Thursday, October 31, 2013

NaNoWriMo Eve

After the goblins, witches and ghouls turn in for the night, NaNoWriMo (NaNo) will begin for me. Fortunately, there will be candy.

Here's what I know; the working title, the narrative point of view and a couple of themes to explore. That's about it. Normally I like to work off at least a rough outline and typically I have a few characters and situations sketched out in my mind. Not this time.

I'll use some milestones from The Hero's Journey. They'll act as guideposts to ensure I keep moving, but beyond that it looks like I'll be a pantser this year. A pantser is one who writes by the seat of their pants. I'm not going to be sitting there waiting for inspiration. I'm going to have to wrestle that out every day. That means I'll be using production goals. A certain word count (preferably over 1,700 a day) or a time commitment. Since my goals rest in reestablising a daily writing habit and uncovering a new piece of fiction buried within, production goals work just fine.

Writing without an outline is often exhilarating when creating new fiction, it gives you the freedom to capture a stream of thoughts previously unexplored. Of course, that can be frightening and a royal pain to edit. Nonetheless that's where this year is headed.

Stay tuned for updates.

For Fun - Celebrating Halloween and the Red Sox Win

Truthfully, I'm more of a take the mask off kind of guy, so when you're done pretending to be someone one you aren't, call me and I'll help you be more of who you are.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

NaNoWriMo 2013

Working Title for
NaNoWriMo 2013 Project

This year will be my 5th NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month) a creative writing project which challenges you to write 50,000 words of a new novel in November.

There have been years I’ve not wanted to participate because, “No time, no new ideas, too busy,” or some other excuse. But then I dug in and began. Sometimes I’ve shed my concerns right away, sometimes they’ve crept back, but the competitive and supportive spirit always keeps me at it.

It’s important to regularly take on a project that stretches you. All in all, NaNoWriMo is a pretty safe one. Yes, there’s time pressure. If you slack off it’s hard, but not impossible to recover. I participate each year to exercise my writing chops and to reestablish the discipline of daily writing. I do a lot of nonfiction writing through the year. November helps me create new fiction content that can sustain me. Some of the work makes it to the bookshelves, like Three Blinks and a Sigh and He Loves It When She Smiles, and some of it languishes in my hard drive, waiting for my fresh eyes and a red pen.

Each year I try to take a different approach. I don’t have a particular story in mind yet - I don’t need one until November, so why rush? This year, I’m a bit peevish. I’ve been experiencing many frustrations in various areas of my life, writing included. I’ve been amazed at the number of people who have pooh-poohed particular writing styles and themes. “Vampires are out, Zombies are in, You can’t write about that profession, Such and such doesn’t sell”. Give me a break. One of the most creative mediums we have is our language. Do not let others dictate how you express yourself. It’s okay, even advisable to be open to feedback, because you might be wrong, misguided or acting stupid. Be open to that, always, but never allow your inner voice to be deterred during a creative pursuit.

This year, I’m writing a novel in the second person narrative. Although there are a few supporters, you would be amazed at how many others say, “You can’t do that.” This year’s pursuit is dedicated to them. They may be right, but I doubt it. This year’s motivation is writing something, who knows what, in that style with only eight fingers, because my two middle ones are going to be extended way up.

I’ll post my progress, emotions, failings and tribulations here and on my Facebook page KarlBimshasWrites I hope you’ll join me.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

111 Encouraging Exclamations

Everyone could use a little encouragement. Find the phrases that you’re most comfortable with and use them often to encourage others or check them off and see how many you can use in a week.

  1. Absolutely correct. 
  2. Amazing! 
  3. Aren’t you proud of yourself? 
  4. Awe-inspiring! 
  5. Awesome! 
  6. Be proud of yourself. 
  7. Beautiful! 
  8. Beautiful work. 
  9. Beyond cool. 
  10. Bravo! 
  11. Can you show me how to do that? 
  12. Congratulations. 
  13. Cool.
  14. Couldn’t have done it better myself. 
  15. Crazy Good.
  16. Dynamite!
  17. Epic!
  18. Exactly right! 
  19. Excellent! 
  20. Fabulous. 
  21. Fantastic! 
  22. Go for it! 
  23. Good! 
  24. Good for you! 
  25. Good thinking. 
  26. Good work! 
  27. Great! 
  28. How can I help you with this? 
  29. How does it feel to be so awesome? 
  30. I knew I could count on you. 
  31. I knew you could do it. 
  32. I like that. 
  33. I think you’re doing the right thing. 
  34. I think you’ve got it now. 
  35. I’m glad I assigned this to you. 
  36. I’m glad you are on our team. 
  37. I’m very proud of you. 
  38. Impressive! 
  39. Incredible. 
  40. It’s a pleasure to work with you. 
  41. Keep it up! 
  42. Keep up the good work.
  43. Keep working on it.
  44. Let’s show this to everyone.
  45. Look at you go.
  46. Lovely!
  47. Marvelous!
  48. Much better!
  49. Nice going.
  50. Now you have it!
  51. OK!
  52. Outstanding!
  53. Perfect!
  54. Right on!
  55. Right!
  56. Sensational!
  57. Stellar!
  58. Super!
  59. Superb!
  60. Sweet!
  61. Terrific!
  62. Thank you!
  63. That was first class work.
  64. That’s better.
  65. That’s coming along nicely.
  66. That’s great!
  67. That’s it!
  68. That’s really nice.
  69. That’s right!
  70. That’s the best ever.
  71. That’s the best you’ve ever done.
  72. That’s the way to do it.
  73. That’s the way!
  74. That’s wonderful.
  75. The coolest thing ever.
  76. Tremendous!
  77. Very nice!
  78. Very resourceful.
  79. Way to go!
  80. Well done.
  81. Well, look at you go!
  82. What a creative idea!
  83. Wicked!
  84. Wicked Awesome!
  85. Wonderful!
  86. Wow!
  87. Yes!
  88. You came through again.
  89. You certainly did well today. 
  90. You did a lot of work today! 
  91. You did that very well. 
  92. You don’t miss a thing.
  93. You figured that out fast.
  94. You got it.
  95. You have my complete support. 
  96. You make it look easy. 
  97. You mastered that in no time.
  98. You must have been practicing.
  99. You outdid yourself today!
  100. You remembered!
  101. You’re doing a good job.
  102. You’re doing beautifully!
  103. You’re great.
  104. You’re learning fast.
  105. You’re on target.
  106. You’re on the right track now! 
  107. You’re right!
  108. You’re very good at that. 
  109. You’ve figured it all out. 
  110. You’ve got it.
  111. You’ve worked hard on this!
What are your favorite words of encouragement?



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

A Birthday Gift

Today is my birthday.

A lot of artists and entreprenuers use their birthday as an excuse to give something away. I'd prefer you buy my stuff.

But in the vein of gratitude, of which I have much, better angles have prevailed. So you can grab a complimentary download of the first three chapters of "He Loves It When She Smiles" by clicking here: Three Chapters.

If you like it, or you just want to be a good sport and buy a copy (or several for your friends) you can find it by clicking here: Buy the Book

While you're there, feel free to browse around at other titles I've written.

Either way, thanks for your support. If your a writer, keep writing. If your a reader keep reading and if you're a leader, keep doing both.

Thanks

-KB