It's been a week since the end of NaNoWriMo, which means that I should have posted this like a week ago (a week agooooo) but alas I did not. I bet you are over all this NaNoWriMo talk I've been spewing the past month. Well, not to worry, tomorrow will be back to 'normal' posts (whatever that means!). But I needed to conclude my first ever NaNo experience in a more substantial way (Also, check out Part I & Part II!).

Many Wrimos (NaNoWriMo participants) memorialize their experiences through daily vlogs, but I decided to do my own 'diluted' version. In case you didn't know, I flooded Instagram last month with daily writing motivation. I could say it was to motivate others but truly, it was key to motivating myself to write daily. In order to post in earnest, I had to actually commit to writing, so I wrote almost everyday. I finished every post with a 'lesson of the day' of sorts. Here are the twenty lessons I learned from NaNoWriMo, which kinda makes for the perfect wrap-up post. Check out my Instagram account for all the pictures that go along with them.

  

Follow your headlights.

It's easy to be discouraged by not knowing the middle or ending of our stories. But writing is about keeping your eyes on the road and using the light cast by your headlights to lead the way. 

Just sit down.

Fear can be so crippling. Being fearful of having nothing to write can sometimes make you walk away from the keyboard altogether. Writing is kind of like working out in that way - just get there and the work will come.  

Said is dead. 

Okay, so it turns out 'said' isn't as dead as I thought, despite how uninspiring and lackluster it sounds. Through comments I discovered tons of alternative words (exclaimed, whispered, shouted) and that in many instances "said" is actually the best option. Also, it's about time I get around to reading On Writing by Stephen King.

It's okay.

Even on day when you don't write, it's okay. There's always tomorrow and it will be better.

Write through it.

The difference between a good writing day and a bad one is the ability to push through whatever roadblocks you encounter. And sometimes, you end up loving it even more. 

Don't wait to be inspired.

If you find that you aren't inspired to write the scene that's up next, don't wait for it. Switch it up, change the scene around, or introduce a new character earlier than expected. A reader won't be inspired to read what you weren't inspired to write. 

Remind yourself what happens next.

Getting started can be the hardest part of each writing session. So instead of ending a scene and walking away, I take a moment at the end of a writing session to jot down a sentence about what's happening next, so I can hit the ground running next time.  

There's always editing.

Some writing is better than no writing, even if it's 'bad'. Because it still gives you something to work with in editing. You can't edit a blank page.

Don't compare.

Falling in love with your story and your characters is such a great feeling. Don't let the evil eye of comparison steal your joy and negate all that.

Write from the point of view that inspires you.

Once I stopped obsessing over choosing and sticking with a certain point of view, writing became a lot easier and more authentic. Whether it's first or third person, if it inspires you, that's all that matters. 

Water it, it will grow.

One of my favorites. The more I write, the more I get to know my characters and struggle with the plot and the world they exist in. And then things just start clicking out of nowhere!

Writing is HARD!

To anyone who doesn't do it, it seems like a easy task, something they think they'll eventually do. But after three weeks of constant battle, it's clear. It's like solving an equation without the formula; it's hard.

Own your progress.

There comes a time when you may not feel like you're progressing far enough, fast enough. But never forget to own the progress you've made. Take a quick look behind and admire how far you are from where you started.

Trust your characters.

You do what you can to raise them right but when your characters start pulling at the reigns, you gotta let 'em go and trust that they know where to they're headed.

I write, therefore I am.

I've struggled with calling myself a writer for a while, as evidenced by many a blog post. But somewhere during this month, I finally accepted that there's no entrance exam. The act of writing is what makes me a writer.

You are so much better than you know.

It's easy to let self-doubt creep into your psyche. But if you push it, you'll surprise yourself. I wrote 7,000 words that day. Not the 10K I was aiming for, but holy hell!  

Appreciate the craft of writing.

I was about 12 when I realized writing was my passion. Since then I've lost and found it again multiple times, but I'm so lucky to have discovered my passion at all.

Cling to the glimmer of hope.

The finish line might seem so far off, but so long as it is still in sight, so is victory.

Finish what you started.

I've always loved this quote. And it was just what I needed to push at the end.

Your heart always knows best.

When you write because it's the only thing that feels right, it's the heart that leads the way. And if you just let your heart push through sometimes you end up with something that feels so genuine and so engrained in your soul that it fits perfectly. It ends up feeling less like make believe and more like real life, and that's the best feeling. My heart definitely carried me through to 50,000 words <3

Those (kinda) daily Instagram posts, as well as the hashtags on social media and twitter sprints, really motivated me to keep writing and win NaNoWriMo. Thank you to everyone who commented on my posts here or on iG and had such encouraging words to lend me!

So ends my NaNo experience but the writing - the writing has just begun :)

"NaNoWriMo-ing": Part II [Music]

The fact that I'm taking a writing break to write this post is so counterproductive I don't have the words to describe. What can I say? I just love you guys. Bring it in... *virtual hugs all around*

That right up there. That may be delirium setting in. 

One of the things that has really been getting me through this month is music. About a week or two before NaNoWriMo began, I'd begun adding songs that remind me of my novel (then just an outline) to a playlist. It's kind of like a soundtrack to my story. So that's my advice. If you're having a hard time pushing through this final week of NaNoWriMo or just need motivation to write more frequently, create a 'novel soundtrack'. And this morning I'm going to talk about my soundtrack, the songs on it and how I chose particular songs for particular scenes. 

Making A Noveling Soundtrack

I won't be sharing too much about my novel (because again being productive of my total not-worth-stealing ideas), but when I don't share details, I will give examples, if I can. 

The most important part of compiling a playlist of songs to inspire you to write your story is, obviously, choosing songs that inspire you in general. Even if it doesn't really seem go with your novel, it can inspire you just because, and that's where I advise that you start. Besides, you are not a random collection of hopes and thoughts that have no relation. Generally, the things we create are closely-related to the values we hold dear, the ideas we have etc., so what inspires you will probably inspire your story if that makes sense. Here are a few songs that generally inspire me:

 

The Light by The Album Leaf

I never miss a week of Scandal so it's no surprise that when I think of those 'silent romance' scenes (Olitz moments!) I hear this in my head. I'm not sure if my novel has those scenes but the song feels so meaningful. 

Beating Heart by Ellie Goulding

When I saw Divergent, I loved this track so much. To me, it signifies that final night before you know that everything is going to change. I think everyone can relate to that feeling.

Bartholomew by The Silent Comedy

This is one badass song. Everytime I hear it, I remember one badass vampire Klaus Mikaelson's fight scene in season 1 of The Originals when he annihilates like two dozen vampires before they surrender (here!). He's a baaad man. And although I'm not exactly sure where it fits in my story, the drums and guitar melodies make me feel powerful.

Next is to think of the themes or particular scenes in your novel and find songs that sound like they fit. You can choose slower ballads for romantic and deeper scenes, or epic instrumentals for suspenseful moments, fun upbeat music for those playful scenes that play like a cutesy montage in your head. You can also match lyrics to scenes if possible. Doing so really helps when your writing because you hear words that almost express what your characters might be feeling. Below are a few examples from my soundtrack as well as a few that I thought up just now.

Your Hands Are Cold by Dario Marianelli 

A lovely track from the 2011 Pride & Prejudice movie soundtrack, it reminds me of all things wonderful about love. Around the 2:40 mark, the swell of the music is so beautiful it almost makes me cry. Can somebody say first kiss?

Intro by The Xx

Another generally-inspiring song. Because of how steady the song is throughout and the video I saw for it (here), I've always associated it with running or a trek of some sort, something liberating. So when I wrote a scene when my character went for a run, I had this song on repeat. 

Do I Wanna Know? by Artic Monkeys

Most romances start with one or both characters wondering if the other feels the same way. Not only is this track a good, gritty rock song, but it describes perfectly that wonder and hesitation involved in a situation like that. I specifically love these lines: "So have you got the guts? / Been wondering if your heart's still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts / Simmer down and pucker up / I'm sorry to interrupt. It's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you / I don't know if you feel the same as I do / But we could be together if you wanted to".

  

Time & The Dream Is Collapsing by Hans Zimmer

There comes a point in my novel where shit is just hitting the metaphorical fan. My characters wind up in the complete wrong place at the wrong time and witness something that they can't come back from, the OMG moment. I find that Hans Zimmer's instrumentals are just perfectly epic for such moments. Time is great at building it up for that moment when things look sketchy, the up on the roller coaster. And then Dream Is Collapsing (which in Inception is the moment things are getting real) is the downfall, that eyes popping out of your head "is-this-real-life?" moment. It makes me excited to write these scenes.

Love Me Again by John Newman

I know it seems like it, but not all of my novel is doom, gloom and tension. There are really fun parts and for my montage of happiness, this song is just perfect. My characters get to a point when they've figured things out (or at least they think they have) and just really learn to enjoy the moments they have together. It doesn't hurt that I just love this song!

How do you find songs to add to your novel playlist? I suggest checking out the soundtracks for some of your favorite movies and shows. Many of the songs on my soundtrack are from shows like The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Scandal, Pretty Little Liars, and movies like Inception, Batman Begins, Pride & Prejudice. Also check out this post by Susan Dennard for more ideas.

Ironically enough, listening to and talking about all of these songs has motivated me to jump back into my story. Which is a good things because I'm almost 10,000 words behind schedule :o eep! I hope this was helpful. If you're interested in my first NaNoWriMo tip post, click here. 

Tell me about the music you write or blog to. What songs inspire you in general? 

"NaNoWriMo-Ing": Part I

Have I mentioned that I've always wanted a typewriter? I have to resist buying one every time I go to a vintage store or flea market but I know I don't have the space for it :(

That's beside the point. As you probably already know, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year and I'm about 1/2 through now (which means I should have over 25K words but nay, I do not. Let's not talk about it). Let's talk not about word counts or the act of actually writing a novel at all. Let's talk about prepping a novel, specifically creating a story bible.

Creating A Story Bible

I've been writing for as long as I can remember, short stories, attempted novels, you name it. And unknowingly, I've been story bible-ing (made-up word) for almost as long. So a few months ago, when I decided to commit to nanowrimo-ing (another made up word), I began researching and working on a full-fledged story bible for my novel.

Did you know that television shows use "show bibles", a collection of details about the show from location and character descriptions to much more? It makes perfect sense when you think about the nature of writing a show. A television show, unlike an average novel, usually has multiple writers that form a writing team. Think about the flow of the story in your favorite show, like The Vampire Diaries, and then imagine what it would be like if a writer forgot to curl Nina Dobrev's hair to play Katherine or if Jeremy's hunter tattoo was on the wrong arm next episode? All details maintained by a show bible.

This little fact was brought to my attention by Rochelle Melander, writing for Jane Friedman, who wrote a very informative article about all of this a few years ago. In the same way that show writers use a show bible to "keep track of details about the setting and characters to preserve continuity", a novel writer can benefit from the use of story bible in this way. A story bible can be a useful tool for keeping track of settings, characters, plot twists and a great place for jotting down notes or dialogue that pops into your head. My story bible is full of my scribbles that don't quite fit but may just work later on.

In her article, Melander writes about the multiple formats that a story bible can take. While most writers prefer a purely electronic story bible, I combine electronic and physical copy. I like having an actual book in front of me to flip through, but I print quite a bit of it's contents from my computer documents. I just really like stationary and pretty things :) (You should see my planner!)

Now that I've flooded you with all this information on what a story bible is, let me show you how I create and manage mine.

(Note: many of the pages in the following pictures are blurred purposefully. Not that I think any of my ideas are worth stealing but they are mine. I'm protective!)

Technically, I have 3 versions on my story outline in my bible. First, we have what I call my quick outline. I adopted the 3 Act method from Katytastic (although I'm sure it's widely used by the writing community) and made it work for me. If you want to know more about this method of outlining, click the link above. Behind that I have a print out of my full outline (see picture above), which is essentially just bold headlines for the general point of a scene followed by a few sentences describing said scene. Lastly, I have individual pages for each chapter where I handwrite what scenes go where. This serves as the most detailed order of events that I use and it's the document I work from when I'm actually writing. Here I'll jot down any dialogue that I know works for that chapter and every other detail I can think of when I'm setting scenes.

Behind all the outlines, there are character sketches, location information and other descriptions for the story's progression. There are very many pictures in this section, but I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to inspiring images for my novel. Each character has their own page where their physical characteristics, personal values and beliefs, family connections, relationship and a whole host of other details are listed. (I even have a separate page for the town my story takes place in because the town is almost a character in my novel.) For example, below is a character page for my main character Lea.

I'm constantly adding to my story bible as I write and think of interesting, new dynamics to the story line that I hadn't seen before. Quite frequently, I'll think of a scene or a statement that doesn't fit what I'm currently writing, sometimes I'm not even sure it belongs in the same book, so I'll scribble it somewhere in the back pages behind my sketches. While writing during NaNoWriMo, my chapter pages have been invaluable in keeping me writing and not getting me stuck, at least so far.

If you are also nanowrimo-ing or you just need some motivation for writing, check out my Instagram, where I'm daily posting about writing for the month of November.

Are you a writer? How do you keep track of the many little details that go into writing?