Blogger: Rachel Kent
I suspect many of you are participating in NANOWRIMO this year. I know quite a few of my clients are. I’m loving the Facebook updates–especially the ones with pictures of frazzled writers. 🙂 So cute!
I hope you are all doing well with meeting your daily goals.
As you work toward finishing your manuscript, it’s important to think about what to do with the project once November comes to an end. Hopefully you will have reached your goal of 50,000 words in the month of November, but it’s important to remember that reaching your goal doesn’t mean that your manuscript is done. Here’s what I suggest you do with your project after NANOWRIMO is over and before you start to submit your new manuscript:
1) Remember that 50,000 words is a very small manuscript. Only a couple of houses will consider a 50,000 word book, so leave some time in December for adding some conflict and additional plot twists. Most houses prefer fiction to be 75,000-90,000 words (sometimes longer depending on genre), but mass market publishing houses like Harlequin will consider 50,000-70,000 word books.
2) Read your book out loud. It’s amazing how many mistakes can be made and glossed over when you are writing so quickly. Be sure to take the time to read your book and self-edit before you send your book to anyone else. Reading out loud helps you to slow down and take the time to catch those mistakes.
3) Have some critique partners read your book before you send it to any publishing professionals. It’s best to get feedback from readers first so you can strengthen your project before submitting it to agents and editors. It’s okay to take some time after November before sending your manuscript out for possible publication. December is a slow month in publishing anyway, and the new year doesn’ t mean that you should rush. Take some extra time to get your book just right. Submitting quality is better than submitting quickly.
Best of luck to you all as you enter Week 3 of NANOWRIMO!
I do nonfiction, so I’m not drawn into NANOWRIMO. But your suggestions apply widely, Rachel.
* I learned to read by doing it out loud, saying each word. I stopped doing it, and I could read (and write) faster. Slowing down and saying each word reveals so many flaws–the missing word, the poor rhythm, the awkward phrase. All things I miss when I proofread on-screen. A very different–but necessary–change of pace from NANOWRIMO writing.
Yes, best of luck to all participating in Nanowrimo! Great advice for all writers, Rachel.
Good suggestions! I read to the dogs. They sometimes listen with interest, and sometimes yawn and wander away. Part of it is obviously my delivery…if I don’t like what I’ve written, I’m sure I add a ‘boring’ inflection. But i think it’s more than that.
* Having worked with and owned dogs for…uh, a lot of years…I would estimate that they have fairly large vocabularies, probably about 200 words, and am convinced that they can understand many of these words not only in context, but in new settings.
* For example, Service Dog in Chief, Ladron the Red Heeler, has lately taken to distributing treats to the others at my behest. Fairly un-natural for a Heeler to give ANYONE food that it’s carrying, but to do it on command, and get it right the first time, was stunning.
* Of course, Ladron did sneak extras to her BFFs…and maybe they are a good critical audience at that. Put the reviewers at Publisher’s Weekly out of work.
Andrew, dogs can understand up to 350 human words That’s how many signs from American Sign Language the deaf dalmatian we once had learned. And they use about 30 “signs” (body language) to communicate with each other, as well as barks, whimpers, etc. I suggest you read How to Speak Dog by Stanley Coren to learn dog language.
Interesting, Jan…I’ve been underestimating them!
* Some, however, seem to forget the meaning of the word, “No”, to wit, one of the more common exchanges in our house, in conversation with Rufus the Jack Russel –
“Rufus, no.”
“Uh, Rufus? No!”
“Rufus?”
“Rufus!”
“RUFUS!”
“Aw, crap.”
Andrew, I’ve known human kids who don’t seem to understand that word, either. 😉
Maybe as writers we should consider rejections to mean “No.” (Just kidding.)
Wow! Landron sounds like an amazing dog. My dog would NEVER give away treats. 🙂
One more step to follow, though…since NaNoWriMo is, after all that famous Babylonian god who looks like John Cheever and punishes malefactors with snarky comments, one must go through the appeasement process…which includes soaking a paper copy of the manuscript in Starbuck’s Pike’s Place coffee, and feeding it to a goat wearing a top hat.
* What? Does anyone have any BETTER ideas?
I did NaNo (or my own version of it) last year for the first time ever. Never thought I would see the day that I could write 50,000 words in a month, but I did! It sure feels good. Then I worked on that ms. and another one for the next six months. I went over it myself several times, sent it to 5 different people, did writing exercises from “Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook” before I finally submitted it. I’m still making changes, but there is such a value in NaNo to get writers going. To get a story down, because then you have something to work with. Love the advice, Rachel. And I am enjoying trying NaNo again. I’m 20,000 in and hoping to get a bunch done today!
Great job! Hope you get a lot of words in today!
Good advice, Rachel. I can’t imagine sending in my NaNoWriMo manuscript anywhere, anytime soon. I need to go over something at least 13 times on my own (Happy Friday the 13th, everyone) before even having it critiqued.
I’m participating in my second one. I’m hoping to reach 25,000 words this weekend.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Sounds like you are right on track! Great job, Wendy!
I am attempting NaNoWriMo this year, but so far I’ve fallen very behind. I don’t necessarily like the idea of “get 50,000 words down; it doesn’t matter if they are ‘good’ words.” So I’m trying to see it instead as an exercise and opportunity to discipline myself to write a little every day–or at least multiple times a week. 🙂
Thanks for the advice!
I know writing only the first draft in nanowrimo is hardly the beginning. Especially since I’m writing sci-fi/fantasy with inflated word counts. But nonetheless, I’m happy to finally get my story out of my head onto the page.
I’ve edited a lot of my own poetry, but never a manuscript, so any pearls of wisdom are appreciated.
Benjamin