We are almost halfway through the month, and the fight to “win” NaNoWriMo continues!
As a bit of fun/encouragement for today, I thought I’d share my NaNoWriMo pintrest board! Myrrhlynn and I put it together ages ago, but it still has lots of great tips and words of wisdom, so check it out!
And…reluctantly…hesitantly…I’m going to share you guys and excerpt from the first book I ever wrote.
I was in 7th grade–I think I was 11 or 12 at the time–when I wrote my first book. My novel was a 46,000 word, young adult sci fi story that is so horrific, so terrible, I mostly try to forget it exists, except in times like these. Either right around now–or sometime closer to the end of the month–you likely will end up questioning your skills and your ability. You might think you’re wasting your time because you’re a bad writer, or that you could never be a good storyteller.
Ha. Haha. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Ooooooh Champions. Please allow me to give you PROOF that I didn’t start out writing like I do now as I unveil the most hideous skeleton I have: The Awakening Call– Book 1 of the Star Flight Series.
CLICK HERE IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SURVIVE READING IT!
Are you alive? Did you make it? I hope you did, and now you obviously know that I was terrible when I started. And with good reason!
Writing is an art. Most musicians aren’t able to instantly pick up their first instrument and play a concert piece. Similarly, most writers won’t write J. R. R. Tolkien-esque books on their first try. (Ahaha I obviously didn’t!) So if you’re feeling discouraged because you don’t think your book is perfect or that you’re not doing a good job, please allow me to assure you that you 100% are. When it comes to writing, finishing is the real win. (That’s why NaNoWriMo pledges to write 50,000 words in 30 days–not 50,000 perfect words, just words!)
The more you write, the better you get! And as terrible as my first book was, my second book was Princess Ahira. It’s gone through some pretty deep edits, but it’s available to purchase on Amazon. A lot of Champions enjoy Ahira–and it wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t finished *Gag* The Awakening Call, first!
And that’s the end of this embarrassing blog post. Now, Champions, please do me a favor and go read something of mine that will restore me to your good graces–and make you forget all about The Awakening Call. UGH–even that title is just hideous!
Thanks for reading–and I can’t wait for Crown of Shadows to launch!!
Ps: YES, as 7th grader I wrote myself into the story as a 45-year-old. I was weird, okay? (Or maybe I just had visions of greatness, haha)
I don’t think your story was too bad Kitty, especially since mine was much, much worse. I wrote my first book when I was 8, and it was the apple of my eye until common sense caught up. Now I’m 15 (and luckily, a much better writer) and I’ve just reached 38,000 words in the first novel of a series. So to anyone who reads this, be inspired. Perseverance pays off big time. Just imagine how proud you’ll be of yourself if you do finish a book. That’s what keeps me going.
I so, so just want to pick up one (or 5, or 10) of your books, but NaNoWriMo!!! Ahh! I only have to resist the temptation for 17 more days! I do have to say that compared to my first “books,” you are were doing well. I started writing stories to illustrate the pictures in the how to draw books my dad kept getting us. I found one of them a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, I am VERY glad I didn’t bother finishing that one. It was that bad. I started getting better when I downgraded to short stories and figured out that plot is actually more important to storytelling than wandering aimlessly around a made-up world with nothing except descriptions. It turns out it is so much easier to finish a plot than to finish worldbuilding!
Woohoo for NaNoWriMo–you can do it!!!!
And that’s so fun–and creative! (About your stories for the illustrations!) Ahahah, and I agree with you–I love plot more than worldbuilding, too.
MUCH better than the sample books I’ve wrote, and I’m one year from going to middle school!! This shows you Kitty, not everyone is good at writing books at first.
🙂 Wow, you’re writing already?! That’s awesome–and something to be proud of! I hope you keep it up!
It seems better then the books I’m writing, and I’m in 6th. You’re the reason I started trying to write.
Awww, I’m so happy I could serve as some inspiration! And hey–you’re starting earlier than I did, so way to go! Keep up the good work and have fun with it! 🙂
Yes, I’m replying to myself, I’m a bit of a cynic! Anyways, I am SO excited for The crown of Shadows . . .*sigh. Thanks for including that on this post!! Just makes me super excited!!
I think the book is pretty good for someone in seventh, though I agree with Leila, it needs an edit!! 😉 I’m only in sixth, so you probably shouldn’t rely TOO heavily on my opinion . . .
Hahah, it’s pretty awesome that you can tell it needs an edit! 😉 When I wrote it, I thought I was set for world domination!
I hope you enjoy Crown of Shadows and that it makes you laugh! It’s just a week away now….
I can’t believe you actually finished a book that young! I’m out of high school now and still haven’t finished any of my books, even though I have like 25 planned and ten or so actually in the works!
I think I was lucky that I wrote it so young, because I was in that bossy stage where I thought I knew everything so OF COURSE I’d be able to finish a book. 😉 (Bless my parents for allowing me to make it to adulthood, hahah)
I loved your copyright- “reluctantly “ – bwa ha ha!
Hah, yah, still not sure I want to claim it… 😉
I’m not sure if it can be worse than my twelve-year-old self’s story about bird people. 😫 Happily I had a workshop today and people didn’t tear into my current piece too much. Progress 🎶
As willing as I am to drag my own story through the mud, any writing at that age is pretty impressive, so way to go! (And oof, yeah, workshops are awesome but they can be rough!)
Eh, all 7th graders wish they were in charge, at least you made a world where you could be ;-).
Hahahah, thanks Jocelyn! That is very sweet of you to see it that way! 😉 (And yes, it probably gives you an idea what a “joy” I was for my parents at that age.)
This sample at least really wasn’t too bad, especially for a preteen. Or, well, it needs a /lot/ of editing 😂. But the concept seems pretty sound. If you ever need a new “take a break” series, you may be able to take the core concepts from this series and start over, or just do some (serious) editing. Thank you for sharing this, Kitty!
Hahah, you are too kind, Leila. Please allow me to assure you it only got worse. So…so…SO much worse! 😉