I’m currently putting together the means by which students of courses like the Plot, Language, Character, and Culture clinics, Professional Plot Outline course, and other courses will be able to join the writer’s community.

Margaret and I are working on programming and setup right now. I hope by the first week of next year to have at least a part of this operational. Watch here for links to the courses you’ve already taken, or want to take, to see how you can join the community.

Getting the concept of TWIST when working your way through writing your first Story Sentences can be brutal.  But conflict and TWIST are the two elements of of any novel, any screenplay, any story at all, that you must get right in order to write a compelling story.

So here’s the trick to twist.  (How to Revise Your Novel forum link.  You must be logged into your HTRYN student or grad account.)

There IS a link between your creativity and how regularly you put it to work.  HTTS student “grumbaut” had a breakthrough by putting the thinking tools of How To Think Sideways together with the steady production of NaNoWriMo.

Take a look at “Creative Explosion” here.

There’s an intense discussion going on in the Yes We NaNo board, following the posting of a link on the board by some woman who blames NaNo for making her write badly.

My response is here:

Bluntly, it’s a profoundly stupid letter.  Here’s why.  The author claims no responsibility for her own actions.  The words “you make me” pour from her like water, but the words “I choose to” never appear.

You want to see what VICTIM looks like in action: This is the post, folks.

“You MAKE ME???”

Someone from NaNoWriMo went to her house, stuck a gun to her head, and screamed, “Write garbage, you unctuous brat!”

No?

Well, then.

I think NaNoWriMo is a bad idea if people who want to be professionals only write in November.

I think NaNoWriMo is a bad idea if people who want to be professionals write a new NaNo novel each year and never revise the old ones and get them out there.

I think NaNoWriMo is a bad idea if people who want to be professionals think that writing a novel ought to be some big groupfest shindig, and fail to realize that the real job of writing is you inside your head creating for hours at a time.  Alone.

If you never intend to get published and you’re just writing a book, all bets are off.  Have fun.

BUT EVEN IF you want to get paid for your writing, IF you’re using NaNoWriMo as a way to have some fun creating work you intend to revise, and you’re writing the rest of the year anyway, then I think NaNoWriMo is a fine idea.  And that’s why I support it here.

There are some profoundly moving stories in this thread (Link in HTTS and HTRYN student area—you must be logged in) about writers who use NaNo as a way to break through the anguish of perfectionism, self-criticism, and fear of failing.

Do I NaNo?  No.  I’ve finally come to the realization that I’m not a “group activities” sort of person, I write all the damn time anyway, my general writing pace is faster than NaNo, and I’ve already sold a book I wrote in one month under the worst imaginable circumstances: Sympathy for the Devil.  And it was longer than 50,000 words.  So I already played once, long before NaNoWriMo existed, I won, and I’m done.

I don’t have the T-shirt?  No.  But I don’t wear T-shirts anyway.

As promised, I’m continuing to add to and upgrade the HTTS course.  This week, in Lesson 22, I’ve added an excerpt from Lesson 10 of the How To Revise Your Novel course that gives the long-promised steps to my REVISED One-Pass Revision.  If you’re at Lesson 22 of the course or later, you can pick it up right now.

If you’re not, it will be waiting for you when you get there.

IF YOU ARE ALSO AN HTRYN STUDENT, I strongly suggest that you don’t download this now.  Rather, wait until it appears in your HTRYN course, when you’ll be much better equipped to deal with it.

Log in now to download your copy.

Cheerfully,
Holly

The last How To Think Sideways class of 2009 is now in session.

New students—Log in to class.  Then:

• Go through the course tutorial.
• Introduce yourself on the discussion board.
• And start in on your lessons.  Moderators and grads are available at all times on the boards, and are great about helping new folks.  It’s a good community.
• If you run into trouble you can’t fix through the boards, use my emergency e-mail on you classroom page to let me know.  I’ll get back to you promptly.

Cheerfully,

Holly Lisle

Excerpted from a discussion by a student who’s set a tough writing goal simultaneous with finishing up his last year of university:

“I was hoping all you wonderful people here could give me a hand, by sharing any experiences you have of similar situations, where a high pressure “profession” period came into contact with your creative efforts, and what the results were: how difficult you found it; were either adversely affected; were you adversely affected; was writing still enjoyable at the time; that sort of thing. Anything else you want to add will also be greatly appreciated.”

Students: Login and offer your own experiences.

From a student going through a writing drought:

I struggled for weeks and then in the early morning my Muse decided to come alive. I now have four story ideas in a 24 hour period and can now move onto Lesson four. I am so excited. I really thought my muse had died.

I want to thank you all for your support through this drought period I experienced.

Everyone can view this post.

What’s the one thing you consider your most important asset in your writing—in your present or future ability to bring you fans? Obviously you want to shine across the board, but what is the greatest strength you have to showcase?

I have a reason for asking that I think can help you figure out how to best market your work, but first I want to know where you’re coming from. — Holly Lisle

Grad Novelists: This is an ongoing discussion on the Renegade Marketing board, where we’re brainstorming ways to connect with readers. Login, then join us.
Your Most Important Asset