FREE Tutorial on Starting and Finishing your Novel for Camp NaNo Participants

It's been a while since I've been blogging--I seem to lack the ability to multi-task, and when I'm busy writing (and parenting--those end-of-school events kill my writing goals!!) I don't seem to find the time to blog.

BUT...I'm here now, and wanted to post this for those of you that are joining Camp NaNo this month to forward your progress on that novel you've been itching to write!

The video below is from a free tutorial I gave last October, and is geared for those of you participating in any version of a novel writing (be it Camp NaNo, or the full-blown NaNoWriMo, of which I am a BIG fan--see my past NaNo posts here).
Here is the video for you:

https://youtu.be/a5sWDtgX9W0

Good luck in Camp NaNoWriMo!

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. Want to see what my writer's desk looks like during NaNo? Check it out here. And don't judge. 

Join me for NaNoWriMo!

Those of you that have followed me for a while aren't surprised that I'm doing NaNoWriMo in November. It's actually the 7th year I've participated in the November writing craziness, banging out 50k words (or as many as I can--some years I don't win 'officially' but any words are good words in my opinion!) in 30 days. And looking back, it's been pretty dang successful for me:

Read a snippet HERE

2008: Used NaNoWriMo to write the bulk of my FIRST published book, "Despite the Ghosts". I submitted after finishing and editing in February 2009, and received my contract in July of that year.

2009: Didn't participate. Didn't finish a novel. When you're a writer, not writing is NOT GOOD! Needless to say, I learned my lesson...

Check out a snippet HERE

2010: Participated and wrote my novel, "Any Witch Way" which went on to be published in 2013. Why so late? The original story ended around 20k words--and my amazing editor at TWRP said it needed more 'dark elements.' She was right. I revised, adding in a demon (yes, a demon!) and the story became much more well-rounded and interesting

Read a snippet HERE

2011: Participated and wrote my novel, "Despite the Fangs," which went on to be published in 2014 (it needed LOTS of edits and paring down, as when I finally finished it, the tome was well over 120k words!)

2012: Participated and hit the 50k with "Makeovers and Minions." But...haven't finished that one. Got busy with "Fangs" edits and put it aside. Death for any novel! I will pick it up eventually because I absolutely ADORE this heroine and hero...just need to get back in that mojo.

Need a GREAT Holiday
story? Check out this $1.99
book HERE

2013: Participated and wrote only 20k of "Reality Princess." Figured out midway through the thing that perhaps a plot would be nice...and I didn't really have one, LOL. So...that one didn't get done. But I took the time in 2014 to write my short story, "Piper's Piping" which was published in 2014 as part of the "Twelve Brides of Christmas" series. So there's another manuscript I will revisit--after I figure out a plot for the thing, of course!

2014: Participated and banged out 50k+ words in my contemporary YA "Delinquent". This was HUGE for me as it is a switch of genres from what I've published these past 7 years. The manuscript is with an agent and editor now, and I'm hoping for a contract soon!

Which brings me to this year: another YA is on deck for me. This is the second in my teen labels series (started with Delinquent), and is called "Despoiled." I created my WIP cover below just for funsies (yes, that's the gorgeous Victoria Justice below--the inspiration for my heroine!) and I am really looking forward to the insanity and crazy creativity of NaNoWriMo to kick my muse into high gear!! If you'd like to read about the book, you'll have to buddy me on NaNo, as that's the only place I'm putting the blurb and excerpt for this WIP!

Photo credit: from Interview
Magazine online HERE

Want to join me? There's still time! If you're new to NaNoWriMo, go HERE to check out my videos on the subject. My personal favorite is the Prepper List for NaNoWriMo. I also have a page from last year's NaNoWriMo on my blog HERE if you want to check it out.

Okay...off to check things off my list before November 1! If you decide to embark on this novel-creation journey with me, please do buddy me in the NaNo world--I'm listed under DylanNewton. You can't miss me! :)

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. The video links for all things NaNoWriMo in my world can be found HERE.

Week 4 of NaNoWriMo and Writers Give Me Five

We are ALMOST DONE!!! I don't know about you, but I'm so tired, I'm dizzy. This week will be busy for all of us, I'm sure--I'll be hosting 18 guests on Thanksgiving, and I will STILL write this Thursday, so don't whine to me that you're too busy to write! :)

Check out brief, 4 minute, very sleep-deprived video below. This was the best take, if you can believe that! This "Writers Give Me Five" installment is all about encouragement and digging deep. Plus...you'll get to take a peek at what dirty little secrets are hiding in my garbage can--HINT: they are what's keeping me UPRIGHT this week!

Hang in there--do your best, and join me on December 1 for a TGIO party!!

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. The TGIO party will be on my Facebook Author page. You've taken the time to "LIKE" that page, right?? :) If not, I'd love to have you--here's the link: www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor

P.P.S. Need more helpful tips to prod your muse? Check out my other videos on my YouTube channel here.

Week 2 of NaNoWriMo--What to do if you're behind

This is Week #2 of National Novel Writing Month, and as of today, you should be at 21,671. 

I'm not. :(

Week 2 NaNoWriMoWriters Give Me 5! 

Find out my excuses...but more importantly, find out two of my tricks to getting back on track and igniting your muse! My video can be found on my YouTube channel here:

http://youtu.be/7TEChUIuw8o


Write On...
Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. Did you miss Week 1 NaNoWriMo Tips? Don't stress! You can find that video here. Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss next week's installment. :)

Week 1 of NaNo: Writers Give Me Five

Today's post is for those of you out there joining me in the brave, yet horribly difficult challenge that is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. If you've been following me (which is easy to do--just click "Subscribe to this Blog" on the right hand side of the screen), you've probably already seen my NaNo Prepper List video and know that I'm putting out a quick, <5 minute video every week of NaNo that will get through this challenge successfully.

This week's video is <5 minutes and gives you two ways you can 'get unstuck' this week. They happen to be two things that I use frequently when I write, so I can vouch for their effectiveness!


The video can be found on my YouTube channel here:
http://youtu.be/AyDNDBMa7II

Okay...no more procrastination. Get writing! :)

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. If you are participating in this year's NaNoWriMo challenge, be sure to 'buddy' me! I'm there under 'DylanNewton' all slammed together without a space. 

P.P.S. Want to see why I'm such an avid fan of NaNoWriMo? Check out my Newton's NaNo 2014 page here for all of the gory details!

Congrats to my Halloween WINNERS!

Congratulation to the winners of my October contest (selected by Rafflecopter and Random.org):

Carol J. Megge, for winning the watercolor print of my heroine, "Aribella Lupari"--designed by the Tracy Hetzel, of Long Blue Straw Illustrations exclusively for my latest book DESPITE THE FANGS.
talented

And to Joely Bogan who won an e-copy of DESPITE THE FANGS for her very own, thanks to her comments in following the Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop!



Sad you didn't win? 
Don't fret...I've got a whole lotta fun planned to celebrate my upcoming holiday release, PIPER'S PIPING. 

Stay tuned by subscribing to my blog, and by following my Facebook Author Page here--I'm a big fan of giveaways, and those that are in my Newton Nation VIP Club--(enter your email to the right of this page to belong) are the lucky bunch that get freebies from me every quarter!

Ok...off to the first day of NaNoWriMo! If you haven't signed up, it's not too late! Sign up here, and then check out my tips for NaNo here and my YouTube videos here.

Writing my Happily Ever After...
Dylan

NaNoWriMo Veteran's Clues on Starting and Finishing Your Novel

As promised in my NaNoWriMo blog post last week, here is my first video for all of you intrepid writers joining me for the 2014 NaNoWriMo challenge (that's National Novel Writing Month, and you can find out more about it here).

Dylan Newton: Starting &Finishing Your Novel

YouTube link: http://youtu.be/a5sWDtgX9W0

It's about 45 minutes long, and filled with my tips for the following:

• What to do NOW before NaNoWriMo begins
• Tricks for Hooking Your Reader from the Start
• The 2 Most Useful Tips to Beating Writer's Block
• Useful websites I use as a writer
• And...lots of personal details about my writing process that you may or may not want to know. ;)

PLUS...I've created this handy-dandy November calendar for you to print out and use at your will. 

Join me on Wednesday, October 29 for my HUGE kickoff event here at my blog, as well as on my Author Facebook page here. 

Happily Writing My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. Here is the link to sign up for National Novel Writing Month: www.nanowrimo.org

P.P.S. Be sure to subscribe to this blog, as well as my newsletter, for more NaNoWriMo info and writer-ly goodies! 

Gearing Up For NaNoWriMo - Join Me!

Today, I officially signed up for my month long flogging session... Also known as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

In fact, I've dedicated a new page on my blog--it's on the menu above as 'Newton's NaNo 2014' and has all of the info YOU need to join me next month for some writer-ly camaraderie and goodies. I'll be giving out cheat-sheets, providing weekly "Writers Give Me Five" quickie motivation and craft videos, and probably a few FREEBIES here and there!

My first novel--direct result of 2008 NaNoWriMo!

I first participated in NaNoWriMo back in 2008, where I began my paranormal romance novel  "A Ghost of a Chance," which later was published by The Wild Rose Press (with a title change) as  "DESPITE THE GHOSTS." After that, I've participated several other years, with success in a novella, published in 2013 called ANY WITCH WAY, and in 2014 with my latest novel, DESPITE THE FANGS.

So, given that my NaNo projects have almost always resulted in a publishing contract, I'm obviously a big fan.

So, what is NaNoWriMo?
It's a FREE web challenge dedicated to getting writers in the habit of writing every single day of November, such that by month's end, you've written 50,000 words...or a small novel. For those of you non-Math majors, like me, that breaks down to writing around 1,667 words a day every single day of November.

Yep. Even Thanksgiving.

To help you along, I've created a Newton's NaNo page here and you can subscribe to my blog above, or my YouTube channel here, where I will be hosting "Writers Give Me Five"--short, <5 minute tips to get you through your novel in November.

NaNo will push you to your writer-ly limits...but in a good way. The best thing I get as a "WriMo" every year is a re-dedication to the BIC rule.

Don't know the BIC rule?
That's the most IMPORTANT rule as a writer: Keep your BIC--Butt in a Chair.

Yep. That's really all the writer-ly magic boils down to, right there. 

Applying butt glue and persevering. 

So join me, writers, and dedicate yourself to the BIC rule by signing up for National Novel Writing Month with me this November!! (We'll worry about our flattened rump in December.)

With my Butt in the Chair....I'll write my way to....
Happily My Ever After,

Dylan

Unless you didn't catch the multiple NaNoWriMo links in my above post, you can sign up for the November writing challenge by going here. It's free. And I guarantee if you complete the challenge, you'll be a better writer for it...not that my guarantee means a whole lot. That and $3.24 will get you a Dunkin' Donuts Chai Latte. Yummmm....

GIVEAWAY from Romantic suspense author Rebecca Grace

I'm thrilled to host my fellow TWRP author, Rebecca Grace today who has a brand, spanking new paperback out for her romantic suspense, SHADOWS FROM THE PAST. Doesn't it look great?!? Check out this amazing writer, and comment below for your chance to WIN a copy of her book!

Becky, I'm thrilled to see your romantic suspense novella, SHADOWS FROM THE PAST, is now out in paperback! While I have a Kindle (and love it) I prefer to have my 'keepers' in old-fashioned paper format, so I've already ordered mine! :) Can you tell me a little about the inspiration for your book?

I came up with the idea for Shadows from the Past as a result of my enjoyment of gothic romances. Years ago I loved the romantic mysteries written by Phyllis Whitney. She always took the heroine to a strange place where she found mystery and romance. That was what I aimed for in Shadows.  I've also always loved the Northwest (having once lived in Seattle) and I love the old Victorian houses you find there. And while I love today's strong heroines, I wanted to write about someone who was kind of unsure but then discovered herself.  Putting all that together, I came up with Shadows from the Past. An old house, a tortured hero, an unsure heroine who brings everything together -- it all seemed to fall into place.

I know you are a past NaNoWriMo participant...and winner! What lessons learned did you get from winning NaNo, and would you do it again?

I really love NaNoWriMo and I have been participating every year for the past few years.  I managed to be a winner last year and the previous year. The thing I love about NaNo is the accountability.  I like watching the word count pile up and knowing that at the end of the month I need to have a certain number of words written. As a result of doing NaNo I started putting together my own monthly spreadsheet to keep track of how many words I write every month. I never come close to matching my NaNo figure, but I do see the months I am particularly active and it keeps me going stronger into the next month.  It's that time of the year again, and I have already signed up and have just the right project to begin writing. 

I feel the same about NaNoWriMo--a month of good writing habits helps me limp along the rest of hte year! Okay, next question: What do you think is THE most important thing writers can do for themselves to get an agent/publisher in today's market?

I think it has never been more important to keep a watch on the publishing trends. So much is changing so rapidly. I think writers' groups such as Romance Writers of America, or Mystery Writers, or Science Fiction Writers, are invaluable resources. If you can't afford to join them, look for local writing chapters. Get to know other writers in your area and see what they are doing or might suggest. I also suggest attending small, regional or local writing conferences. Some you can do for a day for $30 and some will have agents or editors who come in. For instance, here in Colorado our Heart of Denver and Colorado Romance Writers will have one day sessions and bring in editors. In the past year we've had people come in from Entangled Publishing, Random House, Carina Press and Musa. We also had an agent from the Donald Maas agency and all offered pitch appointments. I always say pitch when you get the chance.

If you could have done anything differently with your writing career so far, what would it be?

My writing career took years to get going and it was all my doing. I first joined Romance Writers of America right when it was getting off the ground in the early 80s.  But a couple of painful rejections from Harlequin, which I still have, stopped me cold. I gave up pursuing publishing, but kept writing. Fifteen years later a friend convinced me to try again, which I did and at that time I began taking writing classes. Looking back at those old rejections I realized they loved the stories, but the mechanics were not there. I didn't even know what Point of View was. If I'd taken the time to learn the craft then and not given up, it wouldn't have taken so long to get published.

Who are your writing role models, and how have they influenced you?

I have to say that I was always drawn to those Phyllis Whitney stories and the novels of Victoria Holt. I wanted to write that kind of suspense, but I started out writing romance. I loved Harlequin Presents and the works of Violet Winspear . In later years I discovered Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

Stephen King & Dean Koontz are also personal favs of mine. I knew there was a reason we clicked right away! :) Okay, last question: What's one fact about you that most people don't know. 

Actually I have one very bad writing habit that I doubt I'll ever be able to fix.  I love to work on several different projects at the same time. Some of my writing friends think it's crazy because right now I am working in several different time periods -- from the old west to 1900s New York to present day Los Angeles.

 

Wow--I can barely keep my own life facts straight, let alone so many projects at once. Good for you!

I know people will want to check you out online. Can you give us your website links and contact information?

www.rebeccagrace.com

http://rebecca-grace.blogspot.com

Twitter: @RebeccaGrace55

Thanks for being my guest here today, Rebecca! 

COMMENT BELOW for your chance to win a hard copy of Rebecca Grace's awesome novella, SHADOWS FROM THE PAST.

Happily My Ever After,

Dylan

My desk during November (ahh, NaNoWriMo!)

The Anatomy of a Writer's Desk During NaNoWriMo

From left to right:

1. Bulletin board with two calendars--one marking the days of November, the other tracking my word count each day towards the 50,000 end of month goal. I star the dates I make at least 1,667 words a day (so far looking at 8 of 14 days but overall still on track--the days I'm prolific make up for the days I stare at my computer for ten minutes at a time, wondering what the hell I'm doing). Kind of reminds me of the stickers I used to give my little one when she didn't pee the bed at night. I get REALLY EXCITED to put the star on my calendar at the end of my writing day. Pathetic, but true.
2. Then you'll see the edges of some inspirational quotes--probably not coincidental that they're covered up by other shiz. The middle of NaNoWriMo is a dicey time for inspirational quotes. Mostly, I'm just looking for ways to bolt my a** to the chair.
3. Ahh, my newest writer's tool: the Character Board. I have an annoying lack of a short-term memory, and have found myself on other novels changing character's eye color, mannerisms and (as in the case of my first novel, Despite the Ghosts) the gender of the cat. Luckily, I've caught the mistakes in edits before production, but this is my hope I can remain consistent.
4. On my desk is where the chaos...erm, the magic happens!! My general plot notebook for my new series (I'm writing Book 1 of the Lipsticks and Lucifer series for NaNoWriMo this year) is open on the left, followed by a rather fantastic list of "Vivid Verbs" given to me by one of my Beta Readers, and finally taped together under my wireless mouse is my plot diagram. Although, as my four-year-old likes to remind me, it's my "scribble-scrabbles."
5. Under all of this shiz--I think you might be able to see the ripped edge of an envelope just under my desk lamp--are the bills I'm late paying this month. They've been buried here for over a week. Thank God I decided to post a picture of my desk. Freaking ridiculous. 
6. In the background is an antique desk calendar. It shows the day as the 22nd. It's not, of course. I haven't changed that thing in months. But it's fun to look at, and so is the ink well and ink pen holder right next to it. Maybe after NaNo is over, I'll learn calligraphy. But I doubt it.
7. And finally, the lower quadrant of the photo shows you how decrepit I've become as a writer. I have to use one of those wrist-thingys by my keyboard. My carpal-tunnel is KILLING ME!! 

So, that's what National Novel Writing Month looks like in my house. I cannot wait until November ends, and my 50,000 words on "Makeovers and Minions" is complete.

Writing my way through to...

Happily My Ever After,

Dylan

Care to share the status of your writer's desk? Feel free to post below!

Gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2012!

Today, I officially signed up for my month log flogging session... Also known as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

I first participated in NaNoWriMo back in 2008, where I began my paranormal romance novel (then titled) "A Ghost of a Chance," which later was published by the Wild Rose Press (with a title change) as "DESPITE THE GHOSTS." So, given that my NaNo project resulted in my first publishing contract, I'm obviously a big fan of the project.

So, what is NaNoWriMo?
It's a FREE web challenge dedicated to getting writers in the habit of writing every single day of November, such that by month's end, you've written 50,000 words...or a small novel. For those of you non-Math majors, like me, that breaks down to writing around 1,667 words a day every single day of November.

Yep. Even Thanksgiving.

To help you along, the fantastic writers and guest 'speakers' of NaNoWriMo send you amazing pep-talk posts and you get to commiserate with other like-minded writers in local and regional forums.

Or you can be like me and just be miserable by yourself as you slog through November. Whatever works.

Not for the faint of heart, NaNo will push you to your writer-ly limits...but in a good way. The best thing I get as a "WriMo" every year is a re-dedication to the BIC rule.

Don't know the BIC rule?
That's the most IMPORTANT rule as a writer: Keep your BIC--Butt in a Chair.

Yep. That's really all the writer-ly magic boils down to, right there. 

Applying butt glue and persevering. 

So join me, writers, and dedicate yourself to the BIC rule by signing up for National Novel Writing Month with me this November!! (We'll worry about our flattened rump in December.)

With my Butt in the Chair....I'll write my way to....
Happily My Ever After,

Dylan

Unless you didn't catch the multiple NaNoWriMo links in my above post, you can sign up for the November writing challenge by going here. It's free. And I guarantee if you complete the challenge, you'll be a better writer for it...not that my guarantee means a whole lot. That and $3.24 will get you a Dunkin' Donuts Chai Latte. Yummmm....