The Writing CHALLENGE!

   So this is happening.
   Are you familiar with NaNoWriMo? If not click here, then continue with this post. Well, this is sort of like that, only you have multiple months. I am being tasked with writing 30, 000 to 50, 000 words between mid-February and late-June. It can be either a short story collection or a full length novel.
   I chose the route of a short story collection, with the first longer short story originally going to be a novel but proving to be a difficult little bastard. The plan is to tie them all in with a final story called 'Improving.' I won't tell you too much (spoilers!) but I can let you know that I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the opener called 'Howler Shack.'
   During the writing of this book I had a conference at which my English teacher said to me, "Your writing reminds me of Ernest Hemingway." A huge compliment. Upon reading Hemingway (and gaining his last name as a nickname) you could almost swear that I wrote it, and I take that with great (hmm... proudness? no...) fondness.
   My current word count is (drum-roll): 8702. The goal for the end of next week is 10, 000 plus, making me 1/3 of the way there. Less stressful than NaNoWriMo, huh?

click read more for some info on writing that I have learned

Ahem... ladies and gentlemen. People of the world (oh, brother!). Here are some things to help you WRITE!

1. Do you suffer from Don't-Know-What-Word-To-Use Syndrome?
   Me too! You are not alone. I find myself always stopping mid-sentence while writing and think... what word goes best here. It's not only writing, is everyday speech too.
   HERE'S THE CURE: Treat your DKWWTU Syndrome with people. Yes, people. Go find a human and ask what they think fits best. Or, search thesauruses or dictionaries or word websites. I all fails, put any word there and circle it, and then come back to it later.
2. Do you have writer's block?
   Well, leave it. Come back later. Start another story. Keep those creative juices flowing and start another tale, and when you finally get going again, get back to writing on the story you got stuck on. I have left stories for months at a time, then come back to write them. If you just can't do it, try just taking a breather, or do some writing exercises. Write anything. Hell, keep a journal of the food you eat.
3. Just not feeling it?
   Read! I find the greatest inspiration comes from reading other people's novels and short stories. That basically how I write.
4. Have a great idea, but you can't write it yet?
   Keep notes and plan sheets. Write an overview of plans in point form for stories and novels and scenes, etc. That way you don't lose them to your mind's unopenable file cabinet of doom.

If more questions persist, ask me or search for them on that fancy Google machine all the kids are using nowadays. Or check out my upcoming journal entry: My Rules for Writing!

CHEERS!
​Tanner F. Riche