This year I am writing short stories for National Novel Writing Month. Short stories, not a novel. I wanted to sate the thirsty rebel dwelling under my skin. And not just some half-arsed stories, but four stories that are written, edited, and submitted. I’m on schedule with two stories down and two to go. What … Continue reading 2020 NaNoWriMo Update
In the spring of 1989, a disgraced entomologist accepts a research position in China. Under the scrutiny of his new comrades, he battles a dangerous local wasp, but in the process, he engineers an even deadlier species that gains sentience and bonds with his disabled son. Good luck to everyone who's doing Nano! The wasp … Continue reading My 2019 NaNoWriMo Project
These are the books I am reading in preparation for my National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) project in November. There are three nonfiction books to expand my knowledge base. (“Write what you know.”) And there are three critter-horror novels to help me get a grip on: What techniques do and do not work well when … Continue reading Research for Nanowrimo 2019
These were my beginning steps, the ones I listed in my post "The Start" on September 16, 2018: 1. Set up a writing blog. 2. Figure out a working title for my upcoming Nanowrimo book. 3. Read three books for research to learn about wilderness survival, animals in the wild, and 19th Century witches. 4. … Continue reading The Rewrite
I set myself up with nine strategies to get me to the end of November with a NaNoWriMo win. (A “win” is writing a 50,000 word novel in a month.) These strategies are working so well I’m going to use as many as I can on my next writing project. I wrote down and broadcast … Continue reading How I Know I’m Gonna Win NaNoWriMo!
Jess Walter wrote and rewrote the first sentence of Beautiful Ruins “at least 500 times.”(1) It took Lance Marcum twelve hours to write the first sentence of The Cottonmouth Club.(2) First sentences are that important. In order to study what makes a good opening, I dug up some popular horror novels, some I haven't read … Continue reading First Sentences
Priscilla Bettis 