Episode # 18: End of NaNoWriMo

Yes, Yes, I know. I'm a slacker. I let distractions get in my way and they bombard me from all directions. Drat. Well, I'm back with another episode. I didn't mean to ramble for quite so long, but I did and that's that. I hope it's worth it.

What did I talk about? Well, I'll bet you want some links and show notes, eh? Well, here you go.

• Jack Mangan's Deadpan Podcast


• The Only Phil Rossi Podcast worth listening to


• Whispers at the edge


• The Kissy Bits


• The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy


• I Should Be Writing


• Heroes


• Neil Gorman's talk about Psychogeography


• All Sorts of People

I did forget to mention Mike Stackpole's The Secrets, but he's been absent for a couple of months so I almost completely forgot about him. He still sends out the news letters, so if you're not subscribed to those, and you're a writer, you're doing yourself a disservice.

I also read a small excerpt from my NaNoWriMo Novel and tell you why I didn't reach the 50K goal and what my plans are with the book. Congratulations for all who participated and a bigger congratz to all those who made their goal!

Listen to Episode#18

Episode # 17: NaNoWriMo - Day 2

NaNoWriMo Day 2 is under way. I'm having a blast writing so far. I'm at 2638 words and pressing onward. Keep a current watch on what I'm doing by clicking the graph on the side. There you can also read an excerpt of what I'm doing and how it's going. This is an exciting month.

If you're not participating and need something to listen to, check out these great podiobooks:

• Spherical Tomi
  
• MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana
  
• Weaver's Web
  
• Nina Kimberly The Merciless
  

Also, check out these great podcasts:

• Filling the Page
  
• Whispers at the Edge
  
• Jack Mangan's Deadpan (show him some love)
  

Holy Crap! Show notes? I must be out of my mind!!!

Listen to Episode#17

Edit: NOW the link is correct. Sorry about that.

Tis NaNoWriMo Season!

It's that time of year again when we warm up or pens and our hard drives and attempt to crank out as many words as possible in one month (or 50,000 whichever comes first). Last year I didn't actively participate, but I did, however, write nearly an entire novel during the month of November. I'm still trying to find a home for it. But that's neither here, nor there.

If you're participating in NaNoWriMo, put me down as a buddy. I'm JRMurdock. I'll reciprocate, of course. I'll be posting my progress on the podcast weekly (on Thursday) and I'll try to blog once or twice per week as NaNoWriMo goes on more to clear out any extraneous thoughts before I sit down to actually write.

Some quick tips for writing fast:

• Walk 10-15 minutes prior to sitting down and writing. This will give you some time to think about what you're going to write and how to work through a scene. It'll also get your blood pumping and provide your brain with much needed oxygen you need to think with.


• Eat light. Not only in quantity, but in content. Eat salads, fruits, chicken, or fish. Such foods will provide good blood flow and won't bog you down while you write.


• Write forward, don't re-write. Remember, you're going for quantity, not quality. This is a first draft so push ahead even if you think what you're putting down is utter trash. Keep pushing ahead and keep your eye on the end. Set a daily and a weekly goal for your writing and push to that goal. You can do it.


• Don't drink while you write. Alcohol slows down your mind. You don't need anything slowing you down at this point. Reward yourself with a drink when you're done for the day, but not before.


• Choose now what your prize will be. By setting a goal and a reward when you meet that goal will keep you pushing forward. Print a picture of what you want and keep that handy if need be. Put leverage on yourself if you don't meet your goals to ensure you keep going and don't stop mid-stream.


• Set your priorities. Before you sit down to watch the latest BSG, ask yourself if it's better to TiVo it and watch it later so you can get your daily word count out.


• Take care of yourself. Make sure you're eating right and getting plenty of rest. Don't sit up until 2a.m. trying to get ahead for the next day. You'll do yourself more harm than good if you're not getting enough rest and your word count will suffer for it. Make sure you're getting the right amount of sleep to perform at full capacity for the entire month.


• Take time out for your friends and family. It's hard to write in a vacuum. Take time each day to spend with your friends, your family, chat online, post, blog, etc. Getting your brain free of clutter will facilitate getting the story done faster.

I hope these quick tips help. Drop by from time to time and let me know how the battle goes. I'll put in little pep-talks in the podcast to help you keep going. Always remember, you CAN do it!

Episode #16: I'm Back!

Dang! Have I really been away that long? I'll explain it as best I can in the podcast. I hope I still have listeners.

This weeks challenge: Sign up for NaNoWriMo!

You can find my page at...My NaNoWriMo. Stop by and see how I'm doing. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo, send me your link so I can include it in the show notes and give you some props.

Listen to Episode#16