NaNoWriMo Day 2 Update
I didn't go to sleep last night till I was sure I was past the necessary amount of words to at least break even with regards to the daily word count goals to stay on track to make the fifty-thousand word goal by the end of the month.I do have a little confession.The last twenty words I wrote were the beginning lyrics to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".Cheating?Nahhhhhh. (Of course it is!)
On Thin Ice...Skates - Haiku
First go 'round on ice.Slipping. Sliding. Hold my hand.It's like learning to walk...
This weekend my family and I attended a birthday party for the daughter of a colleague of my husband's. It was at an ice-skating rink.
Michael hadn't ever been on ice skates...
Ways to say "said"
With NaNoWriMo right around the corner I thought I'd share with you a list of synonyms for the word "said" as well as other ways to describe emotion in dialogue.Ways to say "said":
| added | clarified | lied | remarked |
| admitted | clucked | mentioned | repeated |
| advised | coaxed | moaned | reported |
| affirmed | commented | mouthed | stated |
| agreed | continued | mused | suggested |
| announced | declared | objected | taunted |
| asserted | drawled | pestered | |
| assumed | droned | preached | |
| avowed | explained | predicted | |
| beckoned | expounded | proclaimed | |
| bragged | expressed | pronounced | |
| called | groaned | protested | |
| caterwauled | insisted | reasoned | |
| claimed | interrupted | related |
Ways to show a person is speaking in a quiet, calm, gentle or shy manner:
| breathed | whispered | sighed | squeaked |
| mumbled | persuaded | slurred | |
| murmured | purred | stammered |
Ways to show a person is fearful, grieved, hopeless, or meek:
| bawled | groveled | sputtered | wailed |
| begged | gurgled | squeaked | warned |
| bleated | hollered | thought aloud | whimpered |
| called | muttered | told | whined |
| cried | peeped | urged | whispered |
| exclaimed | pouted | uttered | yowled |
| fretted | prayed | vocalized | |
| fussed | shrieked | voiced | |
| gasped | sobbed | vowed |
Ways to show a person is humorous or happy in dialogue:
| blabbed | giggled | prattled on | winked |
| blurted | gossiped | quipped | murmured |
| cheered | grinned | rambled | whispered |
| chirped | gushed | recited | persuaded |
| chuckled | jabbered | sang | purred |
| croaked | jested | smiled | sighed |
| crooned | joked | squawked | slurred |
| crowed | laughed | teased | stammered |
| gabbled | marveled | whooped | squeaked |
Ways to show a person is speaking with a loud, brash tone or who is angry, authoritative, moody, obnoxious or pushy manner:
| admonished | cried | nagged | snapped |
| argued | demanded | oozed | snarled |
| asserted | disagreed | ordered | sneered |
| barked | exclaimed | ranted | snipped |
| bellowed | glowered | raved | spat |
| chastised | growled | retorted | spouted |
| commanded | grumbled | roared | squawked |
| complained | hissed | scolded | trumpeted |
| confessed | howled | screamed | yelled |
| countered | huffed | screeched | |
| crabbed | mocked | shrieked |
I'm A Word Ninja - NaNoWriMo Style
Last November was a crazy month for me. This November doesn't look like it's going to be any different-except that this is going to be the year where I meet-no exceed the National Novel Writing Month's (NaNoWriMo) goal of writing 50,000 words during the month of November. I'm going to do it. For proof (and to check my progress-word count wise, feel free to visit my author's page. I love the sound of that..."author's page". Hehe.I've got a lot of motivation.1. I've had this idea jumping around in my head for a while. I think in 50, 000 words I can make it into something-or at least the start of something good.2. Considering I'm still working on the novel I began in October of 2008 actually setting a word count goal and sticking to it will be a MAJOR accomplishment for me. Perhaps then I can actually be a writer. A real one. Not just someone who likes to think of herself as one.3. I've got sponsors. Real live people who not only care about me, but have the faith in me and my creative skills to lay down their hard-earned dollars to sponsor me. Their sponsorship means the world to me-but it's also very motivating. I can't let them down.
Last night I signed this little waiver over at The Office of Letters and Light when I decided to take things a step further and raise money in support of "free creative writing programs in 2,000 classrooms, 500 communities, and 100 libraries worldwide." Here's a tidbit of what I signed.
I hereby acknowledge that I am capable of amazing feats of literary output in ridiculously short amounts of time. When the going gets tough this November,I will keep writing, and I will not stop until I reach 50,000 words. Or until my arms fall off. At which point I will type with my nose.
I went on further to give my word I will...
Promise to have fun this November. To give myself permission to make mistakes, write some deeply imperfect prose,and not beat myself up over every word and paragraph. Life is short. The world needs my novel. This fall, I will get it written.
I'm going to grab November by it's proverbial horns and kick it's ass.
If you'd like to support my ninja writing ways please visit my sponsor page.
Not only will you have my undying gratitude your tax deductible donation will also help other young and not-so-young creative writers flex their ninja-writing muscles!
I don't know if it's coincidence...or merely the universe speaking to me, but take a peak at what my fortune cookie had to tell me today.
I couldn't agree more and know that my life would be a lot more dull if not for the creative minds that wrote the many books that have enriched my world. Next month I'm finally going to fulfill my goal of writing one.