I’m trying this thing called NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] where you attempt to write 50,000 words in THIRTY DAYS. It started today at midnight–my only problem: I DON’T HAVE A PLOT. Anyone out there have ideas?
- Cutiepie

If you are participating in The National Novel Writing Month challenge, give me a shout out here! Tell us what your book is about! How many words do you have today? I have 18,275, and I’m procrastinating right now!
- Paul’s Next Wife

I’ve written fanfiction, but I don’t think that would be allowed for this contest. Just to make sure, does anyone know if you’re allowed to submit an /original/ story of your own using characters that aren’t yours?
- Fr S

I’ve written fanfiction, but I don’t think that would be allowed for this contest. Just to make sure, does anyone know if you’re allowed to submit an /original/ story of your own using characters that aren’t yours?
- Fr S

My email box has been filling up with notices about the annual start of National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). However, in general, I write nonfiction. If you, like me, consider yourself a nonfiction writer, don’t sit around for the next 30 days twiddling your thumbs and wishing you had a cool contest to enter this month. Instead, join me in starting and finishing a work of nonfiction during November. That’s right, take part in the Write Nonfiction in November (www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/) challenge.

Instead of writing 50,000 words of fiction in 30 days, commit to writing an article, a booklet, a newsletter, or a book in the same amount of time. Whatever non-fiction writing project you’ve been putting off, get started now. You can even start a blog and blog for 30 days.

No one will be looking over your shoulder. Write Nonfiction in November does not constitute a contest, and I won’t be handing out a prize at the end of the month. Your award comes in the form of the great feeling you will get from knowing you completed your “assignment.” No one will be counting your words, nor does anyone care how many words you write (not even me). You simply are challenged to write — and to not write alone. I’ll be writing every day, too, and hopefully some other people will be writing as well.

Write Nonfiction in November also constitutes a blog. I invite everyone who is writing non-fiction during November and wants to share their experience to go to www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/ and post comments. (You can also access it from my web site at www.copywrightcommunications.com.) I’ll be posting blogs every few days about nonfiction writing in general – why I enjoy it, tips on getting published, how my writing is going, etc.

While last year I blogged alone, this year my Write Nonfiction in November blog will offer readers and writers something new and exciting: guest blogs from experts from many areas of writing and publishing. So far the following experts will be blogging with me: agent and consultant Philippa Burgess of Creative Convergence; Mitch Davis (Yearbook of Experts/www.expertclick.com); author Ron Arons (The Jews of Sing Sing); agent and author Mike Larsen (How to Write a Book Proposal and How to Get a Literary Agent); agent and author Katharine Sands (Making the Perfect Pitch); Internet and website guru Linda Lee (Smart Women, Stupid Computers); Randy Peyser (Author One Stop); Annie Jennings (Annie Jennings PR); and executive magazine editor and publisher Seth Mendelson (McFadden Publications.

I’m still working on getting a few more people to agree to post a blog. I’d like to have at least 15 out of the 30 blogs written by someone other than me this year, so readers can benefit from someone else’s experience and expertise other than mine. Hopefully, that will make Write Nonfiction in November a resource for nonfiction writers not only in November but all year long.

Nonfiction writing offers many benefits and challenges. I love nonfiction writing, because it allows me to explore subjects that are interesting to me and to then share them with others. As a magazine journalist and book author who likes to wrestle with issues in my life or subjects that excite me, I get to spend my days researching those very same issues and subjects, speaking to experts about them, finding answers and solutions to them, and coming up with ideas and theories related to them. Then, I get to craft what I’ve learned into a story – an article, essay or book – that offers what I’ve learned and discovered – and possibly even put to use successfully in my life – into a form that others can read. This then hopefully helps or excites them.

However, the world of nonfiction publishing has changed dramatically over the last few years. It’s getting harder and harder to get a nonfiction book published if you don’t have what they call a “platform.” Magazines and newspapers are discontinuing publication left and right. Self-publishing choices are becoming slimmer rather than broader. Book promotion and sales has become the job of the author not the publisher. For all these reasons, nonfiction writers need to stay educated about the new tools of their trade, such as the Internet and all it has to offer. The nonfiction writer has to wear many hats and has to wear them well to become successful.

So, November is here, and it’s time to start writing nonfiction. Are you ready for the challenge? Even if you aren’t, as the Nike advertisement says, “Just do it.” And visit www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/ to find out what you need to become successful along the way.


- Nina Amir

(Remember: November is National Novel Writing Month)

My latest novel has been lounging on my computer for months. I have a thousand excuses for not finishing it: too busy with other endeavors, writer’s block, my lead character won’t budge, my cat needs food. Oh, yes, I have a ton of legitimate reasons for not finishing my third novel in my Amos Grant mystery series. I feel angry with myself. But then again, I don’t want my cat to starve. A dead cat in the house is bad for one’s muse.

So I feed the cat and start to thumb through The Easy Way To Write A Novel by Rob Parnell. It’s an e-book that caught my attention. (I like e-books because they are cheap and fast, much like some of the girls from my old neighborhood.) But Parnell’s book is more satisfying.

“If you are reasonably well educated, or even if not, everything you need to write an enduring novel-length piece of fiction is inside you. You already possess the talent and the necessary skills. All you have to do is access them.”

This is how Rob Parnell, founder of Easy Way To Write, begins his 179-page informative e-book. Using psychology and motivational advice, Parnell walks you through his unique process. More Zen monk than strict writing teacher, he spends a good part of his book teaching you meditation and visualization techniques.

Some may find his holistic approach a bit strange. But treating the whole person, taking into account one’s mental and social factors as well as the physical act of writing, caught my attention. It differed from the hundreds of other writing books I have sitting on my bookshelves. It sparked my muse into a new way of writing novels. If I had read Parnell’s e-book before I struggled through my own six novels, I believe the entire process would have been less painful.

What Rob Parnell does is prepare you to write before he shows you how to write your novel in 30 days. (Maybe he should have named his book “The FAST Way To Write a Novel.”) In any case, I was intrigued by his system. I, especially, enjoyed his putting to rest some of the myths about writing a novel.

For instance, he points out that all art (writing included) is subjective. “There is absolutely no reason to believe that what you create is less a work of art than anything else,” he writes. “If you believe your book to be a work of art, then that’s exactly what it is. Period.”

You must have an “original idea” is another phrase you hear a lot about. But Parnell points out that what these know-it-alls really mean is that you should write something “significantly different.” There is no such thing as an original idea. I found this out when in 1973 I came out with my “original” magazine of memories, Yesterday’s Magazette. Unbeknownst to me, others were heaving this same “original” idea around the same exact time. But I still say I came out with it first.

Here’s another example: In 1970, I coined the “original” saying of “always expect the unexpected.” But the funny thing is that since that time I must have heard my same “original” expression repeated a million times or more. One more original idea I thought I had back in the late 70s was to write a column of “Oddball News” items, which I did for a few years. Now I see there is a very similar column called News Of The Weird which is now syndicated in hundreds of newspapers.

So believe me and Rob Parnell when we say “don’t waste your time” agonizing and trying to come up with some original idea for your book. Don’t even try. Just put a twist on an old idea.

Parnell recommends writing fast. “If you try to use your conscious logical side of your mind to write, you’ll take forever,” he states. “Let your fingers write or type automatically.” In other words, he advises, use your subconscious to write that great novel.

As much as I enjoyed the mindset and motivational techniques in the first half of Parnell’s book, I have to admit that Part Two about his “30 Day Formula” for writing a novel was equally entertaining and informative. Right off, he tells you that you need CHARACTERS before anything else. He says without interesting characters, there is simply no story.

He guides you through each day. He even designs a ten step plot template and explains how setting should best be viewed as another character to define. He then  goes on to list the ten fundamental mistakes that writers should avoid. Lastly, like a good coach, he is there to nudge and push you along and to motivate you. “You’re always closer to success than you think!”

I admit Rob Parnell’s e-book, The Easy Way To Write a Novel, got my motor running. In fact, I’ve decided to spend the rest  of the day working on my novel.  After all, it is National Novel Month. What better time to finish a novel. I feel really pumped! My mind is racing with ideas. My fingers are a twitter. I’m smokin’!

But first … I need to feed the cat.


- E. P. Ned Burke

NANOWRIMO. Big anagram but it’s for a great cause. NAtional NOvel WRiting MOnth. Here’s a link to the site: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ .

Last year I couldn’t take part, but this year I’m planning on one of two books. Either a horror novel, or something more along the lines of historical science fiction.

What are you planning on doing for this upcoming NANO?
- majesticproductions

Is anyone doing nanowrimo (national novel writing month) if so how many words do u have im sooo behind and afraid i wont finish! everytime i sit down to do it i get distracted by the internet i mean ive been working on it but im supposed to have like 10000+ by now and i dont. any tips?
- tennisgrl9294

Do you participate in National Novel Writing Month? If so, do you already have an idea for your novel?

http://www.nanowrimo.org/
- ChiChi

And what’s your game plan? (NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.)
Check it out at nanowrimo.org
- Holly