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Tanara McCauley

~ Love Knows Color

Tanara McCauley

Tag Archives: nanowrimo

Gone Fishing, Author Style

02 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by tanaramccauley in Writing and Pursuing Publication

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

amwriting, author, Christian fiction, diligence, editing, faith, fishing for words, fishing skills, hard work, nanowrimo, novel, perseverance, word count, writers, writing, writing strategies

This was originally posted on 11/09/2013. It’s that time of year again…

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As a child, I fished with my father. Dark, quiet nights, sometimes nothing but the calm sound of water lapping the bank, or the buzz of mosquitoes testing the perimeter of whatever insect repellent we wore. It’s been a long time since we’ve done that.

Lately, however, those memories are rushing back. Memories of fish too large for my lanky little arms, fighting against me, tugging so hard on the line I feared a time or two that I’d be pulled in instead of the fish being pulled out.

Memories of determination, refusing to give up; of reeling in those bullish fish.

The cause of these memories? National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and this commitment I’ve made to the program to have 50,000 words by the end of November; the side bet I’ve waged with myself to hit 80,000.

Striving to meet an ambitious daily word count–against all odds and come what may–is like fishing for words that are fighting to stay in the water.

Some days inspiration sleeps in. Creativity goes MIA. Skill leaves a “Be Back Later” sign on the door. And the words are left to swim amuck in an unsupervised pool of mockery and defiance; determined not to be hooked, refusing to be tamed.

I’d really rather not fight with the slippery suckers. Especially when the house is asleep, coffee’s lukewarm, and I’m getting a series of teasing tugs on my line with no bites.

Searching, straining, desperate for words, it gets tempting to just cut the line. Reel it in empty. Fish again another day. Maybe.

But to do that–to give up–is to get pulled in.

When I fished with my father I never got pulled in.

Strained a few muscles. Got mud on my knees. Suffered scrapes.

On the flip side my muscles grew stronger, my stance firm.

I didn’t quit then. I won’t quit now. One day, one word, one catch at a time.

Going fishing. Be back soon. ❤

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ~ Galatians 6:9 NKJV

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WriMo NoMo, but Keep it Up Writers!

06 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by tanaramccauley in Writing and Pursuing Publication

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Tags

amwriting, author, Christian fiction, December, diligence, goals, nanowrimo, novel, perseverance, success

2013-Winner-Facebook-Cover

NaNoWriMo is over, and like thousands of other writers, I hit over 50,000 words in thirty days.

Sure a few things had to give. Blogging, for one, was chucked like an old pair of tennis shoes and left hanging on the telephone poll of “to-do-later.”

And though I’d love to say my house stayed in its usual perfect cleanliness, fiction is best left in stories. On that note, scratch “usual” from the record.

Nano was fun some days, downright torture some nights. Still, I made it through. Yes, some words were pulled out of the side of my head and are waiting to be edited right back to where they came from, but for the most part, I came out a better writer.

I scaled the wall of I’ve-got-nothing-left day after day, only to find on the other side of it pastures of imagination, possibilities, and progress. Being forced to keep going taught me that, with God’s help, I’m capable of much more than I give myself credit for.

I can do all things through Christ, and with Christ, I can do them well. Now I have half a novel that I wasn’t even sure I was going to write. And I love it.

Equipped with the “must do, can do, will do” determination adopted in NaNo, I’ll get this novel done, then edit it (and re-edit…and re-edit…and…), then we’ll see what God’s got next.

Your Turn: How are your end of the year goals coming?

 

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NaNoWriMo: A Novel Goal

31 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by tanaramccauley in Writing and Pursuing Publication

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

amwriting, fiction, goals, marathon, nanowrimo, national writers event, novel, November, plot, writer

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Image courtesy of Just2shutter / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’m amped. And not from pilfering candy.

My blood is buzzing through my veins because, in little more than an hour, I’ll lay aside inhibitions, excuses–and a small portion of my sanity–and join thousands of writers around the world on a mission to write an entire novel…in one month.

November is National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo.

I signed up less than a week ago, not sure if I could accomplish such a lofty goal. I had a million excuses reasons as to why I couldn’t. It didn’t take long to see those reasons excuses for what they were.

Now I’m committed.

Coffee to my right. Notepad to the left. Computer front and center. Hoodie on my noggin.

After some prayer, last-minute preps and a bit of knuckle cracking, I’ll watch the clock strike midnight. Then it’s “on like Donkey Kong.”

You can keep track of my daily progress on Twitter @TanaraMcCauley. If I need input or ideas for names, twists, etc., I’ll update that information on my Facebook. I will also make time to post here weekly.

Have a great November folks! Lord willing, I’ll have another novel under my belt when I meet you on the other side of it.

Your turn: Do you have any lofty goals you’ll be challenging yourself with? Or any special plans for the month of November?

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