NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month
You too can write a novel in a month! Or a memoir, collection of short stories, biography, non-fiction account of the plight of the common New York City subway rat, etc. Whatever your heart desires -- just strive for 50,000 words during November. The Nyack Library is an official "Come Write In!" center. We'll be having a NaNoWriMo Information Meeting Thursday, October 26 at 7 pm and Writing Sessions Thursdays November 2, 9, 16, 30 from 6-8:30 pm & Sundays November 12 & 19 from 1-4 pm. Please visit www.nyacklibrary.org or our Adult Reference desk to register. Ages 16 & up are welcome to participate. And check out www.nanowrimo.org to sign up and explore the fantastic resources awaiting. Come to the Library to write alone at any time we are open or write side-by-side with your fellow NaNoWriMos -- Your Story Matters!
Online NanoWriMo/Writing Resources
- NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing MonthOfficial NaNoWriMo website. Create an account and start accessing its stellar writing resources!
- DIY MFAWrite more-Write better-Write smarter
What are you waiting for? - Poets & WritersFounded in 1970, Poets & Writers is the nations largest nonprofit serving creative writers.
- Write it SidewaysSince 2009, ‘Write It Sideways’ has been helping you see the world of writing from a fresh perspective. Our experienced team can help you learn new skills, define your goals, increase your productivity, and prepare for publication.
- Helping Writers Become AuthorsK.M. Weiland, the writer of Helping Writers Become Authors, is an award-winning author who shares creative writing advice on story structure, character arcs, common writing mistakes, and much more!
- Fantasy Author's HandbookAlthough this is technically a genre-specific writing blog, New York Times best-selling author Philip Athans has great advice for writers of all types, guaranteed.
- Write to DoneWrite to Done clearly outlines useful topics for writers, like imposter syndrome, recovering from destructive criticism, and finding a pen name.
- Brain PickingsMaria Popova's writings on culture, books, and other eclectic subjects are always extremely interesting reading for any writer with some spare time.
- NoveliciousWhile this might be more of a book website than a writing website, Novelicious also has advice for writers on retreats and for writing serialized novels—not to mention post about which books are being turned into movies this year (and reading that is time well spent for any writer, really).
- ScribendiWith everything from creative writing advice to publishing-business tips and everything in between, this list of the best writing websites will be perfect for you to stow away in your bookmarks for when you need a helping hand.
- Writing PromptsWriting prompts are posted here daily, offering inspiration for writers in all genres. Some of the prompts focus on breaking through writer's block, while others focus on building characters or refining your dialogue-writing skills. If you're feeling as though you're in a writing rut, the site also posts inspirational quotes from famous authors.
- Positive WriterPositive Writer was created for writers with doubt—like the website's author, Bryan Hutchinson—and to provide inspirational posts that help writers keep writing.
- Jenny Bravo BooksJenny Bravo's blog instructs writers to stay in the habit of writing, targeting specific problems and demonstrating how it's possible to write a novel even with a full-time job.
- Writer's DigestThis well-known and comprehensive site offers all manner of advice and resources for authors. Of particular interest are the site's many creative writing prompts. New prompts are published weekly, and writers post their results in the comments section.
- QwiklitQwiklit offers fun and accessible articles about reading and writing. It also has a bunch of writing prompts for writers who might feel stuck.
- Writing Prompts that don't SuckThe link's name speaks for itself!
- Fiction NotesAuthor Darcy Pattison's writing blog is crammed with great ideas and inspiration, including this section on plot templates.
- Suffering From Writer's Blog"Musing from a writer in the Arizona desert"--contains numerous posts about living the NaNoWriMo experience.
- BustleEleven apps and websites for NaNoWriMo to help you write your masterpiece.
- Make Use OfPrep for NaNoWriMo: five sites to practice creative writing exercises.
Book Recommendations
Bird by Bird by ISBN: 9780679435204Publication Date: 1994-09-06From "Getting Started,' with "Short Assignments," through "Shitty First Drafts," "Character," "Plot," "Dialogue." all the way from "False Starts" to "How Do You Know When You're Done?" Lamott encourages, instructs, and inspires. She discusses "Writers Block," "Writing Groups," and "Publication." Bracingly honest, she is also one of the funniest people alive. If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a writer, what it means to be a writer, what the contents of your school lunches said about what your parents were really like, this books for you.
On Writing by ISBN: 9780684853529Publication Date: 2000-10-03"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."In 1999, Stephen King began to write about his craft -- and his life. By midyear, a widely reported accident jeopardized the survival of both. And in his months of recovery, the link between writing and living became more crucial than ever.Rarely has a book on writing been so clear, so useful, and so revealing.
The War of Art by ISBN: 9781936891023Publication Date: 2012-01-01A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, "The War of Art" is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. hat keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor-be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.
On Writing Well by ISBN: 9780060006648Publication Date: 2001-09-01Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, "On Writing Well" offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sole, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.
If You Want to Write by ISBN: 9780915308941Publication Date: 1987-02-01Brenda Ueland was a journalist, editor, freelance writer, and teacher of writing. In "If You Want to Write", she shares her philosophies on writing and life in general. Ueland firmly believed that anyone can write, that everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say. In this book she explains how find that spark that will make you a great writer.
No Plot? No Problem! by ISBN: 9781452124773Publication Date: 2014-09-16Chris Baty, founder of the wildly successful literary marathon known as National Novel Writing Month, has completely revised and expanded his definitive handbook for extreme noveling. Chris pulls from over 15 years of results-oriented writing experience to pack this compendium with new tips and tricks, ranging from week-by-week quick reference guides to encouraging advice from authors, and much more.
Writing Down the Bones by ISBN: 9780877733751Publication Date: 1986-10-12Goldberg, who has conducted writing workshops for both beginners and professionals all over the United States, sees writing as a practice that helps us comprehend the value of our lives. With insight, humor, and practicality, she inspires writers and would-be writers alike to take the leap into writing creatively and well.
Inspirational Quotes
- There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. — W. Somerset Maugham
- Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet. — Zadie Smith
- Write. No amount of self-inflicted misery, altered states, black pullovers or being publicly obnoxious will ever add up to your being a writer. Writers write. On you go. — Al Kennedy
- We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. — Kurt Vonnegut
- The nearest I have to a rule is a Post-it on the wall in front of my desk saying “Faire et se taire” (Flaubert), which I translate for myself as “Shut up and get on with it.” — Helen Simpson