Many are knee-deep in NaNoWriMo this month. Every year, I’ve thought about participating, and every year, I am way too busy in October to prepare. Even with my current writing project, I have not outlined the final story in enough depth to write it. It’s not like I couldn’t write 50,000 words in one month. I wrote 205,000 in less than 6 months once, so 50,000 in one month is something I could accomplish.
To encourage those of you who have taken the plunge, or maybe you’re just writing on your own, here are some writing quotes:
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
Mark Twain
The road to hell is paved with adverbs.
Stephen King
If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I would not brood, I would type a little faster.
Isaac Asimov
Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
Anton Chekhov
Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
Louis L’Amour
You can make anything by writing.
C. S. Lewis
And one more Things That Scare Fat Gary photo...
The Loch Ness Monster!
I'm with you - no NaNo this year. I've only participated once. With the kids' having so many school days off because of holidays and such, November is a tough month. But all the best to those participating! Great quotes.
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes! I'm taking part this year, but I've never "won" before. I think the important thing is getting the words down, even if you don't make the goal!
ReplyDeleteLove the Isaac Asmimov quote in particular.
ReplyDeleteI thought Fat Gary went the way of all flesh? Very scary monster.
I did NaNo once, and hardly saw my family all month! I'm editing and revising at the moment, so it's not a good time for me this year. Maybe one day though...
ReplyDeleteI've only done NaNo once. Was hoping to do it again this year. But my computer had been back and forth to the Skinny-computer-guy.
ReplyDeleteI love those quotes, especially the Stephen King one. I'm not a NaNo person either. A huge volume of typed words in a short time doesn't fit my writing style. I have to let things simmer, and would hate to rush something and end up with 50 K of garbage.
ReplyDeleteYou are a fast writer. And Nessie is too cute to be scary. I love Twain quotes.
ReplyDeleteI love quotes. I'm definitely stealing some of them. I could never join NaNo, I don't write fast enough.
ReplyDeleteShow me the glint of light - I love that because it's so true and something I need to work on in my book. Show, Elsie, show!!
ReplyDeleteElsie
Some good inspiration stuff in there. I LOVE NaNo, but then I've made it part of my cycle. I like it as a deadline (for having something else out of the way) and I think my books are better when I make myself wait to start.
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes!
ReplyDeleteI'm not participating in NaNo this year, and I must admit I miss it. It's a great way to get words down.
Be afraid, Fat Gary, be very afraid.
ReplyDeleteI like Twain's quote!
I do my own personal NaNo, using November to get focused and make progress on whatever I'm working on, which right now is my next novel in my Diamond series. BTW, Diane, thank you for the review of Afraid of Everything!!!
ReplyDeleteHah the Mark Twain quote. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI am doing NaNo, though it's going a bit slow. I'll definitely be playing catch-up this weekend. Thanks for the quotes of encouragement :)
I'll take Anton Chekhov's words to heart: Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the editing stage of my current WIP (along with NaNo) and am changing scores of such statements to show rather than merely tell.
I often think of Checkhov's quote, though I can never quite remember how it's worded. Thank you for all these great reminders.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the Fat Gary series. Don't quit now. He hasn't been scared into pumpkin pie yet.
Be well, Spunk. Smiles.
I have a separate goal in mind for this NaNo while the writing figures itself out. Seriously, that is a winning pumpkin! :)
ReplyDeleteLove these! I've always liked Chekhov's quote, his and Twain's are true and both good advice :)
ReplyDeleteS.K. Anthony: My Writing Quirks—IWSG (16)
I wish I could write as fast as you can! I was going to do NaNo but decided not to at the last minute. Just too many things working against me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing NaNO, but I still really enjoyed those quotes. :)
ReplyDeleteLove love love that Minion! Makes me smile. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd the Twain quote is great.
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
I still think Fat Gary is hilarious :D.
ReplyDeletelol, I do love those quotes. I won't be able to do NaNo this year either!
ReplyDeleteThat many words in six months? I bow down to the word count master. ;)
ReplyDeleteNessy's looking good. I'm a non-NaNo-er myself. Someday maybe, (yeah, right!)
ReplyDeletehaha, I love those! funny how King has always been so adamant about telling writers not to use adverbs, but he does use them quite a bit himself... though he knows how to use them, so instead of nixing them, I'd say... use them like the King! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the Mark Twain quote and the pumpkin. I've never seriously considered NaNo, because I know I would fail.
ReplyDeleteLove those quotes; and Fat Gary :)
ReplyDeleteI have not participated in NaNo; thought i was going to this month since I'm jobless, but I don't have the initiative to come up with a story concept - or to write on something barely started.
Hey, are you up for a guest post on my blog? I've been thinking about re-submitting an already published story, and also one that was accepted but has not been published and I've had no contact with the publisher in close to a year. I was going to ask your advice, then thought others might be interested in this topic too and so I'm hoping you would be interested in a guest post on this topic.
My email is still donnahole at gmail dot com.
Thanks Dianne. Have a good weekend.
I was never a big fan of his work but I love that Louis L’Amour quote.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try NaNo someday, but why does it have to be November. I'm already knee deep in Christmas preparations by November. (I'm very big on Christmas.)
I like this especially for NaNo:
ReplyDeleteStart writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
Louis L’Amour
Yep, although I think I'll feel better if I insert the odd 'damn' every so often.
I would never have time for NaNo. tis life! but I love the quotes my eager little red head :D
ReplyDeleteHi Diane - great quotes ... and for all those aspiring NaNoers ... they'll achieve. Clever idea about the 'damn' too ... good luck with your own project outside of Nano .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLove that CS Lewis quote~
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these quotes. Inspiring post. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI love those quotes!!! They are some of my favorites. I'm also a fan of the Things That Scare Fat Gary photos - they are hysterical. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm into NaNo this year, and I'm going for double - working on two projects at once, which is scary. I'll see how this time around goes . . .
The pic made me laugh. I say make me interested in the moon first. Because I could care less how it shines off that piece of glass if the story is boring.
ReplyDeleteGood tips. I like the 'damn' one. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry Fat Gary! You will be missed!
Heather
Great inspirational quotes! Love Nessy too.
ReplyDeletei'm working on my own private nano in case i get too busy with my new job that starts monday...
ReplyDeletethanks for the encouraging quotes - twain has a special place in my sarcastic writer's heart!
Wonderful quotes. I'm not doing NaNo, but I'd like to one day.
ReplyDeleteThis is always one of the busiest months for me, so no NaNo. One day I'll participate though.
ReplyDeleteI'm late! My dang internet keeps freezing. Just wanted to add that these are great quotes. And no I'm not doing NaNo. Haven't yet. I'm so undisciplined.
ReplyDeleteTakes me 3 months to draft a novel, so no NaNo for moi.
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes! I had to skip NaNo this year, but I miss it. Poor Gary looks terrified! :)
ReplyDeleteJust roll over 'im, Gare.
ReplyDeleteDamn good quotes (see what I did there? I'm finding Asimov's to be quite true - so many stories to tell only so much time in which to tell them. No time to brood!
Over 200,000 words in six months. Wow!
ReplyDelete