This week: Writing Through the Seasons Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline More Newsletters By This Editor
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What do you like to write during the winter months? What adventure awaits you this season?
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about the inspiration offered throughout the year.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline |
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The cold nights are setting in, in my part of the world. It’s getting dark earlier and earlier, leaving less and less time for me to go wandering around the local wood and countryside, and soon the clocks will change – winter’s coming. There is a lot to be said for autumn. The leaves’ beautiful colours, my cats chasing conkers around the house, and I hope that my garden hedgehog will choose to hog the hedgehog home I set up for it. It does mean an end, though, to my gardening (other than planting some garlic and onions to overwinter), slowly but surely driving me indoors and into my books. Of course, it’s also the perfect time to sit down and write.
I have signed up for NaNoWriMo this year. During National Novel Writing Month writers are challenged to write at least 50,000 words towards a novel or other project of their choice. I’m not much of a novelist, but I figure it’ll be a fun project this November. I’m participating in "October Novel Prep Challenge" [13+] to get an idea of what I want my novel to be about, and I have signed up for the "NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon" [ASR] to help raise some funds for good causes, which I hope will spur me on when the going gets tough. Win-win!
Whether you have never participated in NaNoWriMo before, or whether you have earned many a NaNo badge, you’re in the right place for support and encouragement. You don’t need to write 50,000 words – some people set their own target. Others challenge themselves to write a set amount of poems during the month, though a poetry equivalent to NaNoWriMo takes place in April: it is called NaPoWriMo. During NaPoWriMo poets tend to aim for 30 poems – a poem a day.
I have found that the winter months tend to inspire me to work on longer pieces. I’m a poet first and foremost, but I do enjoy writing short stories and I guess it’s easier to make time for those when curled up nice and snug to the sound of wind and rain. Humans may not hibernate, but I do feel an urge to nestle in over winter. I like my soft blankets, my fairy lights, my books and my writing pad. Life slows down a little, leaving room for that creative spark.
When spring arrives I want to be in the outdoors. I thrive on that fresh air, and seeing the world renew itself around me. I may give NaPoWriMo a go next year, because it comes at a perfect time for me – spring inspires me to express that sense of joy and wonder at my surroundings in poetic form. There’s a nice little bench in the wood, right by a water garden. I can see myself sitting there with my notebook, or perhaps I can settle by the loch and see if the local heron will pay me a visit.
The summer tends to draw me into a variety of writing challenges. It is fun to experiment. To try something new – for better or worse it’s excellent experience to draw upon in the future. I have tried my hand at different styles, different forms, different genres. I believe that in order to grow as writers we must step out of our comfort zone. Not {i]all the time, but every now and then to see what else is out there. You never know what you’ll find. I have learned much by doing this and some of my best work was written because I dared to head in a different direction than I had before.
Every season, then, is an opportunity for a new adventure in the world of writing. Of course, you may be different than me. You may feel inspired to write the most beautiful sonnets during those endless winter nights, and write a bestselling novel during a long, hot summer. You may actually be enjoying spring right now and celebrate Christmas with a barbecue and a tasty Pavlova. You may enjoy flash fiction over longer forms, and find community through campfires. Whatever your rhythm, or your preferences, I hope that you find inspiration throughout the year.
If you choose to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, I encourage you to look at and use the newsfeed. Not just your own; the community newsfeed as well. There will be writers from around the world taking on the same challenge as you are, so don’t miss out on the inspiration, the tips and the support that is offered. You are not alone in this, and we look forward to reading the stories that you share.
Good luck!
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline
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Some contests and activities to inspire you:
| | Resurrection Jukebox (E) A yearly blogging challenge featuring cover songs and/or dead artists! Runs every October. #2009876 by Jeff |
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team |
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