My Favorite Writing Pep-Talks

 

Greetings! 

With NaNoWriMo in full swing, I don't have a full amount of time to write to you of anything incredibly creative or unique. 
So instead, I've gathered some of my favorite pep-talks that help keep me going with writing when I really don't want to, in no particular order.

Read on! 

1. Lemony Snicket's 2010 Pep-Talk

I cannot describe how thoroughly I love this pep-talk. It is honestly the most encouraging one I've read, and is the only one I need to get myself back into fighting the fight of writing.

2. Tamora Pierce's 2014 Pep-Talk

Tamora Pierce's pep-talk is great for helping you get un-stuck.

3. Neil Gaiman's 2007 Pep-Talk

Gaiman's pep-talk is great for when you're on the verge of giving up. 

4. Gail Carson Levine's 2009 Pep-Talk

Gail Carson Levine's pep-talk is a great one for some humor and starting November off on the right foot. 

5. Brandon Sanderson's 2011 Pep-Talk

This pep-talk is great for reminding you to use NaNoWriMo, and any writing tool, in the way that best suits you, as well as going over some pretty common writing issues, including writer's block.

I know that most of these would be best for later on in the month, but I figured you can always bookmark this page or the links if you need some encouragement later on.

That aside, that's all for now.

Stay determined, friend. 

    - Edna Pellen

Three Key Things for You To Keep In Mind During NaNoWriMo

 

Dear writer,

It is now less than twenty-four hours until NaNoWriMo begins. So out of the goodness of my heart for my writer kin, I have written this post of advice for you, based off my nigh five years of experience in the field, before you're dropped into the arena that is November.

1. Stay hydrated, but don't

The more you drink, the more you're going to need more bathroom breaks, the less time spend writing. It also breaks the flow you have when you finalllyy fall into the groove of writing.
The less you drink, the more likely you are to become dehydrated and get nasty headaches, emotional instability, weariness, and confusion (basically, if you don't drink anything you're going to get the natural affects of NaNo much sooner). 

So yeah. Drink, but don't. 

2. Eat, but don't

If you eat, you're taking time away from writing. That's a no-no thing. You must spend every second writing. 
But eating is important. You won't have any energy without it. Also, you know, your stomach will start digesting itself after so long. Soo. 

3. Sleep, but (you guessed it) don't. 

Sleep is probably the biggest issue of all. You can rush to the bathroom and back pretty fast, and you can scarf food fast while doing a quick word count check, though both are a waste of time.
But sleep? You can't write in your sleep. You can't rush sleep, either. 
But without it, you're not going to be able to stay awake or focus. 

Caffeine is a good way around this. I recommend making a pot of coffee using Red Bull, Monster, and some all-natural (because we're very health conscious here) energy drinks instead of water, then plopping a full box of  Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast, and black Chi tea to steep in the coffee as it's brewed. If you're really running dry, try crushing a caffeine pill and mixing them in your cup. 

Sadly, you can only have so much caffeine before it gives you a heart attack, which will slow your writing process down.
To avoid that, I recommend selecting one day of the week to get four to eight hours of sleep in. And then, when you wake, write as fast as possible to make up for those four to eight hours of wasted writing time and down another pot of the frankiencoffee.

Now that I have graced you with my abundant wisdom, I shall bid you adieu. Best of luck with your soon to be near death experience. 

                -Edna Pellen

P.S. If you weren't already able to tell, this is satire. I will not be held responsible for any poor living habits you adopt during the month of November, or any other month for that matter, and the agonizing death that they may or may not bring.

Preptober Week 3: #6

 

If I had been a good girl and plotted my story to the point of knowing the end, this would be much easier. Hmm. 

Okay, I'm going to say a random line, and it'll be a NaNo challenge of mine to make it work with this prompt:

"You never know what to expect with spring."

(I kid you not this took me all day to come up with. I thoroughly regret making this prompt, or at least regret switching projects, as Roslyn would've probably been easier XD)

Alright everyone, that's the last prompt of the season. Many thanks to R.M. Archer for asking me to participate in this!  

Make sure you check out the other weeks on Scribes & Archers, The Rain-Drenched Writer, and Maple Quill Penning Magic.

Normally I don't ask for people to share things unless it's promoting an indie book or something of the sort, but please share and spread all of the prompts from this month, from the above blogs especially, if you've got a moment.

Are you using this prompt? Are you ready for NaNo? Are you as clueless about what you're doing with your story as I am with mine? I'd love to talk about it below.

- Edna Pellen

(P.S. Apologies for late replies to comments; my current device doesn't allow me to reply so I have to do it on another one, but I will reply!)

Preptober Week 3: #4 & #5

Hello!

 I apparently forgot to post yesterday (which is strange because I have a distinct memory of doing it), so we're doing yesterday and today's prompts together.

#4: 

This is another spoiler. Lots of spoilers concerning this story. But let's just say something goes wrong with a murder.

#5: 

                        

At last, one that isn't a spoiler! 

Ryan and Caroline find out their of the same religion. This brings him to trust her more, and her to trust him less because she finds it suspicious, like something a murderer who wants to gain trust would say.

Make sure you check out the other weeks on Scribes & Archers, The Rain-Drenched Writer, and Maple Quill Penning Magic.

Are you using this prompt? I'd love to hear how you plan on it below. 

- Edna Pellen

(P.S. Apologies for late replies to comments; my current device doesn't allow me to reply so I have to do it on another one, but I will reply!)

Preptober Week 3: #3

 

Ah, that my friends is a spoiler. 

I am plotting it though. It's a thing. That happens. When another thing happens. And that's all I can say on that (public updates on mysteries aren't very fun, are they?). 

Make sure you check out the other weeks on Scribes & Archers, The Rain-Drenched Writer, and Maple Quill Penning Magic.

Are you using this prompt? I'd love to hear how you plan on it below. 

- Edna Pellen

(P.S. Apologies for late replies to comments; my current device doesn't allow me to reply so I have to do it on another one, but I will reply!)