is yes. The big difference I find is using the spreadsheets I can track things like correct spellings of names, if there's a recipe or dish being made I want to try making myself - of course making a demon or vampire dish is a little tricky but still...

I will be making a workbook of what I'm doing for the novella and offering it starting the 19th of this month when you sign up to become a patron. Becoming one helps me, my family, and supports the Distinct Author's channel. Fore more information you can find out about Distinct Author's here.