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So far this month - yes, I know it's only the 3rd but bear with me - I am feeling . . . cautiously optimistic about my writing.
I'm working on a novella. (That's what I'm calling it since it's less overwhelming than novel.) It's an idea I've been kicking around for awhile, one I'm really excited about writing. It's got good guys who might be bad, bad guys who might be good, old people, kids, and a storm. Oh, and zombies.
Since I know a lot of us struggle with our writing now and then, and this is the Insecure Writer's Support Group post, I wanted to share two reasons why I'm feeling better about this project: Scrivener and Rachel Aaron's ebook 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love. (Please note - I don't get anything for mentioning them. I just find them useful.)
Now, I don't use most of the bells and whistles of Scrivener, but I'm already more organized than I've ever been with a mansucript. I watched the ten minute tutorial on the website that shows the very basics of the program and I was good to go.
For me, Aaron's ebook is about much more than increasing my daily word count. I've used it to plot my story way more than I usually do, to plan better for actual writing time, and to remind me how much I truly enjoy the process of creating and telling stories.
So, please keep your fingers crossed for me and my novella this September! It's going to be a wild ride, full of ups and downs...and zombies. Don't forget the zombies.
Novellas are fun. :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI'm so glad your project is going so well. Keep it rolling. Nice to read some positive on IWSG day.
ReplyDeleteI will do my best to keep it rolling along. :)
DeleteGood for you! Glad to hear you're making progress. :)
ReplyDeleteIWSG #179 until Alex culls the list again.
Thanks!
DeleteGlad you're making some progress! The fact that zombies seemed to be an afterthought cracked me up :)
ReplyDeleteI talk - and think - about zombies enough. It's about time I put them in a longer story. :)
DeleteYou can't go wrong with zombies. I am excited about this novella and wish you the best of luck writing it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Chrys!
DeleteGood luck with your novella. I bought Scrivener for a discount awhile back after I did NaNoWriMo. But I haven't used it yet. I plan to though....for my next novel.
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing - bought it then didn't use it for quite awhile. I was waiting for the right project/a new project in order to dive into it. I would definitely give it a try, just maybe play around with it a little before you get into the meat of your writing.
DeleteGood luck! I'm excited for you. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ilima!
DeleteJust keep writing! I don't use Scrivener, but I will look up that book.
ReplyDeleteI will! And definitely check out the book. You really can pick and choose the aspects of it that work for you.
DeleteI love Scrivener - I'd never write without it again. I only use the basic features of it, but it's still better than your average word processor.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your novella!
I'm only using the basic features, too. And right now, that's enough to keep me going. :)
DeleteWay to go with your novella! You can do it! I love that you found good tools! I haven't used scrivener, but I have heard great things about it and the book sounds like something I would like to check out. :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your writing and life!
Thank you! The book really spoke to me, and hopefully it will to you, too. :)
DeleteI have heard so much about Scrivener. Never used it. Fingers crossed for you and the Novella, Madeline.
ReplyDeleteI was actually intimidated by Scrivener for awhile - it seemed so overwhelming. But once I got a pretty good handle on the basics, I felt better. :)
DeleteFingers crossed for you here - I'm sure it'll go great.
ReplyDeleteAh, even across the Pond, there are fingers crossed for me - thank you! :)
DeleteYou had me at zombies:) I'm sure your novella will turn out just great. I've heard a lot about Scrivener but I've never used it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHee hee! :) And thank you!
DeleteWishing you good luck! Can't wait to hear how Shrivener works for you. It's so intriguing! I'm considering it.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying using Scrivener so far. I think the site has videos about you can watch to get a better idea if it will work for you. :)
DeleteYou had me at zombies, too. :D
ReplyDeleteSo happy to read this. I'm excited for you and know this novella will rock!
Why am I not surprised?! :)
DeleteAnd thanks - I'm excited about the novella myself. :)
Good luck with the writing!
ReplyDeleteI've also heard lots of good things about Scrivener...
Thank you, Michelle!
DeleteYou can do it! Sounds like you're approaching it with a great set of tools. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI hope so! Thanks!
DeleteI don't use Scrivener, ywriter (similar program but with less bells and whistles) and it really transformed how I write. The title of the ebook you use sounds intriguing. I'm always leering of books that tell you how to increase your output, but I love that it's about writing more about what you love. I'm all for that!
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope your novella continues to come together. I love that feeling when you're in the flow!
I know what you mean about books that tell you how to increase your word count, but this one does more than just that. And she's very good about saying that what she does works for her, might not work for everyone, etc. Give it a shot! :)
DeleteZombies work for me, enjoy the walking dead and the like at my sea
ReplyDeleteLove the TV show THE WALKING DEAD!
DeleteI've heard so much about Scrivener, though, I'm such a pantser, I didn't know if it was for me. Glad it's working for you. 1k turns into 5k and on and on, and it's great to hit that halfway mark. Good Luck!!
ReplyDeleteI've always kind of been a hybrid of pantser and plotter, but doing a little more plotting is working so far. :)
DeleteHey, I have that same 2k to 10k book! It helped me to write a little bit faster each writing session, and planning each scene out in detail is pretty much a necessity for me today. Good luck with your novella. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really trying to work the Knowledge and Enthusiasm sides of the triangle. :)
DeleteI read a post once about going from 2k a day to 10k, and it amazed me!!! I wonder if this is the same person. I honestly don't think I could do it, but I've never tried...
ReplyDeleteOne of the things the author of the book talks about is increasing YOUR word count, whatever that is - 250 words to 500 words, 2000 to 4000, etc. One of the things I like about the book is that you can tailor it to fit. :)
DeleteAwesome! So exciting to start a new project! Best of luck this month, and keep that fire going! I'll have to look into those books...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristin! :)
DeleteI hear the excitement in your words as I read this. Hang onto that and I wish you tons of great writing this month, sounds like you've got one hell of a story you need to get down on paper! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Elise! I hope I can do it. :)
DeleteI can't figure Scrivener out. I tried but it's just too wonky. I'm not an outliner, so I'm not sure it would work for the way I write anyway.
ReplyDeleteI thought that, too, at first. I'm just using the parts of Scrivener that work for me and my process at this point in time. That might be all I'll ever use - who knows? :)
DeleteI've got my fingers crossed for you! I'm happy with Word, but it might be time I read another writing book. I struggle with time management - and I say this at least once every couple of months, and never found a way to overcome it.
ReplyDeleteAaron's book is a quick read. I read it once through just to see if I thought it work for me, etc. Then I read it again, taking notes and applying it to my novella idea.
DeleteHope you continue to be productive!
ReplyDeleteI use Scrivener too, and I'm pretty sure I'm only using a fraction of what's in there. I do like being able to move chapters around. The Name Generator is also fantastic.
Me, too! :)
DeleteI like making each chapter its own folder then putting the individual scenes within the folders. I haven't even gotten around to using the Name Generator!
My fingers are crossed for you! Also, I've heard of Aaron's book and I've been meaning to get it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I would definitely pick up the book.
DeleteCan't wait to hear more about it. Novellas would be good to write because the editing is so much less daunting than a novel. :)
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing - process, writing, revising, etc - feels less daunting to me. :)
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