NaNo Challenge Check in #4 + Winners

HUGE kudos to everyone who checked in. You all are *amazing* (especially miss I-hit-my-goal-of-100k, yes, you know who you are. Cupcake happy dances just for you).

Due to the Holiday and last week's tardiness, the winner's for last week are announced now:

Prize #1 -- an e-book of THE BOYFRIEND BYLAWS by Susan Hatler

Raydeen

Prize #2 -- writer's motivation kit

Stephanie Kuehnert

Please email me suzannelazear@yahoo to claim your prize.

This week's winners will be listed on Friday, as usual.

However, our last check in will be on December 1st (Thursday) and more winners, including the grand prizes will be announced next Monday.

For those of you needing to finish your novel, edit it, etc, I will be doing a scaled down version of this in Dec, I call "Novel Finishing Month." I'll announce those deets on Thursday with the last check in.

My progress...well...

Day 21 997
Day 22 1981 -- hit 50k
Day 23 1000

and then I hit a stall. Yep, I have not written a word on my sequel since the 23rd.

Bad writer.  No cupcake.

However, I am not one to be idle, even with holiday madness. So, while working out that snag in my head...

Day 24-27 22,306 on a brand spanking new project I'm not telling you about.

But I will return to the sequel soon (or I'll have an unhappy editor).

So, who hit 50k over the weekend? (or before) Tell us in the comment box so we can happy dance with you!

Here's Check in #4

Happy Thanksgiving

To all those who celebrate it, may you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

NaNo Challenge Check in #3

First off, I apologize for my lateness, I've been under the weather, plus dealing with all the usual holiday madness. (Note to self: going to Trader Joe's before breakfast = bad)

Were you one of Friday's Winners?

Due to the holiday, I'll announce this week's winners next Monday with the new check-in next Monday.

Also, who's up for a NaNoFinMo challenge in December -- as in let's finish our novels before Christmas, and possibly a NoNoEdMo in Jan to get them all shiny??

My week was....well, it was okay. I had hoped to reach 50k by the 20th and didn't. I'm just not getting the time and the words just aren't coming as quick as I've reached the point where I no longer know exactly what's going to happen next.

Here's my wordcount:

Day 14 762
Day 15 1774
Day 16 2419
Day 17 2577
Day 18 705
Day 19 1167
Day 20 1417

Week total: 47192


Without further ado, here's your check in form. Remember, checking in = chance to win prizes. (Regardless of how you did this week).

Friday Fun -- Covers, Contests, and Winners

It's Friday!


It's been a busy week for the 2012 debut kidlit authors in the Apocalypsies and the Class of 2k12. 

Here's this week's new covers...

and...




Also, the book trailer of CATCHING JORDAN



K.M. Walton is having a contest to make her booktrailer for CRACKED

Now, time for the prizes. If you haven't checked in for week 2 yet, you should, since it increases your chances of winning the grand prize. Also, it's not to late if you want to join in the fun.

Oh, everyone participating qualifies for free shipping from ViS Emporium. Code: InnocentNaNo



Also, I could still use some books and prizes if anyone wishes to donate...

Prize #1 -- E-book of Set Up for Love by Susan Hatler

Anne Francis

Prize #2 -- A book from my Stash-of-Awesome

Kathryn Sheridan Kupanoff

Please contact me to claim your prize.

To everyone else, have a happy, productive weekend.  Next Check-In is on Monday. 

Challenge Check in #2

It's Monday and time to check in on your week's progress. Checking in makes you eligible for prizes. Did you check to see if you were one of Friday's winners?

It's also not too late to join in the fun. Sign up here.

Also, *amazing* news on the book front.  Innocent Darkness popped up for pre-order on Amazon. If you have a moment, could you please go tag it with "steampunk"? Also, if you want to read it on Kindle, make your you press the little button to tell my publisher that there's interest.

So how is everyone doing on their goals? Here's my wordcount so far as I chip away at book #2 in my Aether Chronicles series (sequel to Innocent Darkness).

Day 7     2467      
Day 8     1662      

Day 9     1195      

Day 10   2200      

Day 11   4750      

Day 12   1324      

Day 13   5152      

Grand Total so Far: 36305

Some days are good, some days aren't. I'm finding the sheer amount of research/world building I'm having to do is slowing me way down on those sections. I've written myself a character who would actually know and care how an airship works. Right now, she's on an airship, which means *I* need to know how my airship works right now to the repairs she's making on the engine. This has been quite the challenge for me (and I've spent a lot of time complaining about it on Twitter.)

Here's this week's check in form.



So, I've shared what my biggest challenge has been this past week -- what has yours been?

Winners, covers, and the Friday Dance

It's Friday! Everyone do the cupcake happy dance!

If you haven't checked in for week #1 yet -- go ahead and do it now, since it earns you an entry in our grand prize drawing. You can still sign up to join in our challenge fun -- if you're doing NaNoWriMo "properly" you're still eligible. We welcome everyone with a goal.

I *love* reading everyone's progress. You all are awesome.  I wish I had a prize for everyone who took the time to check in.  It doesn't matter if you wrote 10k or 100 words, if you edited 10 chapters or 10 pages. The point is, you accomplished *something*, you're working your way towards your goal and I'm proud of each and every one of you.

In case you need some inspiration, the Happily Ever After blog over at USA Today is continuing its weekly check-in with romance authors participating in NaNoWriMo. 

Here's this week's pretty 2012 debut cover.

On to the winners. So, these two people were randomly chosen from those who checked in this week. We'll do weekly drawing every Friday, check-ins go up on Monday. Then, we'll do the big drawing at the end. We keep adding prizes, too! (If you have something to donate, it's not too late, we have almost 50 participants!)

Winner #1 -- Books 1 & 2 of the Seraphym Wars Series (e-books) by Rebecca Ryals Russell



leeanna

Winner #2 -- Book from "the stash of awesome"

Casey Cassidy

Congrats. Contact me to claim your prize.

I hit 25k last night, and am hoping to log more words over the weekend, which is when I have the most time to write.

So, write on everyone. Keep on working on those goals. Remember, every word is a word you didn't have before.

See you on Monday for check-in. :)

Making NaNo Work For You Challenge Check in #1

Today is check in #1 for our Making NaNo Work For You Challenge.

First off, check and see if you were one of our Friday winners.

Also, everyone participating qualifies for free shipping from ViS Emporium. Code: InnocentNaNo Look at their cute stuff! Wasn't that nice of them?

Haven't signed up yet? Sign up here.

We've got some prize updates...and the prize packages will continue to change. We're still accepting prize donations.

Grand Prize
20 page critique from me (or an extra book from my stash of awesome)
Ring from ViS Emporium
Book from my stash of awesome
Innocent Darkness Swag
$5 Starbucks card
Special mystery prize

1st Prize
Necklace from ViS Emporium
Book from my stash of awesome
Innocent Darkness Swag
Special mystery prize

Bonus Prize #1
Steampunk pin/pendant from Steampunk Sweethearts

Bonus Prize #2
Your very own stone pet.

Book prizes have been donated by
Susan Hatler
Rebecca Ryals Russell
Veronica Blade

So, how's everyone doing?

Here's my personal NaNo progress -- my goal: Write the sequel to Innocent Darkness

Things started off slow, but I've been trying to pack in the words when I can, since sometimes writing is hard with the job/fam. This way I have a hedge against lean writing days.

Day Count
Day 1 925
Day 2 1504
Day 3 3430
Day 4 3438
Day 5 3894
Day 6 3654

Total words so far: 17555

How are you all doing? I am proud of each and every one of you for making a goal and working towards it. Keep it up. Even if last week didn't work out how you wanted, keep going. If last week was great, try to match or beat it.

If you need some inspiration, the Happily Ever After Blog checked in with some romance writers participating in NaNo.

Here's the check in form. This will all be between you and me. However, feel free to share your trails and tribulations with us in the comment box.



Have a great week and write on!

Friday Fun -- Covers & Our First Winner!

It's Friday, it's Friday!

So, have you joined our NaNo Cheaters club? (If you're doing NaNoWriMo "properly" you can still join in.) I'm running a month long program/contest mostly aimed at those who can't play my the NaNo rules but want to harness all that good energy. It's not to late to sign up!

I know we haven't even had our first check in, but I wanted to give out some random prizes to people who simply stepped up and set a goal.

People were picked randomly from the sign-up list (those of you who signed up via the comment box b/c you don't have a url were included too.)

Prize #1 -- donated by Susan Hatler An e-copy of THE BOYFRIEND BY-LAWS

AMY KENNEDY!!!

Prize #2 -- a copy of THE LATTE REBELLION from my stash of awesome.

TINA CHRISTOPHER!!!

Winners, contact me to claim your prize. suzannelazear (@) yahoo

If you want to donate something to give away, we're still accepting prize donations.

So, on to the pretty, pretty 2012 debut covers that came out this week!!!

Everyone, have a great weekend and keep working on those goals.  1st check in is Monday!

Making NaNoWriMo Work for You!

NaNoWriMo starts today. Here's the story about how I sold my 2009 NaNo book.

The pressure of trying to write 50k in a month isn't for everyone. A lot of people chip away at a book, like I did when I accidentally wrote a novel. And That's okay. Everyone has a different process. As writers we need to figure out what works for us as individuals.

The energy during NaNo is inspiring. Why not make it work for you -- weather you're going to start a new project, finish one you have, chip away on your WIP. Or even get those edits done.

Yes. I've just encouraged you all to be big fat NaNo cheaters.

I "cheated" with INNOCENT DARKNESS. I had 30k, but I wrote 66k in 3 weeks because of all that NaNo energy. The fact that I had words already doesn't negate the hard work I did, the hours I spent slogging away and doing sprints.

Not everyone is in a place to start a fresh new manuscript for NaNo, and for some, maybe your goal isn't 50k, but to edit, or to write 20k or 100 pages.

That doesn't make your goal less worthy, it makes me want to give you props for figuring out what works for you and going for it.

So...here's the deal. I challenge you to make NaNo work for you.

Add your name to the linky below if you commit to make NaNo work for you. You don't need a blog or website to participate, you can link it to your twitter or FB, or even just leave a comment below saying your registering this way. I just want to know you're real. :) I'm not asking you to tell me your goal, that's yours. However, feel free to share it in the comment section below if you'd like. Sign-ups will be ongoing through November--though the sooner you sign up, the more you can win.

Each Monday, I'll have a check in. You simply tell me how you're doing (it'll be between you and me, though you're free to comment publicly). On Fridays I'll give away random prizes to those who check in. The prizes with be a surprise and the number will depend on what I'm giving away.

At the end of NaNo we'll do a final check in. I'll do a random grand prize drawing. You get one entry for every week you check in. You get an extra entry for if you meet your personal goal for the month (we're doing the honor system here). You must be registered to win.

Grand Prize
20 page critique from me (or an extra book from my stash of awesome)
Ring from ViS Emporium  
Book from my stash of awesome
Innocent Darkness Swag
$5 Starbucks card
Special mystery prize

1st Prize
Necklace from ViS Emporium
Book from my stash of awesome
Innocent Darkness Swag
Special mystery prize

Bonus Prize #1

Steampunk pin/pendant from Steampunk Sweethearts

Bonus Prize #2
Your very own stone pet.

I will add prizes depending on the number of entries. Do you have a book to donate to the stash of awesome or swag you want me to give away? Contact me.

Book prizes have been donated by
Susan Hatler
Rebecca Ryals Russell
Veronica Blade


Oh, everyone participating qualifies for free shipping from ViS Emporium. Code: InnocentNaNo Look at their cute stuff!

So, who's game?

****ADDED--->>You don't need a blog or website to participate, you can link the linky to your twitter or FB, or even just leave a comment below saying your registering this way. I just want to know you're real. :)****