GSG NaNo Gaiden #31 - What Now?

So, it's December 1st, and another 30 days of crazy writing is behind us.

What now?

Well, I've got a couple suggestions, and a couple announcements. Keep your eyes on madpoetfiles.com.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #31

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #30

The climax is over... now it's time for cuddling the denouement.

Denouements are hard if you don't know what they're for. Show the characters reacting to your awesome stupendous world-shattering conflict resolution. And end.

GO FINISH IT!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #30

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #29

So, you're not sure how to end your book.

No Problem! You're over 50,000 words, right? h/t to Holly Lisle for the tip. If you're interested in more great tips from her, sign up for her courses - fast, because I don't know if she's taking new students - or watch for her instructional books at amazon.com. www.hollylisle.com.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #29

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #28

In the paraphrased words of Shang Tsung,

FINISH IT!

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #28

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #27

Get finished. You're almost there. Go for it!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #27

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #26

Hey! Guess what time it is!

It's writing time.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #26

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #25

Here's the episode for Black Friday this year.

What we're selling here at GSG - Permission.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #25

GSG NaNo Gaiden #24

Cross-posted at www.madpoetfiles.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #24

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #23

You've got a first draft coming together. And that's great! But please, please don't think that it's a finished book. You've made batter. But is it a waffle? A pancake? A Chocolate Cake? Tempura?

It's none of those things! It's just batter! It still needs to be cooked - edited, frosted, maybe drizzled in syrup? Fried?

So. EDIT. Then publish. But first, write.

Here's that David Farland article I mentioned about why people read: A Great Read!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #23

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #22

I'm at the library for a write-in, and don't really have access to my desktop PC - just this Chromebook and my iPhone. So I recorded this episode on the phone, mailed it to myself, and have uploaded it.

Upside - we have a podcast.

Downside - it's in m4a format, not mp3. Which shouldn't be a big problem for any computer nor for most audio players now available on the market. But some time tonight, I'll convert it and re-upload.

Meanwhile, my first draft is done. Wow.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #22

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #21

Day 21, you should be 35,007 words in. And Loving It!

But if you're not, you can change it. If what you're writing is boring you, if it seems like a drudgery to write, that will come through. So make it exciting - compelling - emotionally involving!

And that will come through too!

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #21

GSG NaNo Gaiden #20

Okay, so, I totally forgot to record episode 19. (The LOST EPISODE! Oooooooh!) Actually, no. I wrote 6000 words yesterday, and spaced the podcast.

But here's the podcast for day 20.

Enjoy!

Go write.

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #20

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #18

Today, we rock it OLD SCHOOL STYLE, Baby.

And may I say, it felt sooooooo good to record this.

So good, I think I'll take a nap...

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #18

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #17

Here's those places I think you should go for writing advice.

murverse.com/isbw - I Should Be Writing
writingexcuses.com - Writing Excuses
And terribleminds.com - and here's that post I read today.

And here's today's podcast. Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #17

GSG NaNo Gaiden #16

Competition. You're competing with yourself, yeah, sure. But it's much more fun to compete with other people! And beat them! Maybe.

Anyway, if you're stuck, throw down a gauntlet and challenge someone else to a word war (or sprint). Time it, and see how many words you can write than your competitors!

And have fun.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaidenEp #16

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #15

If you are going to compare yourself to anyone, don't compare the quality of the work you're putting out. You may not be the best judge of your own creative output.

Compare the work and the hours that you put IN to your work. You'll never get Bruce Lee's (or Kevin J. Anderson's, or John Scalzi's, or Mary Robinette Kowal's) results without putting in Bruce Lee's (or KJA's, or JS's, or MRK's) hours.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #15

GSG NaNo Gaiden #14

In which our host decides to embrace his inner megalomaniac. Both Old Testament AND apocalyptic.

Also, references to He-Man and She-Ra. Don't stand on your wobbly pivoty office-chair.

Just don't.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden Ep #14

GSG NaNo Gaiden #13

Late, I know, but still up within 24 hours of the last one.

And it's mid month.

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep #13

GSG NaNo Gaiden #11

Day 11. You should be about 18,337 words into your new novel. No pressure.

Today's a riff off Thumper's Dad. Don't rip on other people's writing, and screw those people who may feel like ripping on yours. Find your audience, know they're out there, and write to them.

Enjoy!

And go write!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden#11.mp3

And if you're enjoying these, but need a little extra, The Secret Lair is re-running their NaNoMonkeys content from a few years ago. Find them at: http://www.thesecretlair.com/main/category/nanomonkeys/

GSG NaNo Gaiden #10

Feeling the 2nd week slump, hard core. But you can do it. Write the book that excites you. And try reading it out loud.

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden10.mp3

GSG NaNo Gaiden #9

Cross-posted at madpoetfiles.com.

You should be 15,000 words in. Yeee-haw! You're now out of act 1, and moving to act 2, where your protagonist should be trying to beat the bad guy, and meeting obstacle after obstacle. He should be falling down on his face.

Also, never underestimate the power of good entertainment.

Go read David Farland's post that I mentioned in the cast, and then go write!

Enjoy!

Download GSGNaNoGaiden9.mp3

GSG NaNo Gaiden #8

OBSTACLES!

We hates them, precious. So, we recommend that you ignore them. (Yes, I am using the royal we.)

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden 8

GSG NaNo Gaiden 7

Justify your writing?

Screw that. You write because you want to, and you write what you want to write. Absolutely, without hesitation. That's what this month is all about.

So go write!

Or listen to this episode first.

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #7

GSG NaNo Gaiden 6

From Jim Butcher, (h/t Monica Valentinelli - BTW, you should read her blog. She is awesome).

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD WHO CAN KILL YOUR DREAM.

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #6

GSG NaNo Gaiden Ep 5

Cross-posted at madpoetfiles.com.

Better late than never. A 5-hour write in today led to an additional 4,000 words today. Yee-haw.

Enjoy!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #5

GSG NaNo Gaiden #4

This Ep brought to you by... Mad Poet Files and Flying Island Press.

Everyone has conflicts. You have 'em. I have 'em. Your bus driver, boss, kid, significant other, and even your lunch lady has 'em. So if you're wondering what to do with a scene, or something feels lifeless, take out a card and decide on a good conflict for one of your characters. Remember, you're still in act 1, and this is where you're laying the groundwork for everything to come. So seed that ground with LOTS of delicious, nutritious, exciting conflict.

Now, go write!

Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #4

GSG NaNo Gaiden #3

Crossposted at www.madpoetfiles.com.

The FATEFUL DECISION (bum bum baaaaaaah!). You're 10% into your novel. Or at least you're at 10% of your time.

Here's where your main character makes a decision to have a story!

Watch a movie, and pay particular attention about 12-14 minutes in, and you'll see the main character make a decision that leads to the rest of the story. In Captain America, it's when the main character decides to give it one more try at the recruiting station. Had he gone dancing with the girls, no Capt. America, and no story. Or at least it wouldn't be HIS story.

Anyway... Enjoy!

 Download GSG NaNo Gaiden #3

GSG NaNo Gaiden #2

Cross-posted at www.madpoetfiles.com.

 Day 2 of NaNo, and already some people are starting to freak out. Don't do that. Trust your instincts, know that you do have something to say, sit down, and start moving those fingers over the keys.

There is always something in the box. Trust that there is always something in the box.

And enjoy Day 2.

GSG NaNo Gaiden #1

Hey. Look at that. November 1st again.

Well... you know what that means...

It's time to kick the tires, dust off the cobwebs, and come back for a month. Maybe more, if my wife has anything to say about it...

I'll be cross posting these here and at madpoetfiles.com, so you only have to go one place to get the episodes this year.

Enjoy!