It’s been a while since I posted a writing update, and with NaNoWriMo starting at the end of the week, I thought now would be a great time to post one…along with some random photos from my media library…
NaNoWriMo
I decided early on (for once!) that I was participating in NaNo this year. It will be my eighth year joining in. I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks, though I’m still unsure what I will focus on – yes, I leave it late every year (it’s becoming a tradition, I think) no matter how long in advanced I’ve been preparing for it. Never mind.
At the beginning of October, I had thought to allow myself to start a New Writing Project, even though I have so many unfinished WIPs awaiting my attention. Sigh. Yet, I have been making very good progress with one of my Wattpad novels, Oath Broken (very brief summary: the story of Oathbreaker told from Celyn’s perspective, which starts four months prior to the events of Eleri’s tale. You can find the first 17 chapters that I’ve uploaded so far, and the original story, amongst other works, by checking out my Wattpad profile here.)
So, now I’m wondering if I might be better to just carry on with this. But…Not sure. I’ve already drafted all the November chapter uploads for Wattpad and today I started on December’s so I could, in theory, set it aside without affecting my upload schedule…hmm…tough decision… I have a feeling I won’t have made up my mind until Friday morning…
If anyone wants to add me as a writing buddy over on the NaNo site, my profile name is… Sammi Cox. Original, I know. 😉 You can never have too many writing buddies…well, that’s what I think. Which is funny, because all mine seem to have been deleted when NaNoWriMo changed over to their new website this year. Again, sigh. So, if I was buddies with you before, please add me as a buddy or send me your profile name (in a comment or email, etc) so I can add you again. On the upside, I really do like the look of the new site.
The Winter Ghost Beta Reading
At the end of August I put out a call for beta readers for my fantasy novella, The Winter Ghost. The feedback I’ve had so far has been better than I could ever have hoped for, and I’m so grateful to those who have offered their time and effort to help me out. When someone tells you not only that they enjoyed your story but want to read more – or hope for spin-offs with their favourite characters – well…it’s just the best feeling in the world!
I have sent out a few emails that haven’t got a response, so if you volunteered back in August but didn’t hear from me, I think something got lost out there in the interweb somewhere. If you would still like to beta read The Winter Ghost, please let me know…
My plan (imagine me laughing maniacally as I typed that) is to dedicate December to the editing of the manuscript. This means there is still plenty of time for more beta readers to have a read of The Winter Ghost. If you think this is something that you would be interested in, here’s the link to my original post, The Winter Ghost – Beta Readers Wanted, where you will find all the information you might (I hope!) need, including what The Winter Ghost is about, what I am asking of you as a beta reader, and how to get in touch if you think this is something you would like to do. As I mention in this post, I don’t expect you to do this for nothing – I’m offering to beta read in return for anyone beta reading for me.
Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? What are you working on this November? I would love to hear your plans…
Thanks for reading!
Good for you!
I have started and never finished a grand total of four times.
I am 18+K words in and feel I need a kick in the butt to get my stories of my late husband down before they get totally forgotten.
If you want, we can add each other (we were on camp Nano, so why not?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Go for it, Dale. As I remember, that’s how we first encountered each other.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is true! Part of Camp Nano, we were.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Joy had to drag me in, kicking and screaming, I didn’t want to do it. But I’m glad that I did 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
She did, did she? That is so funny
LikeLiked by 2 people
We Brits haven’t the same summer camp culture. Reversed chappies, we are. And I didn’t need the focus and the discipline. And I so strongly objected to being called a Plot Bunny. That’s so cutsie, it just isn’t me. But it was worth it, cos through it I met you and Sammi and Gabbi
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wasn’t into the name of Plot Bunny either, but, like you said, it got me to meet you and Sammi and I already knew Gabi from FF…
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s good that we’ve hit it off beyond NaNo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Could not agree more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why not, indeed? 🙂 Let me know your profile name and I’ll add you, or if it’s easier, you can find me under “Sammi Cox” 🙂 I’ll cheer you on and give you a friendly nudge 🙂
Although I’ve done it seven times, unfortunately, I’ve not finished it seven times. One year, I hit 48K and just ran out of steam; I had no more words in me but I hadn’t updated my word count since the second week so the recorded total was much lower . And another year, I was so lost in the writing that again I forgot to update my word count…sigh…
LikeLike
I’m terribly hard to find… Dalerog 😉
No matter what went on in the past. We shall nudge and encourage each other!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s it! Now I remember! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plot Bunny Pals…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! Just so we’re clear – I remember we’re plot bunny pals, I just couldn’t remember your NaNo profile name. Lol 😀
LikeLike
Tee hee! It’s how I came to your blog in the first place!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just wishing you a productive NaNoWriMo. Good luck with all your projects.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, D! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I am hoping to do NaNo, but given my schedule, I have no idea how far I will get. Best of luck to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best of luck to you too! And thank you for adding me as a buddy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The eighth year, wow. Go, Sammi, go!
And thanks for the link for Oathbroken. I did visit the other day, put myself down as a follower, couldn’t find the story you’d started this time last year, couldn’t remember which one you said was your current wip, and left without reading. Now, whenever I get the free time I can visit at a clink of the screen.
And as ever I wish you well with it all.
AND, if anyone is wobbling, undecided on whether to beta-read *The Winter Ghost*, let me tell you, it’s good and worth the read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your support and kind words, Crispina. I always appreciate them. You’re a star! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea, you can see me glowing in the dark. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful post, Sammi–I admire everyone who does NaNoWriMo…you’ve almost got me thinking I could try it 🙂 I wish you all the BEST!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Avia! I’m sure you could try it – even if you only reach a fraction of the 50,000 words, if you have fun writing them, that’s all that matters! 🙂
LikeLike
Sammi, thanks for your response–I’m still on the fence about it, as blogging takes up a lot of time and energy for me in my senior years 🙂 But I’ll keep your words in mind for a few hours more, and maybe I’ll jump on board. Blessings to you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with NaNo, and with figuring out what to write for it, and with doing your revisions for Winter Ghost! What a full plate you have, but what a delicious meal, too (to extend the analogy). I wish I could volunteer to help with the beta read, but I am too swamped right now to even keep up on my own writing. I’ll be traveling much of the next few weeks, so I won’t be able to post or comment much. Have fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Joy! I love the analogy.
I remember you saying that you’ve a lot on. If you’ve no time for your own writing, no-one can expect you to volunteer to help with theirs!
Enjoy your travelling! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am enjoying World Fantasy Con as we speak. Very cool conference so far. Okay, enough checking email, back into the whirlwind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck for NaNo! I’m hoping that I can get it done this year! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you good luck, too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, I’m just now realizing that it’s not going to happen, haha
LikeLike
I sent you a buddy request for NANOWRIMO. I write for your Saturday prompt as Tessa at TessaCanDoIt.com. I missed the last couple of weeks due to physical reasons but was writing a weekly serial using your prompts. My user name is whynot1956. I am writing a romance, mystery type of book and wrote 30,000 words, my goal for summer camp on another project. This is a new one although the middle is being used as a serial for Sue Vincent’s #write photo prompt on Thursdays. Eventually, I hope to put them together. I am not ready for a beta reader or exactly whether I am suited to being one either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for adding me as buddy. You’re writing project sounds really interesting – I love how you’re using different writing prompts to write it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sammi. Thanks for accepting my buddy request. Talk about exercise skill, writing a series using weekly prompts can be very difficult. I have several running, plus 2 books I am working on including the NANO one.
LikeLike
Hi Sammi, Crispina advised I get in touch when I told her I was doing NaNo this year (my first time). I’ve sent you a friend request on there (doing everything backwards). Best of luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lauren, thanks for adding me as a buddy. Appreciated. And thanks to Crispina too for the introduction. Best of luck with NaNo – I hope it’s going well so far 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It took a little while to get going for me, while I was finding my feet and getting through bits of the story I’d been stuck with previously. But now words seem to foe easily. Lots of edits will no doubt be needed, but I’ve got the halfway mark! Hope yours is going well?
LikeLike
Good luck on NaNo! Looking forward to reading about your experience with it! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike