You know who you are. For years you’ve been mentally plotting out a story, the next great American novel. But you’ve never written it down. It’s always been something you were going to do Someday. The characters whom you know better than you know your own mother pop up in your mind when you’re stuck in traffic, as you’re drifting off to sleep, when your mind wanders in church. (Yes, I know about that.) They want their story told, and you’re the only one who knows it well enough to do the job.

November is coming, my friend, and November is National Novel Writing Month. (Insiders call it nanowrimo. When you say it you must use a low, nearly reverent voice.) In 56 days thousands of Americans will put their butts into a chair and type like maniacs with the goal/hope of writing 50,000 words by the end of the month.

50,000 words may sound like chump change if you’re someone like John Grisham or Jodi Piccult, but it’s quite a challenge for the mortals among us. However, 50,000 words is a major step toward meeting Someday and actually finishing the story you’ve been kicking around in your grey matter warehouse.

I rarely do this on this site, but I’m going to give you the link. I give it to you with the hope that you’ll click on it and stop dreaming about Someday and set the date for November 1. Clear November’s calendar and sign up for nanowrimo. Outside of your friends and family who will drive you nuts with distractions from your goal, it’s free. You’ll find encouragement on the nanowrimo site. You’ll connect with other people who are writers like you; some are writing a story for the first time, some for the ninth time, some for the ninth attempt at the first time.

Here it is: www.nanowrimo.org Perhaps we’ll see you in an interview someday, and you’ll say, “It all started when I clicked on a link to nanowrimo.”

You have 56 days to plot, do character profiles, make outlines, and do some research. When November 1 rolls around, you won’t have time for anything but a “vomit draft.” No time to think, no time to daydream, no time for stolen moments on the internet to look up details of some battle, no time for self editing. Just 30 crazy days of romping through your story at breakneck speed. You’re going to love it. Then you’re going to hate it. But in the end, you’ll love it all over again.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary

The value of images when writing is sooo, sooo important.  I’ve started pre-production on the re-release of “What Do You Say to a Naked Elf?” and the sequel (you didn’t know?) “Robert’s Rules Undone”.  My cover artist, the very talented Tuesday of purpleinkdesigns, sent me a cover questionnaire and asked me to fill it out.

Do you know how hard it is to remember character details from six and seven years ago?  Fortunately, I always scrapbook my characters (we call it a Book of Wonder) and I still have the images.  In the case of “Elf” I even have written character descriptions.

Here’s what I based Charlie on, though he’s described in the book as being more like Legolas:

And here is Jane:

You can see I didn’t put a lot of work into it.

However, for the sequel, starring Jane’s sister, Sheila Perfect and (ta-da) Tivat the shapeshifting Elf, I spent a little more time:

Sheila Drysdale-Roberts

Sheila Undone

Tivat, the shapeshifter

More Tivat

Oh, look, more Naked Elf!

And Tivat doesn’t have tattoos, but isn’t that guy hot?  He’s more like the mysterious Marcus (Marcus, just Marcus) from “Tall, Dark and Slayer”.  Thinking about doing a short story centered on him.

I digress.  Images are important while writing your story.  In some cases, afterward.

What do you use for inspiration?

BTW, I got sidetracked by my Book of Wonders for “The Spell Breaker” a Non-comedy but romance.  Richard, the hero king, is based on “Highlander’s” Adrian Paul.  Can you blame me?