When You Don’t Have (time? babysitters? chops? guts? desire? whatevs!) To Do Nano You #WIPmo

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Hey guys! Last year we had an awesome little group of writers that ditched NaNo (the month where you go crazy and ovaries to the wall to write a whole novel in November). It was great. We made individual goals, were supportive, and held each other… accountable. Let’s do it again!

If you have a novel to finish. If you are working on edits. If you are revising the hell out of something that you never think you’ll finish. If you need a push to start working on the book. Or a pull to finish that other book. Let’s do it.

Every Sunday I’ll post a check-in. We’ll check-in in the comments section, write about what we did and what we’re going to do. It’s easy. And we’ll check in with each other throughout the week on Twitter and have mini WIPmo writing or revising sessions. Start now or jump in mid-month–whatever you need to get on or back on track with your writing.

All inclusive over here, so whether this is your first crack at writing a book, the book you want to query, go on sub with, or the next book you’re publishing…we’re all in this together. Well, not together because we’re all in different places, like, this is online, so you know what I mean. But, yeah. Together! #WIPmo. Follow me @amilouiseallen on twitter and keep an eye on the #WIPmo hashtag. We’ll keep you on track with gifs, empty threats, and virtual candy.

Post in the comments if you’re going to do this thing & why! Then I’ll see you back here on Sunday for our first goal setting post and we’ll do a writerly meet cute of #WIPmo peeps.

You’re SO Much Better Than Me. #WIPmo check-in! Beta Reader Match-Up anyone?

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November is Over. Cue Rocky victory jam, if you please.

A part of me wishes I would’ve pushed more, found more time, read less books, CPd, less, edited and revised less, but not so much. Not enough to make me feel THAT bad about not having the WIP of my dreams in the shape I’d LOVE for it to be in, now that it’s December 1. Oh well, I still got a lot done this month–A LOT–and I bet you did too. You completed a novel, wrote the query and synopsis, read three books in your genre of choice, kept your house sparkly–bed made, toilets shined, showered everyday, played with your kids as much as they wanted you to, kept on top of all homework, made amazing dinners every night complete with leafy greens, started holiday shopping, had sex w/your significant other or yourself five times a week, went to the gym every day but twice, kept your eyebrows groomed, and held crying babies at the local church nursery, right? If you did, that’s amazing–please drop your robot battery off at my house so I can try it for a week. When it comes down to it, it seems that everyone put in extra work this month in some way. Everyone who was editing, revising, NaNoing, WIPmoing worked hard. For that, I crank up the Queen (We Are The Champions, of course), tip my hat, and pull the lever that releases tiny book, and He-Man & She-Ra confetti. Yaaaaaaaay! 

What did you get done this month? Share your November writing progress in the comments.

P.S. I’m thinking of doing a Beta Reader Match-Up for December and/or January. (maybe on-going?) Not line by line critiques, just a search for like-minded turn-around times, straight read throughs and feedback on plot, character, voice, first pages, etc. It would be helpful for writers (agented and non-agented) who’ve may’ve already run their manuscript through a bunch of CPs, need fresh eyes, don’t have betas, are stuck on draft two and aren’t sure what’s working or not, or just need some feedback to push them into the next revision. I’d have a questionaire you’d fill out (things like: What do you hate to read? Does the word F*ck make you cringe, want sexy time scenes? Looking for a good MG or NA? Want an agented and an unagented beta? Want one reader or five? Looking for long term?) …and then I’d match you with beta(s) depending on the type of reader(s) you’re looking for.

Let me know what you think!  ; )

Yours Truly,

Ami

When Someone Steals November #WIPmo Check-In You Guys!

I know everyone says this every month once they become a legit grown-up, but WHERE THE HELL DID THIS MONTH GO? Someone stole November. Just a week left and boy am I glad I didn’t commit to NaNoWriMo. Cuz I would for sure be punching myself in the temple right now, drinking extra mugs of hot chocolate and Baileys with extra whip creme, and calling myself a NaNoLoser. Also, now that I’ve seen how this month has gone doing WIPMo, I know that I probably won’t do NaNo until my 3 year old is in school–and if I’m still at home. Because CRAZY.

Somehow, I finished my WIP, but sincerely, it’s SO not done. I just got to “The End” of the first draft and it’s short as hell (42,500) and I know there’s a frick ton of scenes, character development, plot development, and just everything that I will be filling in for draft two. So I guess this week will be fun (ACK) and December will be too. (ERG).

Check in–whether you’re Nano or WIPmo or a shoe shiner in Grand Central–I don’t care! We will do a final check in on December 1.

Write the following in the comments:

Name:

Category/Genre:

Current Word Count/Estimated Word Count until you write THE END

In my Writer’s World, I’m thankful for:

In my Real Life World, I’m thankful for:

Twitter Handle:

She’s a Maniac, Maniac With The Words… #WIPmo CHECK IN!

I was sort of a maniac this week because I finally sent my manuscript back to my agent Thursday am. *dances all sweaty in sexy layers and legwarmers* And when I say sweaty and layers, it’s actually pretty legit. I was sick as hell and the husband was away for work so I don’t know how it got done but it did. Miracles do happen! (But really only cuz my twelve year old helped w/ toddler duties when he got home from school two days in a row). But I’m alive and back in business and totes ready to get writing like a maniac on my WIPmo WIP that I haven’t touched all month. For real guys!

No, really–Prom B*tch is back at my agent and I finally opened the WIP up and am going to hit it hard–starting tomorrow. I swear!

How did everyone else do—tell us where you’re at with your WIP in the comments.

Name:

Category/Genre:

Current Word Count/Anticipated WC for “The End”:

Here’s what rocked in my writing life this week:

Here’s what kind of sucked:

This week I am going to rule at:

Twitter Handle:

Where Your Words At? WIPmo Check In!

Where your words at yo? I haven’t made it to my WIP yet because I’m still revising like a Robot Beast Champ Soldier. Yes, that means like, really hard core. Hours upon hours and hours and hours––and sometimes with a toddler sitting on my shoulders. (Yes, literally).

I FINALLY finished Friday night/morning–or was it Sat? I don’t even know anymore. But when I say finished, I guess I don’t really mean finished. Now I’m in the middle of a read-thru which I hope to finish tomorrow. And then I plan to break for at least a day before diving back into the WIP.

Everybody lemme know what you got going on: WIPMo CHECK IN HERE in comments section! Everything is cool and laid back–no hard and fast start times, so jump in anytime!

Name:

Category/Genre:

Current Word Count/Word Count You’ll prob have at THE END:

What you loved about your writing this week:

What you loathed about your writing this week:

Random goal that may or may not have to do w/ writing. This week I’m SO gonna:

You Better Write, Bitch.

You want a hot novel, a CP who don’t think you-so-sorry?

You want an agent, a publisher, a Maserati?

You better write, Bitch. You better write, Bitch.

You want to feel fancy? You wanna tweet fly numbers on #writeclub Friday nights?

You want to see your MC in a Spielberg movie? ABC Family series?

You better write, Bitch. You better write, Bitch.

Now get to work, Bitch.

Now get to WIP, Bitch.

Soooo, I’m revising/editing right now and I thought I could jump back and forth between that and WIP, but I haven’t been able to…yet. Maybe I will this week, maybe I won’t. I might have to wait to hit the WIP once my revision is totally done. Either way, I SWEAR I’m writing! 

So, let’s get on with it. WIPMo CHECK IN! If you didn’t hit our PSEUDO SIGN UP, that’s OK. Just jump in here! 

In the comments section:

Name:

Category/Genre:

Current Word Count/Estimated Word Count for “The End”

Goal for this coming week:

So far, this makes it easy to write:

& WAAAAH (cue tiny violin) this makes it hard:

Twitter Handle:

When You Must WIP It, WIP It Good.

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WIPMo PSEUDO SIGN UP Right Here, Y’all!

It sounds like everyone is NaNoWriMoing this November. Writing a whole new novel in the month of November sounds like fun. But November is like twelve minutes away. It’s something I would be all over and I swear I would do it…if only:

1. I wasn’t working on edits or revisions that are taking up ALL THE SPACE in my heart and brainz right now.

2. I wasn’t boobs deep in a WIP that I just can’t lose focus on–especially for a newbie or I’ll LOSE everyyyyything!

3. It didn’t already take every ounce of self-control to not self-edit like a freaktasticle only to get a whopping 200-458 word-count in 30 minutes for #writeclub on a Friday night. 50K+ in a month for a brand new project?! Geeeulp.

4. I had a free live-in nanny

5. I had Jake Gyllenhaal and Gisele Bundchen taking turns massaging my back

Then I could totally do NaNoWriMo right now.  Instead, I am going to get amped up for everyone else doing it. I have no problem cheering on the NaNoers. I am jealous in awe of anyone who can write so fast, footloose and fancy free! GOGOGO You!

Also, I am going to use November as WIP Month. I’ve got to finish my WIP that I’ve been half slacking on and half letting life and other shenanigans get in the way of. And it looks like there are other peeps who are in the same clippership as I. Yay.

Let’s finish what we started guys.

So, who’s with me? Ya with me guys? Everybody WIPMo! Well, Everybody who’s not NaNoWriMoing anyway.

Let’s use the comments section for a PSEUDO SIGN UP.

Name or Fake Name.

Category and Genre.

Current Word Count.

Goal or Estimated Word Count til you write “THE END.”

One sentence to describe what you’ve got going on.

Then throw up your twitter handle (if you want) so you can get secret surprise #WIPMo check-ins from your fellow writers!

P.S.

WIPMo is pretty chill but sometimes the crack of a whip is fun! I’ll put up a blog each Sunday night so everyone can check in that night or on Monday with their current stats!

P.S. #2

Don’t forget to follow the #WIPMo hashtag and check in Sun night or Mondays on this blog. Our last check in will be Dec. 1.