Storytime: Why I Got This Tattoo & Why Plotbunnies are Dangerous [The NaNoWriMo Diaries - Day 18]

[@HeartBreathings]

If you're thinking about giving up on your NaNo Project, watch this! I hope you're doing well! See you tomorrow and thanks for watching!

[@judewalsh500]

Perfect timing on this one Sarra! #toughlovethanks #writeTHISbook

[@Neil-writer-author]

November always goes by too fast.

[@proantagonist]

Thank you for the pep talk. Much appreciated and very timely.

[@ezriblue8587]

Thanks for this. I'm sitting just over 30k words and feeling like it's absolute crap and I need to start over on something new 😭

[@nimedhel09]

Aw! Your little one is such a cutie! Ah, the joys of being a writer... Self-doubt, imposter's syndrome, plot bunny attacks that demand your attention and finding that your book or anything you write is just poop. Poopy poop. Stinky poopy poop that has no value... Yesterday, while working on outlining the rest of my WIP, I had an epiphany about a character from a series of novels Istarted to write but put on hold 8 years ago (ugh, time flies). I wasn't even thinking about that story until bam, realization about why that character acted a certain way at the beginning of the series. Just like that. And I had to stop outlining to write down all that was coming to me for him in the series dedicated document. Took me more than 30min and a full page of those things that I tried to put in perspective to the plot. You know what? Two days ago, an author friend of mine streamed and it was a special event dedicated to reading the first part of his first published novel (traditional). He hadn't come back to it since the last corrections before it was published last year, and by then, he hated everything about it and did not want anything to do with it. But when he read it out loud, he told us that he was surprised at how good the book was, actually. He enjoyed reading it and rediscovering it with us. So yeah, what you say about coming back to a story that you hated for a time and realizing that it may just have been your self-doubts talking really is on point. (Oh yeah, and yesterday I read back a short story that was hell to go through, and found it funny and endearing, which was really surprising to me, hehe). And yeah, the midpoint seems to be the Everest of all the writers I know.

[@caboose8402]

After how upset you were the other night, this is so encouraging to hear. This is why transparency is so important because we get to see you bounce back from the lows which is as important as the lows themselves.

[@annelyle5474]

I started NaNo back in 2006 specifically to push past that temptation to switch to a shiny new project instead of finishing what I'd started - and it worked! This year I'm still a bit behind on the word count (having a day-job seriously puts the dampers on NaNo!) but hoping to catch up by the end of the retreat 😀

[@arellskan]

Thank you for this! I passed the 40k mark yesterday and the story is slowing down. I do have some plottwists and stuff to explore and I usually stick to my story during NaNo, but man is it hard. Luckily I haven't had any shiny ideas lure me away other than that I got a refusal of a book I sent to a publisher earlier this year with the urge to revise it and send it back to them. So I guess I know what I'm doing in December. ;) Love your channel!

[@jenniferevelynhayes]

I'm ugly crying right now. I don't even have an official NaNo project this month, but this pep talk went right through to the heart of me. Thank you. xxoo

[@rosannebowman2592]

I am currently working on my 6th book (the 2nd book in a new trilogy for me), and every time, right about now in the middle, I'm sure it is the most awful book ever, that my characters are flat and their arc is non-existent, and that nobody will ever want to read this sucky mess. But now I know - it's just part of the process. I also start getting very cool ideas for other stories right about now. I have a document, and I write a paragraph or two and then I save it and go back to my wip. Thanks for sharing this because in my second book, this almost derailed me!

[@jenniferevelynhayes]

@@rosannebowman2592 Hi, Rosanne. I’m not sure if you were responding to Sarra’s video or responding to my comment, but I’m grateful for your input! I have for many years suffered a terrible fear that I’m an absolute crap writer and that finally publishing my first book will reveal it to the world! 😩 But then I recover from my little meltdowns and keep inching forward again. 🙂 I don’t wish these crippling doubts on other writers but it sure does help to know I’m not the only one, thank you! I’m glad to know it’s just part of the process of bringing stories and writing careers to life. ❤️

[@rosannebowman2592]

@@jenniferevelynhayes Almost everyone I know who writes has at least a short period during every book where they are sure it is the most awful thing in the world. I really struggled when I started my second series. It was so easy to believe the first had been a fluke.I didn't realize that was what was going on for a while because I thought I'd gotten past that since I thought it was a second book phenomon. Anyway, keep on keeping on! You can do this!!!

[@jenniferevelynhayes]

@@rosannebowman2592 you are so kind and I really appreciate the words of encouragement, thank you!! I love talking with other writers who have these experiences and have learned how to keep pushing through and rising above. I know I'm going to cycle through these fears and emotions throughout my fiction writing journey, too. I've written other things, like songs, over the years that haven't felt as heavy and overwhelming as this first novel. I think I've been much more comfortable with shorter pieces for so long that the novel form feels like a never-ending mountain of edits to climb! :)

[@rosannebowman2592]

@@jenniferevelynhayes I remember my first novel, and when I reached 25K words, I remember thinking that I had never written that many words before. You can do this! Just take it one piece at a time. Start with the story and work your way down. Go, Jennifer, go!

[@KaterynaM_UA]

oh my god, everything you are saying is 100% me and why I haven't finished a single book I started to this day. I suffer from that new-shiny-object syndrome so much! I'm optimistic about the text I'm writing rn because it's fanfiction (so less stress than actual book) and I'm writing it on a fest for one person and that person is really waiting so it keeps me going. And I love the story of course but I know that it's not enough. But yeah, you are SO right about all of this.

[@MainerChick]

This is so what I needed to hear today. I give up half way through my stories and don't finish most of the time. I can't write a book if I never finish it. Thank you so much for this message.

[@fionaarcher4330]

Yay! I've been waiting for your upload today. I feel so invested in your NANO journey, Sarra, likely because all your highs and lows of writing are moments we all can empathise with. Hugs, babe, and thank you for being brave and putting yourself out there.

[@NatashaEnchanted]

She keeps saying "happy" because of "happy Halloween" OMG my heart! that is adorable.

[@Cherithe]

I am having a rough go with Nano, mostly because I feel like I've gotten to this portion that needs me to reoutline/replot to get through some of these chapters in the middle but Nano doesn't really allow for all the time it would take for me to redo the structure. So pushing through is a little hard, but I think I'm doing it.

[@dennydonut7568]

10:15 - reminder for myself to listen to this on repeat, when you feel like giving up in your passion project! thank You so much for this ❤️ This is a Lifechanger!

[@veronicamiller3521]

I needed that pep talk! I am in act 3 of my first book and I am struggling. I never planned to give up but its nice to hear that I am not the only one. I wont let this book beat me!

[@cynthiamarangoni5218]

On Sunday I had a word count of over 25K! However Monday and Wednesday I took off because of oral surgery. Now I'm behind by 4K words. I don't mind because I'm having fun! This is my 2nd manuscript in a series and it took me 7 years to finish the 1st draft of the 1st manuscript. I plan on sticking with this until 11/30 no matter if I win or not. Thank you Sarra!

[@tracyenright6723]

Thank you - this is SO me. I thought it was just me being the opposite to a completer-finisher and not a real thing that other people suffered from. I agree that distance can show you how good your writing actually is, but those shiny new ideas keep getting in the way. I'm currently slogging through the difficult bit a hundred words at a time and trapping any plot bunnies that pop up on a mind map. It's so tempting to go an feed them though...

[@dendie83]

Thanks for sharing so much :) Makes you so relatable. PS Using your planner! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT - my time management is so much easier now! Thank you :)

[@caitlynv1167]

I am doing great so far! After going in blind last year and basically 'winging it' through most of the tough stuff (which looked like writing a bunch of nonsensical, incoherent and very random scenes that were in no way connected to the story), THIS year I managed to actually sit down and get a (very rough)outline together, and it has made a world of difference! I know where I am going and I know what scenes I need to write, so even if sometimes I feel like what I'm writing is crap, I've managed to stay motivated because I know where it's going and how it will end! So far, I'm beating the plotbunny distractions!

[@akizaichihara2286]

It's the 20th here. Funny timezones lol. Beautiful pep-talk and I definitely suffer from shiny-object syndrome (probably why my last completed piece featured a dragon). Not getting much done thanks to moving and work this month, but hoping to finish off my july camp novel in this last week so we'll see how kind the emergency department is. Thanks for all your beautiful content Sarra, and good luck and vibes for the final leg of your edits!

[@daniellemnvlogs]

Nothing to do with writing, haha, but genius moment about your daughter's sound machine! We have an Alexa in my toddler's room and Im' sure I can program it to play white noise at certain times. SO smart!

[@Katie-pm9ph]

This exact thing has happened to me. I asked my spirit guides (I know-woo woo stuff) for help in giving me ideas and boy did they ever! I need to weave so many new things through the book but it will be fun. Thank you for the wise words!!

[@BrittanyErskine]

I look forward to your videos every day :) I take a break from my Nano manuscript and watch every evening. Thanks for the encouragement tonight!

[@Marionc0188]

This is my first nano ever and because the story is very close to my own life experience, this month has been more of me writing about how I’ve felt at certain times and has more of a diary quality than a structured novel. But I’m convinced now that I need to go through this zero or -1 draft and go deep into my own feelings in order for this beast to get out of me. I’ll definitely hit my word count goal even if it isn’t the fully-fledged draft I originally envisioned. But I have to remind myself that with this first nano I’m creating my own writing process too and I’m just excited to discover it for myself.

[@heathermacdonald6404]

Thanks for the pep talk. I want to be a finisher. That's what matters for now.

[@haleydaisy114]

You and your family are so precious! Hearing you speak about your daughter growing up made my heart so full 💕

[@karenvigmostad4013]

Your advice is so sound and wise! I’m working on my first nonfiction book but I’ve written reams of research and policy papers and a dissertation and it’s 2/3 the way through any kind of project and you’re ready to quit. The key is to move through that. Just keep going... starting December 1 you can reflect.

[@thecelticstoryteller]

Oh thanks so much for sharing your Believe Tattoo story 💚 It is helping me because I decided at the start of this year to just believe I would be published this year and to plan to self publish to achieve that! I'm way behind on my deadlines but using NaNo to get back into gear. 😁. BTW are you physic with that Pandemic story or what!!🔮😱

[@carnelias1]

Yes, November is flying by quick

[@roxannawhatever]

Always an inspiration and motivator. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@adrabloodstone6388]

I am still sticking with mine even though I am hand writing. I had imposter syndrome bad yesterday. Some of my handwritten chapters are not even 3 pages long which I know means that it won't even be half a page in a word document. I went down the rabbit hole of well I managed to outline this into another book, I need a series bible, and so on. I spent most of the day working on convincing myself no you need to keep writing it and you can polish it up when you type it up then if you still like it make the series bible or redo the outline after you hit the last chapter and finish it.

[@KaterynaM_UA]

ok I literally got misty eyed at the "happy" story. T_T

[@terijo67]

Thank you Sarra. I will most likely hit my word count within the next two days, but I have this gnawing desire to rip into it. One of my friends is reading it. I warned her, it is so full of holes and needs drastic editing. I would not let myself touch it, though, because that is what always stopped me in the past. I am a perfectionist, so whenever I saw issues, I would stop writing. This time I have made it through. I usually play World of Warcraft, but now, writing has displaced that a bit. I greatly enjoy sitting down and writing instead of mindlessly farming or playing quests. I have also been reading the Shadow Demon series. I love that you had readings of your books. When I am working, I have been listening to everything you shared. You are an amazing writer and the inspiration you give every day has kept me going. When I first decided to do nanowrimo this year, all I could see was the mountain of words in front of me and I was afraid it would never happen. There's an example I use, though. When you stand at the bottom of the mountain all you can see is the face of it and you are surrounded by trees. halfway up, you can see over the tops of trees, but your vision is still obscured by the mountain. At the top, though, you can spin and spin and everything changes. The most beautiful thing is that if there are others up there, you can share your thoughts and it paints a beautiful tapestry of a thousand realities.

[@placebo11000]

Great video. So excited for another coffee chat tomorrow

[@elizalagonia1049]

Just before I started drafting my WIP in August 2018 I rewatched Rosewell from the early 2000s and had a great idea for an Aliens in plain sight story, mainly so I could fix what they did to Tess (I hated what they did to Tess and it made absolutely no sense at all). I couldn't get the idea out of my head. Luckily just then Jenna Mereci had a video on "What to do if you have this flashy new idea that comes into your head, but you're already working on something." Or it was in a Q&A video or something like that. I basically took her advice of writing everything I had about the idea put it in a file. I spent a week world-building coming up with characters that weren't exactly like the characters in Rosewell and how to start the novel and all that sort of thing. Now when I'm stuck or I need to try something different I open my world-building doc and read it and add things and change things around. For my NaNo Project, I'm working really quickly because these chapters were heavily edited before, but I'm coming to some parts that I need to cut or move and I know I'm going to slow down. I'm also trying to fit in all of the notes I made from Save the Cat, but it's sometimes hard to follow the beats because I'm writing a soap with a cast of characters and though I have a lead character who's actions drive the story I need to put their stories in too. Of course, using Save the Cat helped me realize my last book was just fluff and nothing would happen- except in the 2002 storyline and I needed something more and why and Now I've been adding hints here and there about book 4s conflict.

[@MagicalDreaming]

Thank you for this pep talk! For the past few days, I've barely hit above 300 words a day on my project. I thought I was losing characterisation, that my story was dull, and ultimately there wasn't much point in continiung. I also had another idea tossing around in my brain and was quite tempted to just start fresh on that one because I thought I had more "muse" for it. After hearing your message, I pushed through the brain fog and wrote 4000 words today. I'm still 2,000 behind and that will double going into the next day, but if I aim for the same amount tomorrow then I'll be back on track! I honestly needed to hear this and I felt so inspired by what you said. It gave me the kick I needed to get back into the story and refreshed my mindset; I do want to finish this story and I know in a few months I'll be so happy that I did. Again, thank you!!

[@sineperil]

Kind of needed that. My nano ms wrapped up at 32k (😳) and I don't feeling like fleshing it out. After 15 books I know what I SHOULD do. But I don't wanna! 💙

[@shawnafairytale]

Thank you for this! I feel myself slowing down questioning myself. I am only 2,000 Words behind, but I will catch up.

[@RobynCoburn]

“Happy”. What a lovely story.

[@s.k.derbas]

You have hit the nail on the head for me and my projects. My friend Katrina told me that I had to watch this video ASAP because everything that you said about getting to the middle part of book is totally me. I 100% have a saboteur in my head. I wrote 30K of my one project back during Camp NaNo in July and I got stuck. I felt bogged down. The middle was pretty much drowning me and I even took a few months off of writing all together. Then for NaNo this November I decided to work on a different idea I had come up with a couple years ago. It was just sitting in my document of ideas I want to write and this NaNo has been so SLOW going with that story and for some strange reason I opened up my Scrivener doc with my camp july project and didn't even know WHY I left it. So, I've completely changed course for NaNo this season and am hoping to finish my first draft of the project from over the summer. I appreciate everything that you've said and how transparent and honest you are with all of us. You are truly an inspiration

[@cate5029]

What a great pep talk and just what I needed to hear. So proud of you for sticking with your story Sarra. ❤❤

[@nohea_robertson]

Sarra you are such an inspiration to me! I’ve been writing since the age of 15, but nothing published. I recently got a believe tattoo as a reminder to myself that I can do this and I can become a published author. I need to stop being so scared and take that next step!

[@craftingrubydreams]

Thanks for this, Sarra. I needed to hear this because last week, I rediscovered a 90K novel I wrote in 2013 and I started rereading it and enjoyed a lot of the beginning. I’m hoping to get back into writing in 2021 with writing a book just for me. Taking the original premise might be the best rather than trying to rework the original manuscript.

[@tlightsylvan]

this is almost exactly what I'm going thru right now 😅 revisiting an old project from over a decade ago that may be easier working on a new project altogether. thanks so much for this advice bc most "other" signals out there (especially those that don't take into consideration being indie) just tell you to give up and move on to the new thing. but I feel CALLED to FINISH my projects, not abandon them. it's the promise to myself as a writer. this video is the ~confirmation~ I needed to tell me what I'm doing isn't a totally worthless effort. thanks so much (again!). (I also read beautiful demons wayyy back in the day. it's so cool to see you talking about it on the channel like this 🤓)

[@brookdwyer4554]

Thank you! I am right where you are talking about and even had a “brilliant” idea while in a run earlier this week and started writing some notes. Thank you for this message.

[@patricialivangood3748]

Sara, I've got a question. When a plot bunny comes up do you write it down quickly, so you can go back to it at a later date so you can focus on the story you're working on? I know that I've started projects and stopped because of the plot bunnies. So your advice makes sense, focus on the present story so you get that one done no matter how messy it seems.

[@SarahMJordan]

I so needed to hear this! Last nano (2019) I quit Midway through and trashed what probably would have been a pretty good book. I'm starting to lose steam now but I'm not giving up. Thanks for your continued inspiration and support. 💓

[@sarahcole7338]

First one❤️❤️love Sarra, such an inspiration❤️

[@ohreallyalana]

Happy! My heart 💜 that's so sweet and precious! Love this talk, Sarra! It's incredible the way your path to publication turned out. So inspiring! I have fallen behind with a few things that have happened out of my control but I'm not giving up! Sending love and good vibes your way! ✨

[@saravallejo3399]

Sarra speaking right to me and my worries/issues tonight! Thanks for the encouragement. :)

[@ghostyplans]

I’m sticking with it! It hasn’t been too hard, because I’m really powering through the plot. I know it’s trash, but I also know there are some amazing scenes too!

[@candacehardy100]

So I’m like old enough to be retired &I so often think why did I start so many things over the years and either not finish them or not do anything with them. The answer is, of course, a long story. And the other answer is that I’m finishing them now. But jeez i took late bloomer a to an extreme. So that’s my cautionary tale. Love your sites. Virtual hugs.

[@pinkskiestoday]

The virtual writing retreat sounds fun! I'm so excited for your Disney trip.

[@mizzelle71]

Oof did this hit me in the feels. I've done Nano now since 2002 and only year did I finish with beginning middle and end. The rest are a mess. I've tried to rewrite a few of them, but I've struggled to capture the same magic. I'm working on the same project although I've jumped backwards in the past. I'm past 30K and feeling a little better. The 30Ks are always *hard*. I hope edits go well.

[@jessboucher1735]

Yes!! I have definitely been struggling lately this advice is much needed! ❤

[@kimroberts8113]

Sarra - this was exactly what I needed to hear right now 🥰

[@adriannanorth]

Thank you for this post!! I haven’t written in over a week, but now I’m going to get back to it!!

[@jeanshelbybooks4154]

Thank you for this video!! I NEEDED to hear the encouragement to keep going with the tangled book I have. 🤗🤗

[@IndigoC4]

Got to 19,226 words... feel it's about to end. My dad wants to beta read and help with edits so that will help me a lot

[@michelledavis7266]

I'm 35,550 words into my NaNo cozy mystery. And I don't have many index cards with scene ideas left so I'm nervous.

[@bluovalgal]

I've been working on my story/first draft for two years now. The characters and story have stuck in my head and lived there that I have to put them on page to get them out. If I get plot bunnies, I have a Techo I keep those ideas in, which I can look at later.

[@ellieveravlogs]

Very wise words!

[@MsMotherWolf]

Nah, it's just the right kick in the pants, finish that novel! that's needed.

[@SaraLea]

I have so many issues when I go to those kinds of stores. I can’t resist anything lol

[@SaraLea]

I love your vlogs 🤷‍♀️

[@kathywerebwrites]

Sarra, what is the name of the app or website that you mentioned that will read your story out loud? I can't remember which video you mentioned it in. :) Thanks!

[@PHDinMeTV]

If you really want to make your dreams come true- FINISH THIS BOOK 📖

[@lindawarner9406]

I started one changed working on the second one still

[@IndigoC4]

Started Death's Awakening... wonder why nobody's written about pandemic we're going through.. welp.. guess I better write it myself.😯😮😯

[@emielou]

I know most book places like Amazon and Kindle said they wouldn't accept any works regarding the pandemic. I know quite a few have written about it, I think getting published might be an issue x

[@addisonroberts1858]

YASSS HI!

[@nikkiguerlain]

💗💗💗

[@thedoover6520]

Guilty 🤔.