CampNaNoWriMo 2020

CampNaNoWriMo starts tomorrow and the good thing about this for writers is that you can set your own goals. For those of my followers who don't know what this is, this is an extra event following NaNoWriMo which is National Novel Writing Month (when you try to write a novel in a month of 50k words). CampNaNo is a month where you set your own goal and join a Camp of fellow writers for inspiration and motivation. Goals can be anything from finishing a manuscript to editing a first draft.

This year, more than most, I really need this distraction. I should be on a plane now taking me to Trinidad, a holiday which has been cancelled. So, to divert myself I have set myself the goal of trying to finish one of two MS that I have as WIP (or, if I am really disciplined, both). My first romantic suspense novel is ready for submission, so I am working on my second one. I am just over 48k words in (yes that difficult phase) and had stalled. The deadline for this to be at first draft is the end of August as I am aiming to finish this for submission to the RNA NWS. Also, I have joined a GEA camp (GEA stands for the Golden Egg Academy and I am a first year working on a YA fantasy) to try and get my dystopian YA novel finished. It is currently at just over 51k (yes again the difficult patch) and I want to try to get it to 75k as a first draft. This may seem abitious, but I figure if I don't get both finished, I will at least get more added to the word count and therefore be closer to first draft. Wish me luck.

I wondered if any of my followers might be trying their hand at CampNaNoWriMo for the first time (it is a good thing to do as we are all stuck at home trying to think of ways to entertain ourselves) as it is the perfect time to write that novel you always wondered if you could write. To that end I thought I would share a few tips. Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, it is always good to have a vague story map to avoid getting stuck (plotters are writers who plot out carefully their novel before they start and pantsers just get down and write it. I am somewhere in between normally, with a vague map of beginning, middle and end) especially when you hit that dreaded half-way point (yes around the 45/50k mark).

For complete beginners the Nathan Bransford Book How to Write A Novel is a good way to start, but as CampNaNo starts tomorrow and the book may take time to arrive, here are a few of the tips he recommends: Ask questions about your story and what your characters care about. Then put obstacles in their way (e.g. obstacle, obstacle and what MC cares about). Know your genre (YA, crime, romance etc.) and format properly before you start. Back up regularly and have an actual plot (Premise - the knock at the door that jolts the MCs life out of balance, Climax is when the door closes, The Theme refers to how the MC changes, so Plot = event/obstacles/complication, Premise + complication = Plot). Craft an outline (more on this below), write a killer first page and choose a perspective (1st person - I did this/that, 2nd - You did this/that, 3rd limited - He did this, she did that but he wasn't sure why she did what she did, 3rd person omniscient - He did this, she did that, he was thinking this, she was thinking that, Present tense - Told as if it is happening right now "He thinks, he does", Past tense - Told as if it happend sometime in the past "He thought, he did that." Each chapter has to have drive, e.g. a beginning, middle and end, and identify your tentpoles (events that prop up the novel and give the narrative arc its steepest and most dramatic peaks and valleys). These are major turning points, characters getting split up/back together/having fights, mysteries revealed, action scenes and points of no return. Make sure your characters are motivated (wants and needs) and show personality (emotional reactions, motivations). For each character plot out a plot arc with defined goals and motivations including things they want/need and their high and low point. Add conflict (on the surface, beneath it, thoughts and actions of the characters) and give them positive/negative qualites and flaws. Add a mystery sub-plot - characters desire at the consequences/stakes + obstacles/intrigue and delay = mystery. Create a good setting and dialogue. Plan the climax out (the most dramatic/surprising scenes, moments of biggest weight and characters experiencing their biggest hight and lowest lows). Don't rush the ending and if you get stuck, it is just you needing to figure out a problem you need to solve - go out for a walk, do some exercise or stare at the screen until you work it out.

The excellent book Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder, which is aimed at scriptwrites but the basics are the same, recommends the following (order the book if you can as this and Save the Cat! Writes a Novel will be useful for every novel you write):  Write a logline (e.g. A businessman falls in love with a hooker he hires to be his date for the weekend PRETTY WOMAN) and give it a killer title, e.g. Sixth Sense. The perfect logline needs to have an adjective to describe the hero, an adjective to describe the bad guy and a compelling goal we identify with as a human being. Create heroes who offer the most coflict in that situation, have the longest way to go emotionally and are trhe most demographically pleasing - PRIMAL survivor, hunger, sex, protection of loved ones, fear of death. HERO - I can identify with/learn from/have a compelling reason to follow/believe deserves to win/that has stakes that are primal and ring true.

There are 10 types of movie/story: Monster in the House (Jaws, Tremors, Alien, The Exorcist, Fatal Attraction), Golden Fleece (Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, Back to the Future), Out of the Bottle (Bruce Almighty, Freaky Friday, Liar, Liar), Dude with a Problem (Die Hard, Titanic, Schindlers List), Rites of Passage (10, Ordinary People, Days of Wine and Roses), Buddy Love (Dumb & Dumber, Rain Man), Whydunnit (JKF, The Insider, Chinatown), The Fool Triumphant (Forrest Gump), Institutionalised (Animal House, MASH, American Beauty, The Godfather), Superhero (Superman, Batman, Dracula, Frankenstein, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind).

The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet to use for structuring your 3-ACT story:

ACT 1

1)  Opening Image (0 To 1%) (a "before" snapshot of your hero and their world)

2)  Theme Stated (1% to 10%)  (a statement made by a character, typically not the hero, that HINTS at what the hero's arc will be, that is, what the hero must learn/discover before the end of the book. Also referred to as a life lesson)

3)  Set-Up (10%) (an exploration of the hero's status quo life and all it's flaw, where we learn what the hero's life looks like before its epic transformation. Here we introduce other supporting characters and the hero's primary goal but, most importantly, we show the hero's reluctance to change - aka learn the theme - while also hinting at the stakes at risk should the hero NOT change)

4)  Catalyst (10%) (an inciting incident or life-changing event that happens to the hero, which will catapult them into a new world or new way of thinking, big enouogh to prevent the hero from being able to return to their status quo Set-Up world)

5)  Debate (10% TO 20%) (in which the hero debates what they will do next. It's usually presented in the form of a question such as "Should I go?" to show the hero's reluctance to change)

ACT 2

6)  Break Into Two (20%) (the moment the hero decides to accept the 'call to action' leaving their comfort zone, trying something new or venture into a new world or new way of thinking - separates the status quo world of Act 1 from the new 'upside-down' world of Act 2)

7)  B Story (22%) (the introduction of a new character/s who will ultimately serve to help the hero learn the theme. Also referred to as a helper character, this can be a love interest, nemesis, mentor, family member or friend)

8)  Fun and Games (20% TO 50%) (this is where we see the hero in their new world, either loving or hating it, succeeding or floundering. Also called the 'promise of the premise', this represents the 'hook' of the story - why the reader picked up the novel in the first place)

9)  Midpoint (50%) (literally the middle of the novel where the Fun and Games culminates in either a false victory (the hero has thus far been succeeding) or a false defeat (the hero thus far has been floundering). Something should happen here to raise the stakes and push the hero toward real change)

10) Bad Guys Close In (50% TO 70%) (if the Midpoint was a false victory, this section will be a downward path where things get progressively worse for the hero. If the Midpoint was a false defeat, this section will be an upward path where things seem to get progressively better for the hero. But regardless of path, the hero's deep-rooted flaws - or internal bad guys - are closing in)

11) All is Lost (75%) (the lowest point of the novel. Something happens to the hero that, combined with the internal bad guys, pushes the hero to rock bottom)

12) Dark Night of the Soul (75% TO 80%) (where the hero takes time to process everything that's happened thus far. The hero should be worse off than at the start of the novel. The darkest hour - just before dawn - is the moment right before the hero figures out the solution to their big problem and learns the theme or life lesson)

13) Break Into Three (80%) (the 'aha!' moment. The hero realises what they must do to not only fix all of the problems created in Act 2, but more important, fix themselves. The arc is nearly complete)

14) Finale (80% TO 99%) (the hero proves they have truly learned the theme and enacts the plan they came up with in the Break Into 3. Bad guys are destroyed, flaws are conquered, lovers are reunited. Not only is the hero's world saved, but it's a better place than it was before)

15) Final Image (99% TO 100%) (a mirror to the Opening Image, this is the 'after' snapshot of who the hero is after going through this epic and satisfying transformation)

So now you have all the basic tools you will need to start writing that novel. Good luck.

Writer's Digest newsletters

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Writer's Digest online writing workshops cover every aspect of writing, from how to get started all the way to getting your project published -- all from the comfort of your home! Our self-paced courses are now only $19.99, click here to browse and click here to view the live course calendar. Take 10% off your registration price with code STAYWELL10 Courses Starting This Week:  12 Weeks to a First Draft Instructor: G. Miki Hayden Dive into the world of writing and learn all 12 steps needed to complete a first draft. When you take this workshop, you will learn invaluable tips on writing a book and receive detailed instruction through weekly lessons and writing assignments. Blogging 101 Instructor: Dan Blank A key to success for any writer is having an online presence. Don’t know how to start a blog? Not sure what to focus on? Don’t fret! This online writing workshop will guide you through the entire blogging process. Horror Writing Intensive: Analyzing the Work of Genre Master Stephen King Instructor: Phil Athans It’s no accident that Stephen King is one of the world’s best-selling authors. He knows what scares us—it isn’t just kids and clowns. In this course, you'll look at those elements and even write your own story for instructor critique. Short Story Fundamentals Instructor: John DeChancie Whether you are a writing novice looking to cut your teeth or a published professional, the short story is a unique and challenging medium that offers you amazing opportunities. Throughout this four-week workshop, you will have feedback and support while you write and hone an entire short story from beginning to end. You'll leave with a polished draft of your story. The Art of Storytelling 101: Story Mapping and Pacing Instructor: Gloria Kempton Discover how the seven core competencies of storytelling—concept, character, voice, plot, theme, scene construction, and style—combine to create compelling narrative. Travel Writing Instructor: Jack Adler When you take this six-week workshop, you'll discover how to become a travel writer by exploring the different types of articles you can write and developing your own writing style. You'll learn how to keep readers captivated and how to garner interest from travel editors. Featured Course: Copyediting Certification Course Instructor: Kim Catanzarite April 23 - July 16 This workshop will provide training for aspiring copy editors in order to give them practical and marketable workplace skills. As a student in this certification course, you will progress from the fundamentals of grammar, form and composition to advanced copyediting skills. If you complete all the assignments and pass the comprehensive test, you will receive documentation from Writer's Digest of your completion of the Copyediting Certification Course. Upcoming Boot Camp:  Agent One-on-One: First Ten Pages Boot Camp with Talcott Notch Literary Services Thursday, April 23, 2020 As you may know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. In this invaluable event, you'll get to work directly with an agent to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel. You'll learn what keeps an agent reading, what are the most common mistakes that make them stop, and the steps you need to take to correct them.  View Full Course Calendar Hate being tied to a schedule? Our Self-Paced Courses are Now Only $19.99! EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS INVALUABLE FEEDBACK | Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 To unsubscribe from all AIM emails, click HERE Active Interest Media, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

Get ready to write a poem each day of April for the 13th annual April PAD Challenge, read 13 Stephen King quotes on writing, new creative writing prompts, and so much more!  Write a Poem a Day in April! Join poets from around the world in the 13th annual April PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge! Early each morning (US Eastern time) in April, Robert Lee Brewer will post a new poetry prompt and a poem to get things started on his Poetic Asides blog. (Find hundreds of creative writing prompts.) 30 days, 30 prompts, 30 poems. This free poetry challenge is open to all skill levels. Join the fun and poem along. Read the full article... MORE MOTIVATION Creative Writing Prompt: Exercise of Perspective Write a scene from an animal's perspective. What looks different from their perspective? Can the animal see what humans cannot? Read More... Christina Lauren: Write What Makes You Excited Something that continually surprises us—and maybe shouldn't—is how our process changes for every book. We don't sit down and do it the same way, every time. We've learned to be really fluid in the drafting and revision process, and this one was no exception, particularly since this book contains other types of writing, such as police reports, twitter posts, newspaper and magazine articles, and excerpts from the celebrity couples' book. It made the writing process feel fresh and engaging. Read More... This Week in Publishing 3/31—Nikolai Gogel born 1809 3/31—Charlotte Bronte died 1855 3/31—Octavio Paz born 1914 3/31—Slaughterhouse-Five published 1969 (12 Kurt Vonnegut Quotes) 4/1—Milan Kundera born 1929 4/1—Brad Meltzer born 1970 (10 Brad Meltzer Quotes) 4/2—Giacomo Casanova born 1725 4/2—Hans Christian Anderson born 1805 4/3—Washington Irving born 1783 4/4—Maya Angelou born 1928 (Analyzing I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) 4/4—Dan Simmons born 1948 4/5—Booker T. Washington born 1856 4/5—Carrie published 1974 (13 Stephen King Quotes) 4/5—Saul Bellow died 2005 9 Tricks to Writing Suspense Fiction Your heart is slamming against your rib cage, your fingertips are moist and you turn another page. The antagonist is setting up a trap. You wish you could do something to prevent the protagonist from walking into it, but you can't. You're helpless, totally at the mercy of the writer. All you can do is turn another page. If you've ever felt this way reading a book, then the writer has done a great job of creating suspense. If you continue to feel this way until the last page, the writer has also done a great job maintaining it. That's no easy feat, as you'll discover when trying to write a suspense thriller. But here are some hints to get you started. Read More... Robert Lee Brewer Robert Lee Brewer is a senior editor for Writer’s Digest and former editor of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the author of Smash Poetry Journal and Solving the World's Problems. Find him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer

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