NaNo final stretch!

There are only 2.5 days left of NaNoWriMo 2009! At this point, you should have 46,676 words (by the time you go to bed tonight, that is). I am currently at 37k, so I am "only" 9,000 words behind! I want to get to 43k tonight. Remember, no matter how far behind you are, if you can invest some time over the next couple of days, you can still win! If you can't write quite that fast, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Even if you only get to 25k, that's a great start!

Here are some final-days-of-NaNoWriMo tips for success:

1. Coffee. The good stuff.
2. Enlist a couple of family members to cheer you on and bring you drinks and snacks.
3. Wear something comfortable. I like pj's.
4. Word sprints! NaNo top banana Chris Baty is running word sprints at http://twitter.com/NaNoWordSprints. I don't know where he's at right now, but last night he was behind even me. A word sprint is a period of time, say 15 or 30 minutes, where all you do is write as fast as you can. Don't allow yourself ANY distractions! No getting up, no surfing the internet, just write. Last night I got 1,455 words in one 30-minute sprint!
5. Give yourself milestones to shoot for. I like to go for round numbers, so before I allow myself to get up and go to the bathroom, or check facebook or whatever, I make myself get to the next round hundred or some other goal. Usually, I'm in the middle of a sentence or thought when I reach that point, so I ended up overshooting. Then, I often decide to do "just a little more" until I get to the next round hundred, and so on. I often get quite a bit done this way.

Anyone else have tips for success to share?

Now taking pre-orders for Bubba Goes National!

At long last, I am ready to take pre-orders for my first novel, Bubba Goes National! The books should be available by early January. Cover price is $12.95 plus shipping ($2.50 for one book, $3.97 for two, $4.97 for three, 6.50, for four, $13 for five or more). The special pre-order price, available only until December 31st, is a flat rate of $13 per book--including shipping!

To order, click:

Thirteen-year-old Leslie Clark has loved horses for as long as she can remember and has been riding since she was six. Although her widowed father cannot afford to give her everything she desires, she works hard to get what she wants. When what she wants, a great horse to show, is taken right out from under her by her rival, Kate Wellesley, Leslie thinks her whole world has been turned upside down--until she finds Lucky (nicknamed Bubba by her father, who thinks he is funny). Then, everything changes.

Readers of Bubba Goes National will be touched by an inspiring story, but they will also learn about the care and showing of horses while they read about Leslie's adventures. Sandwiched in is a lesson that if one is willing to work hard, they can make their dreams come true. Bubba Goes National is the first of the Riders of Green Meadow series, which will showcase horses that are unwanted by one person but are another's dream come true.

How's your NaNo?

Including today, we have 10 days left to finish our National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) books. I had intended to do all kinds of post about NaNo, but I've just been too busy! So busy, in fact, that I've hardly written at all...I just broke 16k a few minutes ago, and I should be at 33k already! This means I have to write 3400 words per day, every single day until the 30th if I want to finish. I'm hoping to write a ton today, maybe even 10k, and maybe 5k tomorrow, and that will help catch me up a bit. I will also have some time on Thanksgiving.

I thought NaNo would be hard last year when I was freelancing full time. Then I got an attack of tendonitis and really didn't think I'd finish, but I did. This year, I have taken a day job again--working with horses, which I love, but between work and driving to work, about 11-12 hours of my day is gone. Then, I often have writing assignments (for actual money), plus I have to bathe and eat and sleep and stuff. Sometimes, I just can't bear the thought of doing anything, so I just veg out. However, I just can't stand to lose, so I'm going to do everything in my power to get this stupid book WRITTEN!

If I can do it, you can too! Stop making excuses...just go write. Start with one sentence, or try to write just 100 words. Before you know it, you'll be screaming along, and you'll be so much further along on that book you've been wanting to write than if you just sat there and made excuses. Now, stop distracting yourself with my blog and get back to work!

Last ten days of NaNoWriMO....GO!!

Elements of the Soul has shipped!

For those of you who pre-purchased a copy of Elements of the Soul, thank you so much for your support! There was a series of snafus with the printer, but the books are now available and in the mail (regular ole USPS) to each of you. Thank you so much for your patience for this long wait!

If you have not yet purchased a copy, I will have several copies for sale, or you can purchase them here. If you would like to purchase a copy from me, email me at jennifer AT authorjennwalker DOT com.