Personal reasons why am I writing 50k words in under 30 days.
Book 3
If The Seas Catch Fire is the third book in The Fire Series. There is a sneak peek of the beginning of this book in The Fire Inside that is currently with my line editor. We had a great meeting yesterday to discuss chapter 2. She is torn about going back and seeing what I changed in Chapter 1 or her desire to continue reading. It was the best thing I could ever imagine hearing. I so can’t wait to have more time with Steve and Mallory. We have watched their relationship planted in Into the Fire. Which you can read on Kindle Unlimited here. Try to ask this question about your writing project: What excites you about your story?
What NaNo offers me
I have won 2 of my attempts at NaNoWriMo the latest was in November. I have found having a fast deadline of 30 days to write 50k words works for me. How you might ask?
By the time I start writing on day 1. I have a detailed outline, know my characters and their arc, and the conflicts they will face. With the deadline looming I only have time to sit down every writing day and get the story on the page. I don’t worry about research or editing just getting words on the page. If I run into something I don’t know I leave a research tag like this; (insert the note here) and keep writing.
I also love the groups and people who are also writing at the same time. The encouragement and ability to help others warms my heart. The ability to have so many writing buddies/accountability partners is amazing.
My writing style
I have been building a writing routine since the first novel in this series and so far it is working for me.
I get business out of the way.
Light a candle
Get a drink and healthy snack
Put my glasses on
Give my writing buddy a hug and pep talk
Look at my notes for the chapter and outline
Start writing for writing sprints usually 20 min with 5 min breaks in between.
I highly recommend finding a writing routine that works for you. If you don’t have one there are tons of ideas out there. You could even try a few famous authors’ routines.
Why under 30 days
Well, unlike Stephen King I don’t write every day. I have a full-time job and chronic illness that takes its dues often.
I found this video to be helpful in finding out how to calculate my writing days for a project.
I choose to take Sundays off when on a writing project. I also calculate taking 4 days off for pain or brain fog and the 4 Sundays off. That leaves me 22 days to write 50k words for If The Seas Catch Fire. That means I have to write 2,273 words per writing day. Here’s how you find that number.
Take 8 days - 30 days= 22 days
50,000 words / 22 days = 2,273 words~ rounding up
Let’s get started
Idea
Why do you want to write this story? It can’t just be (it’s the 3rd book in the series).
What is my why?
I want to explore when a man wants a solid romantic relationship but the woman fears commitment. You often don’t see this concept in romantic fiction. I have seen it a few times in real life and I think these lovely men need to be explored. I also want to show that often we hide our fears and insecurities under humor and jokes. That under that clown makeup is a sad face and fractures.
Title
All the stories in The Fire Series have the word fire in the title. This title comes from a quote
“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love through the stars walk backwards.” E. E. Cummings
POV
Steve Dating profile introduced in the book Into the Fire
Mallory is Raven’s best friend introduced in the book Into the Fire
Conflict romantic
Steve wants a deeper relationship with Mallory. He needs a support system he feels he can’t turn to his normal sources of support when his world crumbles under him.
Mallory has grown up in an all-female family. They believe they are cursed when it comes to relationships and that all they bring is pain. Even though this is almost too far-fetched. Subconsciously she fears commitment. She has never seen it work out well and she has the statistics to prove it. It doesn’t help that she has a new major work contract and is being pressured to help with her best friend’s wedding.
Conflict thriller
Steve is caught on social media touching a woman in an ungentlemanly manner. It doesn’t help his career that he has written an article about this very thing in the past. The bad press causes pressure on the band. His career is feeling more and more in jeopardy.
Mallory doesn’t have time for Steve’s problems. She's is trying to please a very exacting client who holds a large project over her head. The pressure of helping with her best friend’s wedding isn’t helping her phobia of commitment. Why can’t Steve just be happy with being friends with benefits why does everyone want to get romantic. It is almost nauseating seeing Raven with Travis and Tony with Anna being all lovey-dovey.
Join Camp NaNo with project
Just click here and sign up with your project
This is mine https://nanowrimo.org/participants/sacrow/projects
Pick my writing program
In November I tried Wavemaker
This time I am trying YWrite
Pick my outlining methods
Timeline photo
Plot cards
YWrite
Book tour and other obligations (roadblocks)
I knew that I was going to be out of state the first week of March and I didn’t want it to impact my plotting of book 3. So I took note cards, color markers, and clips with me. In quiet moments I started to write out event cards and scene cards for the 3 acts. I also plotted part of book 4 because parts of both books take place at the same time and impact the group in the books.
I realized today that just have notes on the cards of vague dates of when something happens wasn’t working. So I pulled a sheet from my sketch pad and started to work up a timeline for the novel. I am going to look for an application or site where I can build a timeline for my use.
Getting my head together (finding out the problems early)
I realized after doing some plotting that I have been focusing too much on the thriller aspect of the novel. I'm not certain when things were taking place and what the other cast members of the series were up to. So I will be working on that soon.
Letting my fans get involved
Contest for Raven’s engagement ring
I have been working on building a community around my stories since I started writing the first novel around 5 years ago. I’m always looking for ways to include my fans in my writing. Now there is a chance for you to take part, read to the end to find out how you can vote on Raven’s engagement ring.
More contests to come
Raven and Travis’s wedding theme
Raven and Travis’s wedding cake
Recipes for Raven’s cookbook
Author chats and Wings chats tell me what you think
I have an author chat on Discord every Wednesday at 5pm CST. Though you can also type anything in anytime in my Discord channel and I will answer you. It is the fastest way to get in touch with me. You can also email me at sacrow@authorsacrow.com or mail me a letter to
S. A. Crow c/o Black Bird Books Publishers
4621 S. Cooper St.,
Ste. #131-299
Arlington, TX 76017
Introduce you to great or upcoming authors by finding guest authors
I’m searching for authors and writers who would like to be a guest on my blog for the month of April. Just email me at sacrow@authorsacrow.com with your blog post, links, and art before April 15th. Be featured here. Share this with anyone who you think would like to be included.
What am I doing now
Reading:
Annal reread of a Kushiel series novel
A reread of a box set I found last year.
When I am plotting or writing I want a story I already know. I am not sure why.
Watching: BBC’s Wartime Farm
Listening to: Writing music playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGs8q5SMjt1dhFrC_Mb58vvIdT9SkNtId
Editing:
Revising: Approving line edits from my editor for Book 2 of The Fire Series, The Fire Inside.
Plotting: Book 3 of The Fire Series, If The Seas Catch Fire Steve’s story
Writing:
Book tour: Fort Worth Friday, March 12th, 1pm
Arlington Friday, March 19th, 1pm
Dallas Friday, March 26th, 1pm
Virtual still voting you can vote here by commenting on this blog post or this post in my Instagram @crowshirley
I will read a chapter from Into the Fire. We will have games, contests, and giveaways.
Sebastian: Is my writing buddy he flew out to California with me and photo-bombed the book signing. He just voted for Raven’s engagement ring on the Wings member-only forum. You can vote too if you become a Wing member. Simply go here and fill out the form and get member-only perks. Hope to see you there.
Events: 5-minute writing 4pm CST today How to use 5-minute writing to help plot your novel workshop
Author chat 5pm CST today, Read chapter 4 of The Fire Inside, talk about book tour and contests
Friday, March 12th, 1pm Fort Worth book tour date to RSVP click here. We are limiting guests due to Covid-19 also a face mask is required despite Texas’ change on the mandate.
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