In anticipation of next month's fun, I have purchased the obligatory bag of Dove Dark Chocolate. The chocolate squares are individually wrapped in word count boosting red foil and inside each foil wrapper are words that I randomly insert into my novel. Last year, I found them indispensible to the noveling process -- pause to organize my thoughts, open a chocolate, suck on it pensively in an authorly fashion, return to the mad frenzy of typing.
I also have a BRAND NEW, UNUSED pair of neon pink earplugs just sitting and waiting for November 1. The hubby knows what they mean.
What are YOUR tricks and treats for getting into the groove?
Jo_Narlene
Eschew obfuscation.
2007 - Winner - "Josie and the Slag Heaps" or "Silver Dawn" or "What the Hecky Darn am I Naming This Thing?"
----------
Jo_Narlene
Eschew obfuscation.
Winner - 2007 - "House of Canvas"
55,576 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 15 21
Don't you just hate it when you don't think your signature block will go onto your post so you cut and paste and then it does post, TWICE, so then everyone who sees it thinks you're a completely clueless dork. I just love that feeling.
Jo_Narlene
Eschew obfuscation.
Winner - 2007 - "Josie and the Slag Heaps" or "Silver Dawn" or "What the Hecky Darn am I Naming This Thing?"
----------Jo_Narlene
Eschew obfuscation.
Winner - 2007 - "House of Canvas"
50,983 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 18 46
What a wonderful way to use those Dove Dark Chocolates. I like to have those handy myself, but I never thought to use the pithy little phrases in my Nano.
I have, until now, done a poor job of getting in the groove. Therefore, any tips, tricks, hints, etc., would be most welcome. I'm hoping the write-ins will help push me along this year.
Shelly =)
65,752 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 19 37
This is my first Nano, so I never considered things like that. Will have to use the next two weeks to figure it out..
Sandy
52,411 / 50,000
oct. 15, 2008 - 20 54
That's pretty cool. Very innovative for you to do that. It kinda gives you an excuse to eat chocolate. teehee.
Well, I get a word a day in my email, for starters. Other things I'm going to do are:
+I have a schedule of when I write. I write for twenty minutes in the morning and an hour and a half in the afternoon (specific times on different days - school schedule is MESSED UP lol) That usually gets me about 2000 Words a day.
+I don't have any mroe yet. I have to think about 'em.
Ooo... I just became the seceraty for the Halo Halo club at HUg. Hmmm.... I'm gonan have to change my schedule now. haha
-----------Jordan M. W.
-Darikana
51,743 / 50,000
oct. 17, 2008 - 11 35
The treats are usually some good dark chocolate or a trip to the Sushi place.
Tricks have to change up regularly. What works one week for me won't work the next.
A few things that have worked in the past:
Grabbing my Apples to Apples deck, pulling 2 or 3 cards and using them as prompts.
Staring at my word count (when I'm way behind, which happens every year) long enough that I guilt myself into writing a few thousand words
Pulling a Tarot card and using as a prompt
Writing a letter to one of my characters (This particularly helped when a character became really stagnant)
There are others, and I'll be glad to share with anyone during November who needs an extra kick.
----------Municipal Liaison - Reno, NV
NaNo Winner 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007 (Yeah, I rock!)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/yvensong/
75,135 / 50,000
oct. 18, 2008 - 01 19
Since Halloween's the night before the first day of NaNo, I usually stash my candy, leftover or otherwise, as an incentive to write the first day. And for every year except last year, when I had to be at school before eight, I start writing at exactly midnight on November 1st to give me a kick. For me, getting as many words out at the beginning is crucial because it gives me buffer time later in the month. (That's something for newbies to look out for, if they don't already know: the point after the first week or so where writing slows or completely stops.)
Probably the biggest thing that I use during the month is music. I made mix CDs in the past and had playlists on my computer, but since I got an mp3 player at Christmas last year, I'll have music at my fingertips even when I'm away from my desktop. I always make two playlists for the year's story: one that has songs linked to the story I have in mind, and one that has music I can write to easily, connected or not. Also, since I'm really into music, I like writing around any of my major instruments (I have a keyboard, a guitar, and drums). When I get really stuck, I go play for twenty minutes or so to give myself thinking time; I've even been doing it during the outlining process.
----------Writing blog | LJ
NaNo participant: 2002, 2004-2008
NaNo winner: 2004-2007
SF participant and winner: 2007-2008
50,789 / 50,000
oct. 28, 2008 - 06 25
Just saw this thread. Hey, Jo_Narlene! I like the way you think. (and write and look and talk...you're just awesome!)
I dug through some papers I'd saved from a writing conference on taking memory and turning it into art. Several of the prompts will likely help when I get stuck. I've also saved a couple of local newspapers so I can add some pseudo-clippings. Arrest reports, obits, whatever. And my little notebook is never out of reach.
I like the idea of getting as many words out there early. Good tip. But the PARADE is Saturday and I'm working at the polls on November 4. I'll really have to do some fast typing---but the parade will likely be in the book. Maybe the election too---at least the people who show up to vote. All the poll workers wait for the tall, attractive tranny to show. And the drunks. Just more stuff for my notebook.
As for treats...not sure, but I LOVE the Dove idea. And some tasty coffee augmentations.
----------"When you come to the end of all you know, you must believe one of two things: there will be earth to stand on or you will be given wings to fly."