Day 27 - 4 days until the start of NNWM




Like your premise, your back cover copy should focus on what your story is really about but…

You didn’t think that you got all those extra words without a catch right? This is your chance to really sell your story to your potential readers. That’s right. Almost all shoppers, after picking up a book (that’s the book cover’s job) will flip it over and read the back copy and sometimes that’s all that stands between the reader putting it back on the shelf (or virtual shelf) or actually taking the time to open the book and read a bit of the first chapter.

And yes, the back cover copy is usually written after the novel has been through many drafts and often by professional editorial staff but…

Why not take a few minutes to expand on your premise and add in your “hook” - the thing that makes your story different - at least what makes it interesting and dare I say fun? for you.

Questions? Comments? Copy to share? It’s all good! So keep writing!

Day 25 - 6 days until the start of NNWM




I also like to make up lists of character names appropriate for the setting of my story. Sure tags like “Bad Guy 2” work in a pinch but it can be fun picking out a name from my Go-To list, imagining the character behind a name like Peter Gunner and James Whitelock (culled from an actual list of constables recruited for London’s first Metropolitan Police Force).

And if you haven’t already: make a Cast of Characters list for your story and a list of your Settings. At some point during the writing process, you’ll be very happy you have them. Trust me on this.

Questions? Comments? Recommendations for favorite Baby Names web site? Keep writing, Nano Writer!

Day 21 - 10 days until the start of NNWM




Today we embrace left-brain thinking and spend a little time looking at numbers as we assemble the skeletal pieces of our story based on our FSN lists for the opening, the catalyst (First Plot Point or inciting event), the midpoint, the events after the “all is lost moment” (Second Plot Point) and the ending.

Of course, the assembly of these key events for your story should be one of your own choosing but for simplicity and example, I have selected a popular outline/plotting method called the Save the Cat “beat sheet” by Blake Synder which itself is based upon the classic three-act structure for narrative fiction: set-up, conflict and resolution.

Yep, that’s right, Nano Writer, when it comes down to it, all you need to tell your story is a set-up, description of the inevitable conflict that comes out of your set-up, and how it all comes out in the end.

So, you ask, if that’s all you need, what’s with all the numbers? Wasn’t Friday suppose to fun? Well, for me numbers are fun… let me show you ( how… )

So do all stories follow this scheme? No, of course not. But many do.

And I imagine now what some of you are asking: what of creativity and spontaneity? Doesn’t following this plan lead to the worse kind of formulaic pulp fiction?

Why should it? It’s your story, your hero, your protagonist’s desires and abilities and character faults. Your antagonist too. And when the bad guys close in - it is your particular battles that will be fought and won or lost.

Still not convinced? Tell me then, gentle Nano Writer, what the movies Inception and The King’s Speech have in common besides nominations for Best Motion Picture? You guessed it if you said that the beats for both stories fit the “Save the Cat” Beat Sheet.

So get with the beat and try the “Save the Cat” Beat Sheet on for size. Questions? Comments? Favorite movie? It’s all good - so keep writing!

Day 19 - 12 days until the start of NNWM




Yesterday we made a list of possible situations or causes that would entice our hero from the comforts and safety of home and to begin his or her quest. Today, we’re going to make a new list of events that will completely change the game for both our characters and our readers, sometime by the middle of the story, by filling in the blanks for this sentence:

My hero thought that s/he wanted ( reason for leaving “home” ) but what s/he discovers by the middle of the story is that s/he needs to ( new goal or action ) because ( new, surprising information that changes/challenges everything ).

Remember, this is just a list of possible plot twists, Nano Writers - you may not hit on just the right one until you’re ready to write the actual scene next month. So be creative! Have fun! And keep writing!

A side note: unfortunately I am, as they say, a little under the weather - sporting a flashy fever of 102 F. and trying my best to cough up a lung so responses may be a little slow in coming but they will! So keep writing!

Day 17 - 14 days until the start of NNWM




An easy beginning for the week Nano Writers: give some thought as to how your story ends. This isn’t a trick question. It’s just a thought exercise about how you might like to see the end of your story go down and to shake up any preconceptions you might unconsciously harbor about story endings: the hero doesn’t always ( have_to_win… )

Questions? Thoughts? “Closing” arguments to share? It’s all good! Tomorrow we’ll look at another pivotal moment for our character, perhaps the most important as without it, there would be no story. Until then, keep writing!

Day 13 - 18 days until the start of NNWM




This week we’ve been taking a closer look at our story’s main characters: their back story, their mannerisms and disposition, and desires. We’ve also talked about how it is the protagonist’s great need for something or someone and the antagonist’s desire to prevent the protagonist’s from winning the prize that drives the story from start to finish.

Today, Nano Writer, we’re going to give our hero a little help and because we can (we’re The Writer, right?) we’re going to give our hero ( three_wishes… )

Tomorrow is right-brain Friday and we’re going to put our lists aside and do something crafty. Until then, keep writing Nano Writer!

Day 11 - 20 days until the start of NNWM




Today Nano Writer, we’re going to do something a little different: we’re going to write a tiny biography based on mannerisms and disposition before trying our hand at crafting a tagline for our main characters. A tagline, according to Wikipedia is…

…a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product (like a film), or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product.

So let’s put on our Ad Man suit and tie, pour ourselves a martini (mock or otherwise, your choice ;-) and create taglines for our protagonist and antagonist that will make our characters ( memorable… )

Think outside the box, Nano Writer and never let ‘em see you sweat. Tomorrow, we’ll dig a little deeper… Until then, keep writing!

Day 7 - 24 days until the start of NNWM





So you’ve read through all the week’s post (you have haven’t you?) and tried all the exercises and you still haven’t come up with a promising premise that makes your girlfriend/boyfriend/mother/significant other sit up and say - without prompting - “I’d buy that book” then today’s exercise is for you!

Try an online Logline Generator! There are many but my favorite can be found on Brian Stokes’s Life Formz website:

Random Logline Generator!

Today’s index card shows one of the many humorous, thought-provoking and sometimes strange (which can be a very good thing) loglines/premises randomly generated during a recent visit. Give it a try! The suggestions might take you to fascinating places!

What logline did your spin of the wheel turn up?

On Monday, we’ll continue to develop our stories by taking a closer look at our characters to see what they have to say about it all. So until then Nano Writer, keep writing!

Day 5 - 26 days until the start of NNWM





Easy one today, Nano Writer! What’s your favorite genre? Or walk on the wild side and mix it up by picking one from column A and one from column B! How about a sci-fi mystery? Or a horror adventure?

One thing to keep in mind here however is that each genre comes with its own particular set of reader expectations. A mystery demands a crime and a detective. A fantasy usually involves a system of magic and magical creatures.

And while there’s no rule that says that you must write your story using all the expected genre conventions, be prepared to explain why (within the context of your story) to avoid confusing or alienating your readers.

Me, I love mysteries and fantasies… What genre is your favorite?

Tomorrow, we’ll try to assemble all of our efforts together into a sentence or two and write our story premise! Questions? Comments? Keep writing!