National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): Much More than Writing 50,000 Words in November

 In the last of three blogs, author Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw introduces the NaNoWriMo “Now What?” Months. 

 When I typed the words “THE END” to the initial draft of my first middle grade novel, I couldn’t contain my excitement. But, as a picture book author, revising a middle grade novel was daunting at best, and the question “now what?” was soon racking my mind. Fortunately, NaNoWriMo had the answers with the “Now What? Months.”

NaNoWriMo provides an “I Wrote a Novel, Now What?” workbook on the “Now What?" section of their website. The workbook outlines a ten-step revision and editing resource process. I will outline the steps that resonated with me, but everyone is different, so I suggest taking a look at the workbook to see what best fits your needs.

 

Wait

For the entire month of December, put your novel away. Taking time away from your manuscript will give you the chance to look at it with fresh eyes in January. Done! Who was I to turn down a well-deserved break?!

 Re-Read Your Entire Manuscript

Invest time refamiliarizing yourself with your manuscript. Read it like a reader—no editing, no revising! But it is okay to jot down simple thoughts like “love!”, “????”, or “ick!” Definitely a struggle for those of us that can’t handle seeing a blue and red underline in our Word documents, but I am a rule follower and held myself back. I found this step to be valuable as I hadn’t read the entire manuscript over prior to this.

 Revise

Since the rest of the steps in the workbook weren’t as concrete as I needed, I chose to wait for NaNo’s four-part revision workshop series which began at the end of January. “Revise Your NaNoWriMo Novel” webinars introduced me to the “Level Down Revision Process.” Hosted by Jessica Brody (author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and founder of WritingMastery Academy) and Kristina Stanley (CEO and founder of Fictionary:Book Writing and Editing Software), the information moved fast but was exceedingly valuable. Fortunately, the workshops are recorded and stored on YouTube. 

Sticky Note Storyboard

These workshops were the catalyst my revision process needed!

The four webinars broke the process into five steps:

 

Step 1: Complete a Hands-Off-Read Through and Take Notes – the difference between this reread and the one mentioned above is this time you take comprehensive notes as you reread, and organize your notes by revision level (I found this step extremely valuable!)

 

Step 2: Build your First Draft Storyboard – this can be done with sticky notes or through Fictionary – see photos (I did both and found benefits to each. If you have a chance to input your story arc into Fictionary, it’s a must do. It will amaze you!)

Fictionary

Step 3: The Story-Level Revision (also known as the “developmental edit”) – introduced how to analyze a story for problems with structure, pacing, character development, and worldbuilding/setting (I found Jessica Brody’s Writing Mastery Academy videos were very helpful at this level.)

Step 4: The Scene-Level Revision –illustrated how to treat the scenes of a novel like mini stories and analyze each scene for problems with structure, pacing, point of view, transitions, etc. (This is where Fictionary shines by not only giving you the software to outline the “38 Fictionary Story Elements” but providing free videos and webinars with instructions on how to do so.)

Step  5: The Page Level Revision (also known as the “line edit”) – discussed how to analyze a manuscript page by page and line by line, improving it even further by identifying problems with paragraph structure, word choice, dialogue, etc. (I haven’t gotten here yet…revising a novel takes a LONG time!)

Initially, during the webinars, I paid more attention to Jessica Brody—learning a new software didn’t hold any appeal—but somewhere along the way Kristina Stanley pulled me in. After the webinars, I signed up for free trials of both Writing Mastery Academy and Fictionary. I benefited significantly from the Writing Mastery Academy videos that further instructed me through the “Level-Down Revision Process.” And surprisingly, I found myself blown away by the Fictionary software. By analyzing a manuscript form start to finish using the “38 Fictionary Story Elements,” Kristina Stanley has created an efficient, visual way to revise.

Find what resonates with you and good luck revising!

You can read Suzanne's post on planning her NaNoWriMo novel here and drafting her novel during NaNoWriMo here.

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is an award-winning nonfiction children’s book author and former elementary special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds. Suzanne’s first nonfiction picture book, I Campaigned for Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks, debuted in April 2019 from Warren Publishing. Her second book Mighty Mahi launched from Doodle and Peck Publishing in March 2022. Suzanne enjoys speaking to schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference in our world. Her blog, Dynamic Book Duos, features two books that pair together in a meaningful way along with coordinating educational activities to strengthen reading skills.

You can visit Suzanne online at:

v    www.suzannejacobslipshaw.com

v    https://twitter.com/SuzanneLipshaw

v    www.facebook.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshawAuthorEducator

v    https://www.pinterest.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshaw/

v    https://www.instagram.com/suzannejacobslipshaw/

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): Much More than Writing 50,000 Words in November

In the second of three blogs, author Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw relays her experience writing 50,000+ words in the month of November

 

Life doesn’t go as planned…

Suzanne's writing space

I thought 2021 was the perfect year to participate in National Novel Writing Month. I was a newly retired teacher and an empty nester. A diligent writing student, I completed my NaNo Prep. I set up my office to inspire and facilitate my writing. Research and mentor texts easily accessible. Inspirational stickers and mementos from the UP, where my novel is set, artistically placed on my notebook and hung on my bulletin board. Lake Superior and pine scented candles to set the mood. “Moon Bear,” an important object in my story and my writing mascot cheering me on. Writing 50,000 words in November (that’s 1,667 words per day) was challenging, but I was ready to roll.

Suzanne with her parents

Days one and two went smoothly. Then came day three. My father was taken to the ER by ambulance. The hospital was still under Covid procedures and only one family member could be with him. My mom asked me to go. Assuming I’d be there a good portion of the night, I somehow had the presence of mind to grab my laptop. Once my dad was settled in and asleep, I wrote 2,000 words. The next day we found out my dad needed surgery and was sent to Henry Ford Detroit. Each day I picked up my mom and drove her to the hospital where we spent the day with my dad. At night I went home, had dinner with my husband, went into my office, lit my candles, and wrote. I soon realized that writing from 7:00 -10:00 each night was therapy for me—an escape. On the weekends, my brother went to the hospital with my mom (only two people allowed in the room due to Covid). I spent the weekends taking advantage of the writing boot camps offered by NaNoWriMo Michigan and made up any missed words.

Eventually, my dad left the hospital under hospice care. We knew his time with us was short. Yet, each day my mom asked me “Did you get your words?” And when my dad had the presence of mind he’d ask, “Did you write yesterday?” This was no longer a solitary goal, and their encouragement kept me going.

Sadly, prior to Thanksgiving, my dad passed. My writing time was spent drafting his eulogy and sitting shiva. The final weekend of NaNo, I did a major writing push. On November 30, I hit 50,836 words and typed “THE END” with only hours to spare. During shiva, one of my friends mentioned how my dad’s eyes always twinkled. When I finished writing, I went outside, looked up at two twinkling stars and said aloud, “I finished Dad.” And I could hear him say, “I knew you would. Love you honey.”

 

 

 

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is an award-winning nonfiction children’s book author and former elementary special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds. Suzanne’s first nonfiction picture book, I Campaigned for Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks, debuted in April 2019 from Warren Publishing. Her second book Mighty Mahi launched from Doodle and Peck Publishing in March 2022. Suzanne enjoys speaking to schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference in our world.

You can visit Suzanne online at:

v    www.suzannejacobslipshaw.com

v    https://twitter.com/SuzanneLipshaw

v    www.facebook.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshawAuthorEducator

v    https://www.pinterest.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshaw/

v    https://www.instagram.com/suzannejacobslipshaw/

 

Editor's Note:

Part 1 (Planning) can be found here.

Part 3 (Revising) can be found here.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): Much More than Writing 50,000 Words in November

In the first of three blogs, author Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw introduces NaNo Prep

My middle grade contemporary fiction story idea was brewing since a crazy dream I had one April night. I spent the summer thinking it through, researching setting, etc., but as a picture book author, drafting a middle grade novel seemed daunting at best. I dabbled in a makeshift NaNoWriMo club with my students several years ago, so I was familiar with the basics. I decided to run with my story idea and give the true NaNoWriMo program a whirl.

Since I am the consummate “planner,” I perused the NaNo website in August under a writer vs. a teacher lens. I was surprised at the number of resources offered not only for the month of November, but for the months surrounding the main event.

The process actually begins in September with a six-week NaNo Prep course. Each of the first four weeks are dedicated to an aspect of planning your story and the last two provide tips on organizing and managing your time in November.

Week one’s topic was Developing a Story Idea. Each week NaNo Prep assigns an exercise to do, provides a forum to converse with other WriMos about the week’s exercise, and lists additional resources. Since my idea was already developed, I chose to skip the first topic and move directly to week two Creating Complex Characters. I utilized their Character Development Questionnaire to flush out my protagonist and my main supporting characters.

Week three’s (my week two’s) topic was Constructing a Detailed Plot or Outline. Since most authors fall somewhere on the “planner vs. pantser” continuum, NaNo offers a quiz to discover what type of plotting method works best for you. Already knowing I was a planner, I took the test for fun and was glad I did. It led me to planning and outlining resources best aligned to my spot on the continuum. I chose to use the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet created by Jessica Brody, the author of Save the Cat! Writes A Novel. For me, one week wasn’t nearly enough to work through the outline so I was glad to be a week ahead of schedule.

Week four centered on Building a Strong World. Initially, I didn’t think I needed this since I wasn’t writing a fantasy or sci-fi, but soon learned this section was geared to any setting. Coincidentally, that week, I was scheduled to take a trip with my husband to explore Marquette, Michigan where my story was set. If you’re able, I highly recommend turning your research into a working vacation.

Weeks five and six’s topics were Organizing Your Life for Writing and Finding and Managing Your Time. Again, I didn’t delve too much into those sections. Last year was my first year as a retired teacher and I knew I would have a lot of time to write, or so I thought…(stay tuned to part 2 of this series for more about that).

Instead, I used those two weeks to continue developing my story outline. I combined the Save the Cat! organizer 

with professional writer and editor Erin M. Brown’s Master Story Map (which I received from a previous SCBWI-MI workshop). Melding the two enabled me to better understand and outline the story beats needed for the ENTIRE novel.

Come November 1, this “planner” was ready to roll!

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is an award-winning nonfiction children’s book author and former elementary special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds. Suzanne’s first nonfiction picture book,, I Campaigned for Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks, debuted in April 2019 from Warren Publishing. Her second book, Mighty Mahi, launched from Doodle and Peck Publishing in March 2022. Suzanne enjoys speaking to schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference in our world.

You can visit Suzanne online at:

v www.suzannejacobslipshaw.com

v https://twitter.com/SuzanneLipshaw

v www.facebook.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshawAuthorEducator

v https://www.pinterest.com/SuzanneJacobsLipshaw/

v https://www.instagram.com/suzannejacobslipshaw/

 

Editor's Note:

Part 2 (writing the novel) can be found here. 

Part 3 (revising the novel) can be found here.

NaNoWriMo 2021 by Tara Michener

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What has 50,000 words, is in November and is bound to make you a better writer? NaNoWriMo!

NaNoWriMo is National November Novel Writing Month and is quickly approaching. Why do I love it? I participated in NaNoWriMo in 2011 and the benefits were many. I had to really hone in on my discipline…this meant that my favorite shows and social media surfing had to take a back seat and my free time was scheduled for my manuscript ideas and word count. It made me a better writer but also it helped me with my confidence. I had never written a book with so many words before and this experience taught me that I could do it and actually appreciate the content that I developed and that others would too. My NaNoWriMo book is NO LONGER BESTIES AND OTHER ASSORTED TEENAGE DRAMA. I just got to do a presentation on it this month and I like to inspire people by sharing with them that without NaNoWriMo it may not have happened. So…do you have 50,000 words in you? You may never know until you start. Join me this November 1^stand let’s encourage each other by using the hashtag #nanowrimo on Twitter. The weather will be colder but hopefully you are getting warmer when it comes to your next book. 

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener.  

We're pleased to announce the 2022 SCBWI-MI mentorships will be for novels. The mentors are Patrick Flores-Scott and Kelly J. Baptist. All SCBWI members who live in MI for at least part of the year are eligible to apply. The submission window opens on April 25, 2022. See the website for more information.