Announcing the FIRST LINE BLOG CONTEST!!!

(source: writingcareercoach)

Hey WriMos, how are the words coming along?

I hope everyone’s in good spirits. I know I am! So as promised, it’s time for the infamous first blog contest here at WriMos FTW! And because I didn’t want to make any of you work more than you should at this time of literary distress, I designed the ultimate simple contest.

All I need you to do is to leave the first sentence of your NaNo novel here in a comment. Please leave your twitter handle as well. All entries will be judged by 13 esteemed writers/tweeps extraordinaire. Why 13? Because it’s the 13^th year of NaNo and because I personally love the number! Below are the details. Happy contesting! :D

Name: most gripping first sentence

1. Start: Nov. 2 at 3.30 pm (EST); *look for today's post

2. Enter your sentence before Nov. 5, 3.30 pm (EST);

3. Judges pick top 10 entries until Nov. 9, 3.30 pm (EST); 

4. Poll goes up on Nov. 9 and closes on Nov. 11 (EST);

5. Announcing winners: Nov. 12, 3.30 pm (EST);

The 3 Prizes are as follows:

1. Rochelle Melander (@WriteNowCoach) is giving the first place winner a print copy of her book Write-A-Thon, which is a great tool for jump-starting your writing career and writing your book for less than 30 days. I'd say it's a perfect fit for NaNo!

2. Roxanne Piskel (@roxisbrilliant) will give a complete critique of the second place winner's NaNo manuscript. In addition Roxanne is giving 20% discount to all entrants. 

3. Alivia Anders (@AliviaAnders) will make a pretty book cover for the third place winner. Woohoo!

In addition, all three winners get this badge to display on their website:

(made by RonnieTaleon @ TDA)

Meet the Judges:

1. Angie Richmond is 30-something writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Animal Health Technology. When she's not writing, reading or working her day job, you can find her tweeting at @write_me_happy or blogging at Write Me Happy.

2. Jennifer Gracen (@jennifergracen): Former copy editor, current SAHM, and writer of contemporary romance/women’s fiction. Twitter addict. Self-proclaimed NaNoWriMo Head Cheerleader. Lives on Long Island, New York with husband & 2 young sons. This is her 3^rd year in a row doing NaNo.

3. Cheryl Mackey  lives in Southern California with her hubby and 2 sons. Her favorite genres to write in are Fantasy and Paranormal.  When she is supposed to be working a miserable day job she instead haunts Twitter(@writezalot) and plots on Post It Notes. 

4. Julie A Lindsey:  Wifey, Mama, author, blogger,…I am YA obsessed, addicted to social media, caffeine and Poptarts. You can find me anytime lurking around the Internet, amped up on coffee and wielding a book. I blog at Musings from the Slush Pile and Tweet at @JulieALindsey. Say “Hi!”

5. AlisonDeLuca is the author of The Night Watchman Express and Devil’s Kitchen, both steampunk fantasies for young adults.  She was born in Arizona and has also lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mexico, Ireland, and Spain.  As a teacher she taught every grade level in every kind of school district possible.

6. Maureen Hovermale: (Maureen dons judges robes, looks around and grabs gavel) What, this isn't that type of judging? Wow, am I embarrassed. Catch me on Twitter. I'm @zencherry. I'm also more appropriately dressed there.

7. My name is Blue Remy and I'm addicted to writing.  I am a GM of a Regal theatre and currently have three books in the works, one of which is the first in a 13 book series called "The 13th Hour". You can find me on twitter as @ValkyriesEdge.

8. Gene Lempp is a science fantasy and science fiction writer with interests in archaeology, history and astronomy. Gene blogs about the uses of history and archeology in discovering story through his Designing from Bones series, reads every craft book he can find and roams worlds where science becomes magic and power evolves from the human spirit. 

9. Nicole Humphrey Cook (@simplywriting) is a Young Adult Author, residing with her husband and their 5 children in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a food blogger in her free time and loves to be in the kitchen. She is addicted to sushi, coffee and chocolate. She is participating in her 8th year of NaNoWriMo.

10. Amber West is a writer who writes. (In true Amber style.)

11. Cara Michaels: A left-handed, right-brained Gemini with stories to tell. Author of Gaea’s Chosen: The Mayday Directive.

12. Lena Corazon writes steampunk and fantasy novels, drinks far too much tea, and has an unhealthy obsession with Byronic heroes.

13. Born in the middle of nowhere PA, Alivia Anders is frequently called different, insane, and a little creative. You can see her chit-chattering on twitter or plotting her evil plan at the NaNoWriMo site.

Meet the Sponsors:

1. Rochelle Melander (@WriteNowCoach) is a certified professional coach and the author of 10 books, including a new book to help fiction and nonfiction writers write fast: Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). Melander teaches professionals how to get published, establish credibility, and navigate the new world of social media. Visit her online at Write Now Coach.

2. Roxanne Piskel (@roxisbrilliant) is a single mother to a 5-year-old superhero, living in the biggest little city and blogging all about her journey at Unintentionally Brilliant. Besides being a mother, an administrative assistant, and a blogger, Roxanne is also a freelance editor. Her background in editing includes working on the Sierra Nevada College literary review, editing term papers throughout college, and being nit-picky about her family's Facebook statuses. 

3. Born in the middle of nowhere PA, Alivia Anders is frequently called different, insane, and a little creative. You can see her chit-chattering on twitter or plotting her evil plan at the NaNoWriMo site.

Music Always Holds the Key! by Alivia Anders

(leizlmarie)

As we inch closer to November 1st, things begin to fall into place for the next thirty days of insanity. Maybe you've pre-planned what will be made meal-wise for the family to shave a few hours off your schedule. Maybe (unlike me so far) you've cleaned your room and desk space as a ritualistic 'Cleaning of the cobwebs from the brain' thing. 


Maybe you're like my friend Lorca from Twitter (@lorcadamon) who's prepping her glittery plot poster, or Jennifer who's also from Twitter (@jennifergracen) getting her pom-poms ready for a Cheer Fest, or maybe you're like Lyn over here running a bajillion blogs and being one of the best NaNoWriMo preppers and friend ever (like you know, her main blog Against The Odds and her Twitter (@lynmidnight).

Or maybe you are like me. Your room isn't clean, your plot feels like it's dying for air, and your characters aren't in the pretty little harmony they're supposed to be. So what's a writer to do when you can't find the voice you need to get things running in your head?

Listen. I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

Hear that music? It could be the song playing in your head, on your iPod, iTunes, maybe your dog is even howling to some god-awful tune. Hear it now?

That's what you need.

Wait, so basically I'm telling you to listen to music? Yes I am.

Your characters are strong little pieces of yourself (not to be confused with Mary Sues where you make the character you only super-perfect) squirming and leaping and screaming for life. It's your job, as the mighty controller of the body and brain to give them that chance at life. And just like we feel like every song on the radio perfectly describes us and our moods, it does for our inner voices too!

Per example. When writing Illumine I was having the most impossibly difficult time hearing Essallie. It didn't matter what I did, meditation, donut making, random overdoses of coffee and egg whites, compulsive Twittering, nothing did the trick. And then I picked up Evanescence's new CD. 


Like a light switch flicking on in my head, I heard and saw everything down to the very blades of grass this girl was standing on. My character had found her voice. It was with this idea that I took the step further and decided to apply it to my NaNo project, mixing different bands and artists to convey the moods Alex goes through over the course of her stay.

So maybe come November 1st you'll start pounding out keys, sure of the voice in your head. Or maybe you'll turn up the tunes and crank out words like that, your character's voice loud and clear over the speakers.

One thing is definitely for sure. My next thirty days will be more than writing, it'll be head-bashing screaming-music goodness, too. 




What do YOU do when you get stuck? Have you ever found inspiration in music?

Born in the middle of nowhere PA, Alivia Anders is frequently called different, insane, and a little creative. Inspired by just about anything, she began writing in 6th grade after joining a Harry Potter-inspired RPG forum. She says she loves salads, but really likes them only if they have taco meat on top. The oldest of five, she currently lives at home, enduring peak levels of insanity enough to drive a rhino to spontaneously combust. You can see her chit-chattering on twitter or plotting her evil plan at the NaNoWriMo site.

The Head Cheerleader Is Here! by Jennifer Gracen

(Source: Disney Stationary)

The NaNoWriMo contest is an online challenge for writers of all genres, all over the world. Now in its 13^th year (Superstitious site owner says WHAT?!), it has grown substantially each year as the power of the Internet has increased its reach. The premise to win is simple: write 50,000 words in 30 days. From scratch.

This is daunting to most writers. It seems impossible, overwhelming, terrifying even. But sit back, relax, and let me explain why this is something you want to do.

There are many reasons why this has become such a popular contest. First of all, it’s free. Yup, that’s right: no entry fee. Definitely in your budget. Second, it’s a good reason to buckle down and write that story that’s been bouncing around in your head for so long... but you haven’t been able to make yourself sit down and just DO it. Third, there’s nobody actually depending on you to win except for yourself. The only one you need to please here is yourself. And you will please yourself. The satisfaction of finishing this contest is so deep, so incredible, so soul-infusing… but more about the personal glory later on.

Chances are, if you’re a writer, you’re friends with a few other writers. Convince one of them to do NaNo with you. Trust me, you’ll want someone to vent to, bounce ideas off of, and to cheer you on when you feel like you can’t do it. It’s a great motivator to have a comrade-in-arms. Only another writer can truly understand how you’ll feel, what you’re doing, and what you’re going through.

Warning: some spouses, significant others, roommates, parents – whoever you share living space with – may not be so happy about your entering NaNoWriMo. They won’t like not having your full attention, or that the house may look like a bomb hit it when you’re too busy writing to clean. Talk to them before November 1^st. Have an understanding that this is important to you, that your primary focus will be on this contest for 30 days, and you’d like their support. You may have a wonderful support system around you, and you’re lucky if you do. You may not; you may actually have grumbling naysayers around you. Don’t listen to them. You can do this.

So much has happened in my writing life since last year’s NaNo. The biggest, most profound change was that in March 2011, I joined Twitter. I’ve met more writers online in the Twitterverse than anywhere else, ever, and it’s been amazing. The writers I’ve met on Twitter (and the group #pubwrite in particular) are so varied, from all walks of life, all the corners of the planet, writing in every genre and subgenre imaginable -- traditionally published, self-published, or not yet published. They’re smart, funny, talented, and are generally unbelievably supportive of one another.

Meeting these people on Twitter has not only ratcheted my desire to write into the stratosphere, but I’ve learned so much about the ever-changing writing business, gained such insight into the mindset of fellow writers, felt that true kinship and comradery… I can’t begin to express what I feel for what they’ve shown and taught me, all the genuine support, understanding, and love I’ve found there. 

I wanted to give something back somehow, no matter how seemingly small it was.

So I put tweets out on Twitter a few weeks ago, proclaiming my desire to be Head Cheerleader to any writers who choose to take on NaNoWriMo this year. Having someone support you during this month of intense writing can be crucial to your succeeding at it. And I’m good at support. I’m a passionate, caring, and gregarious person; I get genuine joy from making people feel good or knowing I’ve helped someone.

This year, thanks to Twitter, I know about 50 people doing NaNo. How cool is THAT? Last year, I knew five. So to know that so many of us will be doing this together? I’ve dusted off my pompoms, they’re ready. And I’m the best kind of cheerleader: I’m not annoyingly perky or saccharine -- I’m a wiseass. I’m fun. I’m sassy. I have a quick, sharp, and sometimes dirty mouth. Who else would you want to cheer you on every day for a month? 

I’m the right woman for the job.

This will be my 3^rd year in a row doing NaNoWriMo, and I’m planning on achieving my third “win”. I’m not only looking forward to that, but to the online party that will be all these amazing people doing NaNoWriMo together. So, if you want some of that support, follow me on Twitter at @jennifergracen and let me know. I’ll be keeping a list of NaNo Tweeps. It’s going to be fun. You’re going to have fun doing it. You’re going to surprise yourself with what you’re capable of accomplishing. Do it! Good luck!   


Are you ready for NaNoWriMo? Do you have your NaNo/twitter tribe at the ready? 

Jennifer Gracen grew up torn between her two great loves: books and music, unable to choose whether to be a writer or a singer.  After spending her youth writing in private and singing in public, she has fully embraced her passion for writing. She worked as a copy editor before choosing to stay home to dedicate herself to being a full-time mother. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America (PRO status) and the Long Island Romance Writers (RWA Chapter 160). She has completed three full-length novels and one novella, in her preferred genre of women's fiction/contemporary romance. Currently searching for agent representation, she is already preparing to start her next full-length novel, when NaNoWriMo kicks off.