Time To Get Your Write On

Suggested Soundtrack for this Post: November

Did you know that the dandy folks what decide which days are Days have decreed that the first Friday in November every year is Fountain Pen Day? It's time to curl up with everyone's favorite writing instrument and celebrate putting ink on paper in the sexiest way possible. 

Don't have a fountain pen to call your own? These online retailers are a good source, but Illusive's Own CIO Mark is quite a penthusiast and would probably let you try out one the many, many, many pens in his collection. Maybe. If you ask nice. Did you wash your hands?

But whether it's a fountain pen, a biro, a brush, or a good old fashioned electronic tablet, you need a good comfortable word slinger, because November is the most writingest month of the year. We're here to help!

National Novel Writing Month is a great way to kick your creativity into gear. It's already a few days into the month, but we know you can do it! Rah! Rah! We'll even put Mark in a cheerleader outfit!!

Anyway, Mark has also done a few NaNoWriMo marathons himself, so we know how important it is to have advice, encouragement, and support while you create. Come on down to Illusive for all that! The Oddizens are hosting weekly NaNoWriMo Workshops in our new classroom space. 

Every Saturday in November from 1-4PM.

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If you can't make it to swap stories, share commiserations, learn strategies, and otherwise avoid staring at the screen blankly while the clock ticks away the whole entire month because you can't think of a single, solitary word, here are
Mark's Top Five NaNo Tips:

• It's easier if you do it every day, even a little bit. Set a daily word goal, and remember that Thanksgiving also happens this month. If you miss a day, spread those words out over the next four day's goal. I know one person in my group did her final 40,000 words in four days, but she was kinda intense. I don't hear from her now.
• Your Brain is an organ and needs fuel. Not just coffee, either. I know that makes me sound like Captain Hypocrite, but it's really true in a marathon of creativity. Your brain will be cooking 16-18 hours a day, and that extra steam requires glucose. Eat well, drink plenty water, and keep snacks handy.
• Don't Get It Right, Get It Written. Everything can be revised later. To reach 50,000 words in a month, you need to not worry about the research, the names, the perfect description, or the proper poison. Make up the capital of North Dakota. Use bad adverbs. Use boring verbs. Use whatever pops into your brain, right then, because the time for revision is January. The time for Writing is Now.
• Amuse yourself. You can write about anything you want to. Make jokes. Use dirty words. Digress into detailed discussions of the placement of rope on whale boats. It's your novel. I mean, that's always true, but it's especially true in a race like this. Whatever keeps you interested in staying in that seat and writing the next word is okay. I had one friend end his NaNovel with a long apology to all the characters for being in such a terrible book.
• The Journey is the Reward. Friend, just trying this crazy thing is the best. It's not about the words, or the certificate, or the book. It's about freeing yourself and acknowledging that being creative is important to you. Write, and you've won.