It's Almost Here!!!!!!!!!

On the Eve of NaNoWriMo, I like to take a step back from writing.  Instead I read a book by an author I admire, preferably one that is written for the same audience for whom I intend to write my book, and one that is written with the same POV (point of view, i.e. first person or third person). 

Tonight my book of choice is "Someone Like You" by Sarah Dessen.  I've read this book before so I am not interested in content.  I'm analyzing the way she begins and ends each chapter.  She is quite proficient at writing scenes - mini, chapter-sized increments that follow the storyline map (exposition, catalyst, rising action, climax and denouement).  As I read this book, I am chomping at the bit to get started on my own. 

Hey - it will be NaNoWriMo on the East Coast in six minutes!    Are you staying up until midnight tonight to get started or are you getting up early tomorrow?  Either way, don't let the first day of NaNoWriMo pass by without typing at least your daily word-count, whatever that may be.

Don't forget the NaNoWriMo kick-off tomorrow in my classroom.  Pizza, soda, and cookies - like you need more sugar after Halloween!!!!!!! 

Club News

Join Us!

Calling all Alumni NaNoWriMo participants! If you were in our club during the past few years, and would like to participate again, join us now! We miss you!

Are You Totally Psyched?

Are you excited?  Nervous?  Chomping at the bit?  You should be because NaNoWriMo begins at midnight tomorrow night (Monday evening at the strike of Midnight becomes NOVEMBER 1ST OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!)

1.  Chapter outlines ready?
2.  Characterization outlines ready?  (Protagonist, Antagonists, etc.)
3.  Backstory ready?  (Where has your protagonist been prior to the start of this story?)
4.  Storyline map ready?
5.  Setting sketch ready?

If not - why are you reading this blog?!  Get back to work, you silly writers!  Plan!  Plan!  Plan!  So you can Write! Write! Write!

The clock is ticking...

NaNoWriMo Stats

The following NaNoWrio statistics came from this website:  http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/mediakit.  Read and be amazed...

Founded by: Freelance writer Chris Baty and 20 other overcaffeinated yahoos in 1999.

Now run by: The Office of Letters and Light, an august 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oakland.

How NaNoWriMo got from there to here: It’s a funny story, actually.

Annual participant/winner totals 1999: 21 participants and six winners

2000: 140 participants and 29 winners

2001: 5000 participants and more than 700 winners

2002: 13,500 participants and around 2,100 winners

2003: 25,500 participants and about 3,500 winners

2004: 42,000 participants and just shy of 6,000 winners

2005: 59,000 participants and 9,769 winners

2006: 79,813 participants and 12,948 winners

2007: 101,510 participants and 15,333 winners

2008: 119,301participants and 21,683 winners

2009: 167,150 participants and 32,178 winners

2010: 200,500 participants and 37, 500 winners

Number of official NaNoWriMo chapters around the world: Over 500

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2005: Over 100

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2006: Over 300

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2007: 366

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2008: 600

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2009: 1,295

Number of K-12 schools who participated in 2010: 1,800

Number of NaNoWriMo manuscripts that have been sold to publishing houses: Many (details below)

Number of words officially logged during the 2004 event: 428,164,975

Number of words officially logged during the 2005 event: 714,227,354

Number of words officially logged during the 2006 event: 982,564,701

Number of words officially logged during the 2007 event: 1,187,931,929

Number of words officially logged during the 2008 event: 1,643,343,993

Number of words officially logged during the 2009 event: 2,427,190,537

Number of words officially logged during the 2010 event: 2,872,682,109

Join My Blog

Hello, students (and non-students, as well)!  You are welcome to join my blog and become a part of our NaNoWriMo support group!  Your school email account does not seem to work with Blogspot, so you will need to create another personal account (ask your parents first!)  I suggest you create an account at http://www.mail.yahoo.com/.  Next, join this blog by clicking the icon "Join This Blog" (on the left pane of this website) and enter your information. 

2.5 days and counting 'til NaNoWriMo kick-off!

Ready...
Set...

It's All in a Name

I think one of the most difficult tasks when writing a novel is determining the names of your characters.  I've been mulling over the names and each time I think I've made a decision, someone reads my list and says "Ewww.  That name reminds me of my friend's cousin's neighbor's brother who is a real jerk!" 

It's difficult to find a name that does not have some type of association attached, whether favorable or not.  Names have meanings, and your character's nature is reflected in the meaning.  Would you name a gentle, artist-type "Thor" or tough football player "Pansy"?

I remember when the author Kaza Kingsley visited our school  a few years ago.  She is the author of the popular series Eric Rex.  She explained how she solves the problem of naming her characters.  "Create them," she said, by combining the first half of one name with the last half of another. 

Here are a few examples:

Maxwell + Johnson = Maxson or Johnwell

Sarah + Jennifer = Sarfer or Jeniah

Noah + Abigail = Nogail or Abiah

If you don't like this idea, and prefer traditional naming systems, check out this link...

Baby Name Explorer

Novel Writing Club

I'm speechless tonight as I reflect on the number of writers in our school.  Our Novel Writing Club met in my classroom for its weekly meeting and every seat, including my teacher's desk and the carpet, was taken.  Imagine if the entire group had been in attendance?  We would have spilled into the hallway!

Don't misunderstand - I am definitely not complaining.  It's amazing for me to contemplate how many of our students love to write.  I guess we've all been bitten by the same bug!

I am proud of each of you that you desire to express the stories that bubble just beneath your surfaces.  I can see it in your eyes, feel the excitement in the tones of your voices.  You are excited about the act of writing, and are willing to participate in NaNoWriMo, not because it's an assignment, but because you want to do it.  Love to do it.  Crave to do it.  Can't wait to start to do it.  You've embraced the endeavor of creating something new where there was nothing before.  I share that excitement with you and totally understand the joy you are anticipating as the NaNoWriMo kick-off approaches.

You are adventurers.  You are fearless.  You believe in your abilities and are willing to take enormous risks by putting your inner-most thoughts onto paper for the world to see, accept or reject.  But as writers, it's all about the journey, isn't it?  It's the moments we spend creating worlds within the thoughts of our minds.  Worlds that are currently voids of nothingness but, come November 1st, will take shape, with ridges and contours, fluidity and substance, as we deem appropriate.  As we choose.  With all due respect, we will play "Creator" for a moment in time.  We will control the destinies of our characters.  We will shape dreams and either coax them to fruition or decimate them at the feet of our trembling protagonists.  We will possess the power to bless or destroy.  The humble writers in us will experience, during this month, sincere moments of creative enlightenment. 

Six days (if you live in Australia)...seven if you live in the Grand Canyon state.

We Are Writers

So - you've decided to take the plunge and write a novel!  Congratulations!  For me, this creative endeavor has become an annual highlight of the school year.  I love to write, but beyond that, I love the camaraderie we share as we sit side by side, typing furiously on our laptops, creating unique, secretive worlds of conflict, strategy and emotion.  This common experience bonds us together for one delicious, creative slice of time - the month of November - when we live and breathe our stories, determining the fates of our characters, revelling in the pure joy and untethered fervor of writing.  I don't see myself as your teacher during this month.  You are not students.  There is no age difference, no roles to play, no rules to follow.  We are writers. 

It's a time to indulge your creative selves.  Are you getting ready to take the plunge together?

Nine days and counting...

Ten Days And Counting...

Things to consider...

How much time can you commit to NaNoWriMo 2011?  How many words can you commit to writing?  It's exciting to say "I'm going to write 50,000 words in one month", and it's very possible because this is our club's third year doing just that.  But you must consider your age and grade level.  I'd rather you start with a lower word count and surprise yourself if you write more than feel like you've "failed" because you set your goal too high.  We've lost all of our ninth-graders to high school this year, and now we're blessed with fourth-graders who want to write with us but are very young.  Please remember that your priority must always be school.  Grades come first.  Talk to your parents and discuss this endeavor.  Determine what works best for you.  We're thrilled you're joining us!

I've created a NaNoWriMo bulletin board outside my classroom in the hallway.  Stop by, add your name to the list and write your projected word count.   

NaNoWriMo begins November 1st!  Join us for our kick-off party and be prepared to start writing!  You can come to my classroom before school, during lunch (1st or 2nd) and after school until 5:00p every school day during November.  Join us when you are able.  Write at home if you can't write with us. 

Ten days...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Thanks to all of the new (and returning) members who attend our Novel Writing Club meeting today!  We created usernames and pwds to access the ywp.nanowrimo.org website and created buddy lists.  We're gearing up and getting ready for November 1st!

Mark your calendar for our next meeting on Tuesday, October 25th.

Thirteen more days and counting down...

Article about our club

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Mark your calendar - our first meeting is this Tuesday!  Whoohoo!  Let's go NaNoWriMo!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Michigan Wolverines lost their game to the Spartans today.  I'm in mourning.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Writing a novel involves more than inspiration and putting words on paper.  It's important to take a few minutes to organize the backbone of the book - the chapters.

I use a spreadsheet program for this task.  I create the following headings:

Chapter Number, Chapter Name, Projected Word Count, Actual Word Count and Purpose of Chapter

I intend to write the full 50,000 words (maybe more), so I create 20 chapters (one per row in the spreadsheet) and give each one a working title (which is subject to change as the book evolves).  The projected word count is 2,500 (which will change when I actually start writing).  As I write the book, I enter the actual word count and calculate the difference from 50,000 so I know how many words remain to be written as I pursue my word-count goal.  Under the heading "Purpose of Chapter", I enter a few short sentences to explain the purpose of each chapter, the names of the characters in it, why they are important to the scene, and the actions that should result from that chapter so the story can move logically to the next one.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Yesterday I suggested that if you're not certain about your NaNoWriMo topic to get out of the house, go to the mall, and observe people and things.  Sometimes a writer just needs to sit and watch the world around them, to wait with an open mind for the lightning bolt of creativity to zap knock them out of their seats.

Well, I'm here to tell you today that this method does indeed work.  It happened to one of our club members (won't say the name) who was at the public library.  He meandered through the building, perusing bulletin boards and obscure pieces of artwork, when suddenly, it happened.  Thunder rumbled, the cloudy sky parted (ok, so we've no clouds here in the desert right now but you get the picture), and a pure, razor-sharp bolt of lightning erupted from the heavens, parting the hair on his head, right down to his cowlick. 

"Aha!"  He exclaimed triumphantly.  "I've got it!" 

I ran to get a piece of paper from the librarian and returned with three tiny scraps of paper (used to write down catalog numbers), but they provided just enough space for our inspired author to log his ideas before they dissipated as quickly as they came. 

Tada! 

He's one excited author with a NaNoWriMo idea that is totally cool (and must remain a secret per his request).

So - get out there and look around.  You never know what zap of inspiration will part your hair!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

If you haven't created a NaNoWriMo user account and password, please do so ASAP so I can invite you to our virtual classroom.  http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

I ordered our class kit which comes with stickers and fun stuff for our group. 

Mark your calendar:  Tuesday, November 1st - NaNoWriMo kick-off party!  Rm. 7, 3:45p - 5:00p.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Hello to my writing club members!

We will resume our meetings next Tuesday, October 18th, in my classroom from 3:45p - 5:00p.  Yes, it's October Break, but a writer never stops writing (or thinking about writing), write?  I mean, right?  (-:

To create my NaNoWriMo book this year, I'm going to practice what I teach.  I will be following the IB Design Cycle (International Baccalaureate) which employs the following categories:  Investigate, Plan, Design, Create and Evaluate.  In future posts, I'll explain what these mean in more detail, but suffice to say we should all know the definition of PLAN. 

(But just in case, here are some definitions straight from Merriam-Webster Online...)

1.  to arrange the parts of...
2.  to devise or project the realization or achievement of...
3.  to have in mind...

That's the one I mean.  To have in mind.  What do you have in mind for your book?  Not sure?  Aha!  That, my friend, is why we plan.

Sooooooo...here's your assignment for next week. 

Purchase a journal, notebook or boot up your computer and create an electronic folder called NaNoWriMo 2011.  Begin with a new page called "Planning" and write/answer the questions below.

Here are thoughts to ponder regarding writing your NaNoWriMo book. 

1.  How many words do you intend to achieve this year?  "Winners" are those who write 50,000 words within the month of November.  Each year, my club has produced at least 10 of these types of winners, but please consider your age and grade level.  Yes, yes, I know you are gifted and accelerated, but you must consider schoolwork, other club commitments (how dare you!!!), your weekday bedtime (I even have one of those), and your family responsibilities.  In other words, please don't over commit, yet set a challenge that will motivate you.  Perhaps you could increase your word count from last year by 5,000?

2.  What is the genre you intend to write?  Romance?  Comedy?  Drama?  Adventure?  Science Fiction?  Not sure?  Write down the type of book(s) you've read that is/are SIMILAR to the one you will probably write.

3.  What is the book's working title? 

4.  Who/what is your main character (protagonist) and what does he/she/it want?

5.  In what situation will you place this character?  What must he/she do to get out of it?

6.  Who/what are the protagonists of the story?

7.  What conflicts/obstacles must your protagonist face/overcome?

If you have NO IDEA what to write, go for a walk.  Go to the mall.  Go to the movies.  Go to the bookstore/library.  Go to the park.  Bring your dog to the groomers.  In other words, live your normal life but be acutely aware of the happenings around you, the emotions and nuances of those who are near you, their concerns and goals.  Jot these observations in your notebook (yes, you did remember to bring it, didn't you?) and brainstorm ideas.  Ask yourself "What if..."  What if the toddler wandered off through the clothing store and out into the food court...alone?  What if the pizza maker finally conjures enough courage to ask out the girl who works at the Dairy Queen?  What if the elevator stops between the third and fourth floor - with two rival gang members trapped inside?  What if the prized show dog runs across the street and is struck by a car?

Look for situations.  Look for ideas.  They are all around you.  You just have to observe the world through the eyes of a writer.

21 days - whoohoo!!!!!!  NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program

Saturday, October 1st

Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18th at 3:45p in my classroom.  See you then!