Writers in the Storm

Christina Delay

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” ― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Seven years ago, I won my first NaNoWriMo. And what came next was the worst of times, a season of darkness, a literal winter of despair.

I'd started writing a few years earlier, but the book I wrote during that fateful November was the first full length novel I'd completed. And like the first boy who broke my heart, that first NaNoWriMo taught me some valuable lessons.

Still he broke my heart. And my brain. And my book.

While I ‘survived’ that NaNoWriMo, I lost the ability to spell for a good year. It was as if my novice writer-self had dived into deep water without an oxygen tank and I had physical effects from pushing myself too hard that first go. So bad was the state of my book after NaNo, that it required three rewrites and four more years before that manuscript won a contest and I landed my first agent.

Needless to say, I backed off from the NaNoWriMo scene. While it worked for other authors, I was not one of those lucky writers that discovered NaNoWriMo magic.

Fast-forward seven years. After pregnancy complications and giving birth, I hadn’t written in months. I needed something to give my non-writing butt a good kick.

NaNoWriMo walked through the doors.

He’d changed since I last saw him seven years ago. More toned and muscular with a flock of friends following him around. He gave me a come-hither grin and even curled his finger, beckoning me. “Wanna give it another go?”

Uh, no. No, no, no, no, no.

But I took a step forward. With each passing day, I crept closer and closer. The scent of his coffee cologne was intoxicating. The talk of his friends, telling me all the wonderful things about him, rustled around me like a fall breeze.

I bite my lip. I’ve grown in my writing, I tell myself.  I’m a stronger writer, I reassure myself. I only have 50,000 words left to go in my WIP. Ugh. Shut up, already.

He holds out his hand.

“Don’t screw over my story this time,” I tell him, then take his hand.

Our romance has been sweeter this time around. Less of a whirlwind, more of an easy, gradual build. I’m slowly falling in love with NaNoWriMo again. And this time, I don’t think he’s going to break my heart.

Or my brain.

Or, more importantly, my book.

As an experienced writer, hitting 1,667 words every day isn’t a challenge like it used to be. It’s fairly easy for me to do that, but NaNo is forcing me to stay consistent. Point for him. I’m not writing crap just to meet a word count, but writing some pretty decent stuff--most of which will make the final cut. The edits I see so far, I already know how to fix. Not only that, but I’ve been sprinting with my Cruising Writers retreaters, and it’s been so fun to connect with them online every day.

This time around, NaNoWriMo has been the best of times, a season of light, a spring of hope.

If you’ve had a horrible date with NaNoWriMo in the past, or maybe you’re having one now, you’re not alone. But don’t give up on the experience just yet. NaNoWriMo is one of those guys who actually does change...or maybe I’m the one who changed, and he was always exactly who he needed to be.

Here are some middle-of-NaNo tips to NaNoWriMo success, whether you're a novice or an experienced pro:

• Don’t deep edit as you go. NaNo is supposed to be fast, which doesn’t leave time for editing. The benefit of this is you can’t get stuck for too long editing and editing one scene. Try leaving yourself a comment, or highlighting the section you need to fix with notes on what you want to do, then move on.
• Create your own goals. Hitting 50,000 words is nice, but not at the expense of your brain or your book. I love that the NaNoWriMo site has added the personal goals option. One of mine is to be happy with wherever I end up at the end of the month. No matter what, I’m further along in my story than when I started. What's a personal goal you can set that's not related to word count?
• Connect with your tribe. Seriously the best thing about this NaNoWriMo experience this time has been sprinting with my writing tribe. When I wake up in the morning, they’re there, coffee in hand, waiting to get started. At any time of day, I can log in to our group and start or join a writing sprint. Have you found your tribe yet? NaNoWriMo runs sprints on their website that you can join at any time.
• Take time to think about your next step. Sometimes we get into the zone and the words flow, and that’s awesome. But other times we need to take a step back and really consider if we’re on the right path with our story. It may mean that you don’t meet your word goal for that day, but that’s okay. It’s better to stay on track than to write a bunch of words you’ll have to delete later.
• Evaluate where you are. Maybe you've fallen behind and the chances of you catching up at this point are slim, because let's face it, life happens. I'm giving you permission to adjust your goal. Maybe 50,000 isn't possible this time. But is 30,000? 25,000? Three chapters? One scene? Adjusting your goal isn't failure. It's only failure if you give up.

Has NaNo been good to you? Or a bad date? Share with us, in the comments!

 *     *     *     *     *

Christina Delay is the hostess of Cruising Writers and an award-winning author represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency. When she's not cruising the Caribbean, she's dreaming up new writing retreats to take talented authors on or writing the stories of the imaginary people that live in her heart.

Cruising Writers brings aspiring authors together with bestselling authors, an agent, an editor, and a world-renowned writing craft instructor together on writing retreats. Cruise with us to Grand Cayman next October with Kristen Lamb (Bestselling Author and Marketing Jedi), Rachel Caine (Bestselling Author of 50+ books), Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency), and Alex Sehulster (St. Martin’s Press).

 

 

This is an actual file on my computer:

I confess that I’ve accessed it more than once.

Truth is, anyone who’s been writing for a while knows there will be moments when you wonder if you’re really cut out to be a writer.

This feeling strikes writers who struggle to finish their first novel; writers who submit their manuscript only to receive repeated rejections; writers who debut with confetti and fanfare and then worry about whether they can make the magic happen with a second novel; and writers penning their twentieth novel who can’t figure out why writing is still so dadgum hard.

We’re all in this boat together, though sometimes it feels like that boat is leaking and we’re sinking.

That’s the moment I open my file and read such tidbits as these:

“I am usually pretty disappointed with the book when I finally turn in the last draft and hear that I can’t revise it any further. I worry a lot that no one will like it and that I’ve failed and that I haven’t lived up to the story.” – John Green, New York Times bestseller and author of The Fault in Our Stars

“Dear God, I am so discouraged about my work. I have the feeling of discouragement that is. I realize I don’t know what I realize. Please help me dear God to be a good writer and to get something else accepted.” – Flannery O’Connor, award-winning Southern gothic writer

“Continuing to write after that heartache of disappointment doesn’t take only discipline, but also self-forgiveness (which comes from a place of kind and encouraging and motherly love). The other thing to realize is that all writers think they suck. When I was writing Eat, Pray, Love, I had just as a strong a mantra of THIS SUCKS ringing through my head as anyone does when they write anything.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestseller

“I was convinced that there would be a knock on the door, and a man with a clipboard (I don’t know why he carried a clipboard, in my head, but he did) would be there to tell me it was all over, and they had caught up with me, and now I would have to go and get a real job, one that didn’t consist of making things up and writing them down, and reading books I wanted to read. And then I would go away quietly and get the kind of job where you don’t get to make things up anymore.” – Neil Gaiman, New York Times bestselling author of American Gods and The Graveyard Book

“I’m afraid of failing at whatever story I’m writing—that it won’t come up for me, or that I won’t be able to finish it.” – Stephen King, New York Times bestseller and "King of Horror"

Reading their words makes me recognize this fear that you might actually suck is what even highly successful writers feel.

Perhaps it's just part of a good writing process to constantly evaluate yourself and your writing in hopes of turning out the best book you can. And in some of those moments, you'll feel like you come up short.

Indeed, in 2016 John Green described repeated failures in trying to write a book after The Fault in Our Stars and even said might not publish another book, citing his current writing experience as "this intense pressure, like people were watching over my shoulder while I was writing.” (Well worth watching the video here.) Yet his latest novel, Turtles All the Way Down, was released a month ago on October 10 (and, not surprisingly, hit #1 in the New York Times young adult bestseller list).

Clearly, these writing giants aren’t immune to self-doubt and fear of failure. But they keep going. They keep writing.

For me, it helps to have that file to open now and again to remind myself that 100% confidence isn’t necessary to be a good writer. It’s okay to doubt, as long as we don’t let doubt stop us from writing.

As none other than William Shakespeare said in Measure for Measure:

Our doubts are traitors
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.

Don't let your doubts be traitors. Don't fear to attempt.

What quotations, encouragement, or reality checks buoy your spirits when you think your writing sucks?

About Julie

Julie Glover writes cozy mysteries and young adult fiction. Her YA contemporary novel, SHARING HUNTER, finaled in the 2015 RWA® Golden Heart®. When not writing, she collects boots, practices rampant sarcasm, and advocates for good grammar and the addition of the interrobang as a much-needed punctuation mark.

Julie is represented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. You can visit her website here and also follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Julie Cantrell

Imagine six female novelists. One quiet mountain retreat. Three days of intense power-packed creative sessions (plus a hefty stash of chocolate). That’s how our writing tribe was formed. Today, we’re a supportive sisterhood now calling ourselves the Summit Girls.

Who Are the Summit Girls

The Summit Girls are comprised of six female novelists from the U. S. who gathered together this spring to brainstorm plots, critique writing samples, and offer encouragement. With more than 80 books published between us, as well as a few scripts, screenplays, and a long string of articles, our diverse backgrounds provide unique perspectives as we help to shape one another’s stories.

Although we had been friends for years (some longer than others), we had never carved time for a retreat until this year. Setting aside one long weekend proved to be a pivotal decision for all of us. Not only have our friendships deepened, but we now rely on one another to foster more successful careers as novelists.

Five Ways Writing Partners Can Improve Each Other’s Work

1. Sprint: The Summit Girls frequently send a group text message something like: “Anyone want to sprint at 10?” Those who accept will devote one-hour to uninterrupted writing time. At 11, for example, we check back in and share screenshots of word counts, trying to meet at least 1,000 words per hour. Creating these accountability check-ins has proven to be an effective strategy, helping us to reduce distractions and focus on writing.
2. Cheer: We celebrate our victories as a group. The Summit Girls are always eager to share shout-outs on social media and spread the good news about our writer pals. This reminds us all that we are not alone in this journey and helps build our readership across platforms.
3. Model: With different levels of experience, we each bring something different to the table. We appreciate those various skills and enjoy teaching one another. We don’t believe in re-creating the wheel, and the more we can reduce stress for a fellow Summit Girl, the better.
4. Critique: There is no more important tool for a writer than a trusted critique partner. The Summit Girls read one another’s work, offer constructive criticism, and help polish stories until they shine.
5. Encourage: Whether through brainstorming, offering plot support, assisting with character development, or sharing media connections for press coverage, the Summit Girls want nothing more than to see all six of us sustain long, healthy, happy careers as full-time novelists. When one of us in the slumps, we rally the troops and lift spirits until we’re all at our best again. While writers may be able to hire coaches, editors, and PR firms to handle the other four points, there is nothing more important in life than sincere moral support and friendship.

How to Find a Writing Partner

Writing can be an isolative career, but by finding at least one trusted partner, novelists can help fuel one another’s creative spirits, offer moral and professional support, and push one another to be the most effective and efficient writers we can be.

To find a partner, try attending a writing conference where like-minded souls are in search of feedback and peer support. Also join social media chats about publishing, especially those within your specific genre (romance, sci-fi, women’s fiction, etc.)

In addition to joining online forums, it’s a good idea to connect with writing groups in your local community. If no writing groups are currently active in your community, consider launching one. You might be surprised how grateful and helpful other writers are once you dare to gather together.

Do you have any other tips for us? Do you have writing partners? How have they helped?

*     *     *     *     *

Julie Cantrell is an award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling novelist and TEDx presenter whose fourth novel, Perennials, hit shelves Nov. 14, 2017. She is honored to be a Summit Girl with novelist friends Christa Allan, Judy Christie, Jenny B. Jones, Carla Stewart, and Lisa Wingate. Learn more about Julie’s work: www.juliecantrell.com

Featured image: The Summit Girls: F (L-R) Christa Allan, Jenny B. Jones, Lisa Wingate B (L-R) Carla Stewart, Judy Christie, Julie Cantrell