Journaling Preparation for 2013: A journaling exercise or prompt

2013

I recommend starting with a new journal on 01 January 2013. If you need to buy one, do. If you do digital journaling, start a new journal now as you do this journaling exercise or prompt. 

One the first page of your journal, write the following:

* Your name

* Write the date: January 2013

* Your 1-word theme for 2013

* Your 6-word theme for 2013

* Your 6-word goal for 2013

* Your inspirational quote for 2013

* Your goal for January 2013 

* Your inspirational quote for January 2013

Journaling Tip or Hint: Do this for every month you journal as well as for each new journal. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Storykeeper

6-Word Goal for 2013: A journaling exercise or prompt

2013

Write a 6-word goal for 2013 in your life and in your journaling. You may need to write one for each--or maybe one will cover both. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper, Writer, Author, & Storykeeper

A Journaling Retreat: Part 2: An Introduction and Planning

Journaling Retreat

Part 1 of this blog post series can be found here:

http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/journaling-retreat.html

Every month, I do some type of journaling retreat between 1 and 14 days. Most of the time, I do it at home or at least go hang out somewhere else, like Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. Ideally, though, I would go to Jamestown or Yorktown and sit there and write. 

My latest journaling retreat is today and tomorrow. I, unfortunately, do not have the time to getaway and write, except maybe to Barnes & Noble. However  that's okay. Since I set up my new desk, my office is quite fresh to me and inviting. I actually would really lvoe to do my full retreat here. It's like a christening of the new desk.

NEXT JOURNALING RETREAT: 22-26 JANUARY 2013

This is the next planned journaling retreat I have on my calendar. 

SCHEDULED JOURNALING RETREATS

The other journaling retreats I have planned are:

07 February 2013

19 February

26-29 March

18-19 April

10 May

24-28 June

12 July

1-2 August

23-27 September

14-18 October

21 November

16-20 December

YOUR JOURNALING RETREAT

Even if you cannot take all day each day, would you like to join me in a journaling retreat? If you can give it at least one more hour each day than you do now, that is the start of taking a journaling retreat. Of course, the more time you can give it, the better. 

I apologize for not giving you more warning about this journaling retreat. However, I will still post blog posts as if you can take the time and join me in the retreat.

SCHEDULE THEM

I recommend getting the other journaling retreats on your calendar now so nothing else can get in the way of you taking the retreats in the future. If these dates don't work for you, you can always refer to these blog posts at a time that works better for you. 

NEXT

Stay tuned to this blog and you will get your instructions for what we're doing today for the Journaling Retreat for today and tomorrow.

~ Stacy Duplease

Checking In: A journaling Prompt and Exercise

Good morning to you.

You might want to grab your journal and answer these questions. I also recommend you to send me an email or attach a blog post comment and let me know how you are.

I just wanted to check in with you and see how you are today. So, how are you? Have you stopped long enough to ask yourself this question?

How was your weekend?

How are you living a memorable life today and this week?

How are you preparing for Christmas this week? 

Have you taken some time to reflect on 2012?

Have you taken some time to prepare and set goals for 2013?

How is your journaling? 

What do you want from your journaling in 2013?

What did you think of your journaling in 2012?

What was the most important thing you experienced in 2012?

What was the most important thing you learned in 2012?

What do you hope from 2013? What are your expectations?

What do you hope from 2013? What are your expectations regarding your journaling?

How are your home and family? Marriage? Children? 

How's your job? 

How's your faith?

What answered prayer have you received in 2012? 

Count your blessings from 2012. 

What are your prayers for 2013?

What do you hope from this week? 

What do you hope from the remainder of the year of 2012?

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR

2013

It's hard to believe, but it's true. It's the time of year again, when we need to start to prepare for the New Year.

I've always loved this poem:

I AM THE NEW YEAR
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Life, I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.

I am your opportunity to practice
what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.

All that you sought
and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out
with more determination.

All the good that you tried for
and didn't achieve
is mine to grant
when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have -
these slumber lightly,
waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
'behold, I make all things new.'

I am the new year.


The original source of this poem is: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/poetry.cgi?record=101

The New Year provides us with a blank canvas in which we choose how to fill and create. The choice is ours.

However, we should not even think of starting the New Year until we evaluate the past year and from there, we can then choose what we want from the new year.

Shall we start to prepare for the new year? It's that time, after all.

JOURNALING EXERCISE
* If you could live the perfect year next year, what would that look like? Describe in great detail. Take at least 1 day, preferably 2-3, in order to look at this fully.
* What would it take for you to do it?
* Make sure to write out an actual plan for the new year. Be thorough and specific. Write an 1-sentence, a 4-sentence, an 8-sentence, 3-paragraph, 1-page, and 2-page plan.
* Put your plan into action. Write out a goal for the entire year. This is your mission statement.
* Write a goal for each of the things you mentioned previously in order to live the ideal life.
* Write out a goal for each month.
* Write out a goal for each week.

* Put it all on your planner/calendar/schedule.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

NaNoWriMo, Preparation, and Life Goals

NaNoWriMo is in 6 Days

I cannot believe that National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or NaNo for short) kicks off in six days. It seems like just yesterday I was counting down for NaNo 2011. My...how time flies. 

Preparation Before Today

I am ready for NaNoWriMo. I realize I can always be more prepared. Therefore, I am not stressed about NaNo and writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Then again  it might have something to do with the fact that I write 3,000 words per day at the moment. I've spend the last couple of months preparing myself to do this. That way, when NaNo is here, and I only have to write 1,667 words per day, it will seem easy. (But, my goal is still 3,000 words per day--Monday through Friday--minus two days for Thanksgiving--and hopefully none for Hurricane Sandy.)

What NaNoWriMo Teaches About Life Goals (or Dream)

NaNoWriMo teaches a great deal about achieving life goals. Hence, the effects of NaNo in my life are far-reaching.

NaNoWriMo--writing a novel in a month is a goal. Right?

Writing a novel, as a goal, is no easy task--let alone in 30 days! Hence, it is not something that just anyone can do. It takes a passion, steadfastness or determination, courage, faith, and a lot of hard, intentional work. 

For every goal, we need a plan. We need to set up things to do or steps to accomplish along the way as we meet our goal. These steps need to be measurable  where we know it is a step we have done and is leading toward the fulfillment of stated goal.  And, we need to put those steps on our calendars. Every day, week, month, and quarter, we need to look and see how our fulfillment of the steps have come along, and if we might need to add more steps or delete some steps along the way. I also recommend journaling through each step along the journey of goal fulfillment. Then, one day, we will achieve victory--where we have achieved our goal--where our dream is realized.

NaNo has shown me how I CAN make my dreams and goals come true. Period. The only way it does not happen is determined by me. I can tell myself how tough it is, and how I cannot do it, but to what good does this serve? How does this attitude help? How will this make my dream or goal come true? 

Rather, I tell myself over and over and over-- I CAN do this! 

I make sure to set up enough action steps that I will be able to make this goal and dream come true. It's when I make the action steps too large that it makes it difficult for me to make my goal come true. Let me explain. If I set my goal to write 210,000 words in 30 days, that would be difficult at best. If I were to say I needed to write 10,000 words per day, it would also be difficult. However, I have had many days when I have done precisely that. I realize I need to LIVE as I accomplish my dream and goal. I do not want to only do my goal steps. I still need to eat, clean, shower, spend time with my husband, etc. So, I make sure to set smaller action steps I can accomplish. For instance, if I never have written before, or never done NaNo before, I would keep the 1,667 word count goal and do no more. 

Also, when achieving goals, and taking action steps, I understand some steps will take longer than I anticipated. There will be off days. Some days, I might only be able to write 500 words. But, the next day, I might be able to write 3000 rather than a 1667 day. I cut myself grace and not stress.

When going after a goal and dream:

~ It is critical I work hard. 

~ It is important for me to stay focused and keep my mind focused on the task at hand.

~ I must have courage.

~ I need to keep balance and not neglect everything else that is a priority in my life (God, Bible study, Husband, House, Critters, Family, Friends, Eating Right, Sleep, Exercise Etc.) 

~ I must keep trying. 

~ I need to cut myself grace when things do not go as well as I hoped. 

~ I must never, ever give up. 

ANYONE CAN DO NANOWRIMO

It just takes a commitment and lots of trying. It really is that simple. 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

The Chronicler and Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Writing Etc. Etc. Etc.: What does the ideal writer look like?

Take some time to think, and write in your journal or writing notebook, your answer to this question:

~ What does the ideal writer look like? Take some time to answer this question. 

~ Then ask this question: How can I do that, given the priorities I have in my life? 

~ Finally, apply. Do it. 

The Writing Etc. Etc. Etc. blog posts are to take you from wanting to write, to planning, to writing, to finishing a first draft of a manuscript, to editing, to publishing. Also, it is to help you if you want to do NaNoWriMo this year.  

TIP: Please make sure to go back and do these blog posts in order. They have a specific order to help you go from A to Z. Either use the search engine or look at the labels for "WRITING ETC. ETC. ETC." 

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer

The Family Treez of the USA Series

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

My vision was too much

CONFESSIONS OF A EAGER AND CRAZY WRITERI have learned that I tend to get overly eager when I am excited to learn new things about my family treez.

 

How many people can say they have been here since 1607? And be able to trace it? And, what about multiple family members?

 

Am I bragging? No. Not at all. Every family, mine included, has made their fair share of mistakes. It's how we learn from them that I celebrate. We have lessons we can learn secondhand so we do not need to be doomed to repeat those historical lessons. Never mind how excited it makes me about this great nation--thanks to my family. And, I was already excited to be an American. What a way to learn the history of our country--than through the historical fiction of a real American family?

 

It's how we have been here since 1607 in Jamestown, and even through the Mayflower, that gets me excited. Never mind how I have at least 100 family members who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Never mind all the other wars in which America has fought.

 

It's this excitement that gets me into trouble. A lot of it. Heaps. Loads.

 

I wanted to write a series on: Jamestown, Plymouth, the American Revolutionary War,  the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, never mind the stories of the several dozens of my family members who were beheaded or executed at the Tower of London. I wanted to write a book of each, then repeat to the second book of each series.

 

I realized that I made a mountain of not just a mole hill, but a 16'er. We do not have any sixteener mountains on earth, and that was what I started to create for myself. (Not good.)  If I would do the research required to do so, it would take me forever and that would mean less writing. That just is not acceptable. I think I have a responsibility as an author to write as much as possible for you, so you do not have to wait too long between books.

 

I also realized the best books for me to write are the phonebook-sized books. Again, it's to give you, the reader, the most bang for your reading delight and pleasure. After all, why do I write? To tell a tale? Who do I tell the tale to? YOU! Hence, you are very important to me.

 

Therefore, here is my new commitment.

 

I am stopping the book I have started to write. That will be part of the new Book 2 of this series.

 

THE FAMILY TREEZ OF THE USA SERIES starts in 1584. So, I am going to start there and write my books from 1584 to the present or so. They will be in order. It will be my lifetime commitment to you. I am in my late-thirties and hope to write about three books of 600 pages each per year--until I am too old to type.

 

Book 1 is now: ROANOKE: 1584-1590.

Book 2 will be: JAMESTOWN: 1607-????.

 

The series will focus on the saga of my family and their lives: marriages, war, faith, children, heartbreak, disaster, and living this thing called life.

 

I am starting to write this new book today and will write 2500 words per day, 5 days a week, and including vacation, I will have it finished around 29th of January 2013. I have to stick with this now. Period. After all, I am going to a writer's conference in February, the Writing for the Soul Conference in Colorado Springs, and MUST have this book to present. I will also have to edit as I go so I can have it ready.

 

The good news is you will be given a lot more to read for free! I will publish a new FREE copy every week, starting this Friday.

 

I have family who went to Roanoke and planned the venture, so I wanted to share their tale... And will answer a lot of what-if questions in a story. I hope you enjoy.

 

Again, the old book 1 will now become part of the new Book 2.

 

Welcome to ROANOKE: 1584-1590.
 
(Image credit: Microsoft Clipart Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Why is it?

Why is it I get new ideas and visions in the middle of the night--where I am having to get up hours earlier than normal to make an airport run?

 

I'm just saying...

 

Ideas just come. They cannot be stopped. And, if you are sure it is God speaking to you, you do not look at the clock and tell him to get with you at a more convenient time, after all.

 

When God speaks, it is usually a good idea to listen and immediately respond. Starting with this blog post, I am doing precisely that. I am sure you will notice a slightly different blog now, along with a slightly different tone.

 

I have the clearest vision of my writing than I have ever had. I know what I must do now. There will be nothing to stop me. I will not get off course and will not change my books again. I have a plan for the next ten years. It is set in stone.

 

But, goodness, I am tired. I should sleep well after the Broncos Game tonight!

 (Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

News, Research, and Head Shakers

First of all, Happy Friday to all.

 

I wanted to check in and tell you how my research, planning, and outlining of the next book in the Family Treez of the USA Series is going. My last blog post, I shared how I found a relative who, with his 11 sons, served in the American Revolutionary War. It is rather remarkable the possibilities this brings. I have not been able to find absolute specific information about any of them, but have found a few nuggets or two. The rest will have to be me filling in the gaps and storyline through asking "What-if" questions, and make sure the stories measures up to the times.

 

However, what I have found have been massive surprises and change my outlook of the Family Treez of the USA Series. Here's some of what I have found:

~ I have at least two ancestors that trace back to the Mayflower. WHO KNEW?

~ There is a city nearby to where I live, Tabb. And there is a street I pass from time to time: Bland. Both are relatives. Again, WHO KNEW?

~ I found my Yorktown connection.

~ I also found several family members who were in the War of 1812.

~ This family line actually traces to other family lines I already knew about and also traces back to those from Jamestown. (So, sometime, I will write enough of the Jamestown Series to catch up from then to the American Revolutionary War times.)

~ Etc. Etc. Etc. (I have to keep some secrets, you know. Lol.)

 

There was a time I wanted to write a series that covered EVERY battle of the American Revolutionary War. Through this family line, I can. Every battle. After all, if there are gaps in my family history, where I cannot find records... I can take the liberty and put my family members, or someone close to them, there at every battle.

 

Now, I cannot help but wonder if I need to write a Mayflower and War of 1812 Series as well. Huh. Now that I am thinking aloud, and onto the page, I think those are more important than the Tower Series I have planned.

 

Huh. Something else just hit me. I have several other family members who were in Plymouth just shortly after the Mayflower. But, until yesterday, I found none from the Mayflower. So, I can actually call it the Plymouth series rather than the Mayflower series. Hmm... (This is how I write. I do stream of consciousness (SOC) writing and start asking questions and thinking of possibilities--and viola! I get ideas and a storyline. But, I digress. I really should get back to working on the American Revolutionary Book. I am still in the researching process. Then, I will plan and outline.

 

Wait a minute. Here is the order of the series I am going to write for the Family Treez of the USA:

* Jamestown: Books 1, 7, 13, 19...

* American Revolutionary War: Books 2, 8, 14, 20...

* Civil War: Books 3, 9, 15, 21...

* Plymouth: Books 4, 10, 16, 22...

* War of 1812: Books 5, 11, 17, 23...

* The Tower (The Plantagenets and Tudors): Books 6, 12, 18, 24...

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Book 2 Research and Discovery

You would not believe what I just discovered.

 

I have a relative who served in the American Revolutionary War--along with his 11 sons!!! (In Virginia!)

 

It seems like Book 2 will be about them.
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Planning

I am starting to do research for Book 2 of the Family Treez of the USA Series and am in the process of researching more about the American Revolutionary War.

 

Book 3 will be about the Civil War.

 

Book 4 will be about the time of the Plantagenets and Tudors in what I will call the Towers Series (or something like that).

 

Then, in Book 5, I will return to where we left off in Book 1.

 

Book 6 will be the 2nd part of Book 6.

 

Let me explain:

Jamestown Era Books: 1, 5, 9

American Revolutionary War Books: 2, 6, 10

Civil War Books: 3, 7, 11

The Tower Series about the Plantagenets and Tudors: 4, 8, 12, etc.

 

Why am I doing it in this manner? They will each be a stand alone novel. However, if you read all of them, you will get that much more depth of the overall Family tree (which lead to me today), along with all the smaller treez of each last name. Also, if you do not like a certain period of time as a reader, you can either skip those, or know that you will not have a period of a year or two where you cannot read this series.

 

This is the plan.

 

I am working on planning, researching, and outlining Book 2 so as I finish writing Book 1, I can allow Book 2 to simmer for a while and joy down notes and fill in holes in the plot or characters.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

News and Planning of Books 1-2.

Book 1 Outline
I have been in the process of working on the outline for Book 1, FAITH AND JAMESTOWN the last three days. I wanted to make sure it was solid.
Planning for Book 2
I will work on planning for Book 2, the start of the story of the American Revolutionary War and my family from 12 September - 02 October 2012.
Writing
I will write Book 1 again from 03 October to 09 November.
Vacation
I will be on vacation from 12-23 October.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Priorities as a Writer

As a writer of Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction, I cannot help but realize how critical it is to take care of my body (the temple of God) so that I am able to write. The healthier I am in body, mind, heart, and spirit, the better writing I have the potential to do. However, it is absolutely essential for me to constantly polish my craft as well.

 

So, how do I do it all? Is it even possible?

 

The most important thing I can do is establish my priorities (in priority order).

 

My priorities are:

~ God, prayer, and Bible study

~ Eating Healthy (I am in the process of losing weight and eating healthy since I am hypoglycemic--which means low carb, high fiber and protein).

~ Exercise. I am a runner. In March 2012, I was not one. I never ran before in my life (unless it was raining and I did not want to get wet--or if chased.)

~ My husband

~ Writing my fiction books

~ Writing my blog posts

~ Writing my writing devotional

~ Learning and honing my craft.

 

My priorities have not been in the proper order lately. I have decided today, it changes. Also, I am going to make sure to study my craft through reading books and applying on a more intentional level. I want to devote at least ten hours per week to learning.

 

I also have decided to write at a pace of 2,000 words a day so I can get more of all of the above done--and not feel guilty for doing so.

 

Now, it is time for the healthy eating thing while I go cook dinner. Then, I will study some more and get a little more writing done on book 1: FAITH AND JAMESTOWN before I turn in for the evening. (Hmm. That sounds to me like coffee is necessary as well.)

(Photo Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

         
 

Plan for the Family Treez of the USA Series

I have been working on planning for more of the books in this series.

 

I have a great deal family here in America since 1585. Future stories will talk about this. However, I realize that I have had several members in the American Revolutionary War and in the Civil War. Never mind all of the other wars. I also can trace my family line back to the Plantagenet and Tudor bloodlines in England and France. I come from a line of several famous and infamous Kings and Queens. But, it is the fact that I have had over 23 members of my family beheaded or executed in England that I find most interesting. (How is that for a claim?!?)  

 

Each of these periods of time begs the questions: Why America? Why now? What was life like? How did their faith shape them as people and as Americans? (Or, add England for the other family members.)

 

Therefore, here is my plan for the enxt couple of years. I will write a book from each of these times frames in the following order:

~ Jamestown

~ American Revolutionary War

~ Civil War

~ England (Tower Series)

 

Hopefully, I will write 2 books from each segment each year. This is my goal. (We shall see.)

 

In other words, if you do not prefer the period of time a book is set in, wait for the enxt, and it will change. But, read all of them, and get a glimpse of an American family with English roots.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Book 1 News

I now have 15,949 words written of Book 1.

 

The title I have for the book is: FAITH AND JAMESTOWN.

 

By the end of this week, I hope to have 22,500 words. We shall see.
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

A New Plan

I took some time to plan the next year or so of books I want to write. 

What I did not expect was how there will be eight books on Jamestown between the years 1607 and 1624. (Gulp!)

I hope you are ready to learn a great deal about Jamestown, Virginia. I know I am. 

(Photo Credit: Stacy Duplease. 2012. At Jamestown.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

WWWWW, an H, and a WI Questions (NaNoWriMo Hints and Novel Writing Hints)

Whether you have your book planned or not, it is good to ask questions about your novel. Ask who, what, where, when, why, how and what-if questions about everything you can think of and write them down on the page. I actually recommend doing this weekly so you can see how your book is coming, where it went, and where it is headed.

Some questions might appear to be the same. But, answer them again anyway, even if it is the same answer. It can stir something up in you and give you another idea or cement the one you already have.

Here are some sample questions:

~ Who is in the novel?

~ What is the novel about?

~ What is the theme of the novel?

~ What is the conflict in the novel?

~ What is the motivation of the hero?

~ What happened?

~ What do you smell in the novel? See? Taste? Feel/touch? Hear? 

~ Where does the novel take place? 

~ When does the novel take place?

~ Why is this story being told (novel being written)?

~ Why is there conflict in the novel?

~ Why does the hero do what they do?

~ Why did the novel start the way it did?

~ Why did the novel end the way it did? 

~ Why did it happen? 

~ How did the story happen?

~ How are the characters growing in the novel?

~ How did the novel begin?

~ How did the novel end? 

~ What-if something different happened in the story?

~ What-if there was more to this story?

~ What-if there was less to this story?

~ What if the story started in another scene?

~ What-if the story ended in a different way? 

~ Write any more questions you can think of here. (I recommend cutting and pasting these questions into a new document and then add some of your own.)

Those are very basic questions. But, here is a more in-depth twist. Ask each of those questions about:

~ Each of the three acts of your book

~ Each chapter

~ Each scene

~ The hero/heroine

~ Each character 

~ Each page

~ Each paragraph

Stacy Duplease
Inspirational Historical Romance Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Where to find my upcoming books

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo: How can it be only 7 days away?

Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

My blog: Where to find my upcoming books

Book Cover and other preparations for novel writing

It does not matter where you are in your preparation for your novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). There are a few steps to always take when you are coming up with an idea for a novel. You might want to grab a journal and go through each of these points one by one.

1 What is the title of your novel? (Even if it is a temporary one.) 

2 What genre is it? 

3 What is a sentence summary and hook for the book?

4 What is a two-sentence summary for the book?

5 What is a four-sentence summary for the book?

6 What is a paragraph summary for the book?

7 What is a two-paragraph summary for the book?

8 What is a three-paragraph summary for the book?

9 What is the back cover (one-page) for the book?

10 Design your front cover. 

11 Start to make an outline.

12 If you have the time, expand your outline and include more subpoints. 

Type and print all of the above out and carry with you at all times for inspiration.

So, where are you in the planning process? 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Keep an eye on my writing blog

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month Begins 01 November

Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

My blog: Etc. etc. etc. and other misc.

13 days until NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is in 13 days.

How is your preparation coming?

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Author
A timeless kind of love... 

My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Keep an eye on my writing blog

My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month Begins 01 November

Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

My blog: Etc. etc. etc. and other misc.