fiction -

30Sep 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

How Far in Advance Should You Start Planning a Nanowrimo Novel?

Every author's approach to planning a novel is different. Some like to know their story and characters intimately before they write the first sentence. Others fill binder after binder with worldbuilding details. Still others prefer to skimp on the notes and dive into writing head first with only the vaguest idea where they're going. So when should you start planning your Nanowrimo novel? The short answer is that this varies quite a bit from novel to novel, but you should probably start planning seriously about a month in advance. Here's the long answer: You can only really discover how much planning is appropriate through trial and error, but you can make an educated guess based on your story, setting, and genre--or just listen to Chris Baty, who suggests that you start…

23Sep 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

10 Reasons why I love Nanowrimo

Uncategorized

Chances are you already know what Nanowrimo is--if you don't, it's explained quite well here--and you're here because you're considering participating. Or because you've already decided you're going to do it. I've been participating in Nanowrimo for nine years--this will be my tenth--and blogging about the experience for four. Most years around this time I write up a post about why you should try Nanowrimo. This year I've decided to take a different approach. I'm not going to tell you what you should and shouldn't do. I'm just going to tell you why Nanowrimo is awesome. Maybe it will convince you to take on the challenge this year, maybe it won't. Either way, your decision doesn't bother me. But if you do sign up, you should know what you're in for. So…

16Sep 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

5 Great Resources For Writers

Writing

As September draws to a close the time has come for me to really start planning for Nanowrimo--and to help other aspiring novelists do the same. Next week I'll be diving into the subject of how to plan a novel and prepare for a crazy month of quick writing. Of course, not every writer wants to do Nanowrimo. Some people are naturally slow writers, other people are deep in edits, and others simply don't like the idea. And some of you will simply want to continue reading about other topics. Since I know you all have different writing processes--and different goals--I've compiled a list of writing resources to keep your mind busy while I'm focused on Nanowrimo(after signing up for my newsletter so you can be reminded when it's over). The…

18Nov 2013 by Dianna L. Gunn

3 Solutions to hating your Nanowrimo novel

Inspirational, Nanowrimo, Novels, Writing, Writing: The Process

It's more than halfway through the month and your novel's middle is sagging, your characters are refusing to co-operate, and you wish you'd never started it to begin with. Or maybe your characters are doing exactly as they're told, and you've simply realized that you can't stand them--or your story idea. Don't panic. As anyone who's done Nanowrimo a few times will know, it's bound to happen eventually. It's perfectly natural to get frustrated with your novel. Writing a book in a month is hard, writing daily is hard, and sometimes an idea turns out to be less interesting than you originally thought. Characters can be impossible to work with and if the wrong one decides to die it can ruin everything. All of that is perfectly natural, and it's…

04Nov 2013 by Dianna L.. Gunn

3 Ways to make yourself write

Inspirational, Nanowrimo, Novels, Writing, Writing: The Process

Everybody has their own tricks for winning Nanowrimo, and today I've gathered a few of these to help you get through the first full week of Nanowrimo: 1. Reward system-- I usually reward myself with stickers for daily goals and sugary treats for weekly goals, and I save the nicest sticker I have for the end of the month. Other people reward themselves with new pencils or pens, fun excursions or plain and simple relaxation time. Everybody likes different things, so pick rewards that are meaningful to you--something small for your daily goal, something a little bigger for your weekly goal, and something truly rewarding for reaching your final goal. Of course, having written a novel is its own reward, and you need to keep that in mind too. Just…

09Oct 2013 by Dianna L. Gunn

5 Important considerations when planning your Nanowrimo novel

Goal setting, Nanowrimo, Writing

If you, like me, are currently working with only the most basic novel concept, there are some important things to consider as you flesh out your story. These are important things to consider before diving into your novel, whether it's for Nanowrimo or not. Asking yourself these questions can really save you a world of pain during November and beyond it. 1. How exciting is this story? You need to be excited about your story. A novel is a commitment. You're going to devote at least a significant chunk of next month to writing this thing, and if you plan to someday publish you're going to have to spend months, possibly years editing it. Frankly, you won't get all the way through November with a story that doesn't excite you,…

10Apr 2013 by Dianna L. Gunn

Author Interview: Meggan Connors

Author Interviews, Reading Related

Today's guest is Meggan Connors, author of Jessie's War. I'd tell you about it but I think she can do a better job. 1. Can you tell us a bit about your book, Jessie's War? Jessie's War is a western steampunk romance, set against the backdrop of a prolonged American Civil War and the Nevada silver boom. It's about a woman who, after spending years trying to put her life back together after the deaths of everyone she loved, suddenly discovers that the lover she had given up for dead is alive, and needs her help. Needless to say, when he shows up on her doorstep, she's got some trust issues. But when she discovers her father may be alive and held hostage by Rebel forces, she turns to Luke…

29Mar 2013 by diannagunn

Fiction or non-fiction?

Writing

I'm always on a quest to get to know my readers better, so today I'd like to hear from you: Do you read primarily fiction or non-fiction? Which do you prefer reading? Which do you prefer to write? Answer in the comments below and feel free to ask me a question of your own.

17Dec 2012 by diannagunn

Balancing Fiction and Non-Fiction

Goal setting, Inspirational, Writing

While I've been blogging for years, over the last year or so I've become more focused on non-fiction than ever before. This is not because I've found some new passion for it. It's because it's easier to get paid for non-fiction than it is to get paid for fiction, and I very much want to make a living. So I've shifted my focus to include more non-fiction. And I've actually gotten paid for a few articles, inspiring me to write more--after all, it's not like I'm getting paid for my short stories yet. But while non-fiction is an easier way to make a living off what I love doing--writing--it's important to me that I keep this work balanced with my fiction, the stuff I'm truly passionate about. I might not…

12Mar 2012 by diannagunn

Remembering to Write for Yourself

Blog Stuff, Writing

Many of us dream of writing for a living. Some of us have gotten paid for our work before, some of us haven't. Some of us write during our day jobs. Others are lucky enough to have writing as their day job. Right now, I'm sitting somewhere in the middle. I spend a lot of time working on assignments for other people: school, Penumbra and a couple things in the works that I don't really want to talk about yet. Each of these assignments carves hours at a time out of my schedule. For the last couple of weeks, I've also spent hours of each day looking for writing jobs and examining markets. A few days ago, I got an email from the lovely folks over at WriYe saying that…