Hey there! I’m A.J. Parker, a poet and young adult fiction writer. You can find me on Instagram, Tumblr, Bluesky, X, and of course, here on Substack. Thanks for reading :)
Happy November! I won’t say it’s not overwhelming every time this time of year rolls around and people start whispering 50,000 words? Yeah, 50,000 words!
I’ve written plenty of 50,000 words batches but for some reason whenever it comes down to November crunch time, I cross my arms and scowl like a toddler, digging my heel in.
I have been loosely involved in Nanowrimo in years past but never quite successfully, so I’m excited to follow First Draft November’s lead this year. Usually I’m in the throes of revisions, so I consider my 50K to be 50K words of editing which is, I’ll admit, cheating a bit. This time, I’m going to work on the sequel to the YA fantasy I am currently (lightly) querying. And yes, there will be some editing, but any progress is progress, right?
Another change I’ve made to my writing process is that I finally purchased Scrivener. I remember as a child going over to my neighborhood best friend’s house, peering over her shoulder as she showed me her stories on the platform and yearning to write my own. So I thought, heck it! I’m an adult. It’s time to invest in my own writing process. I’ve had to watch a lot of YouTube videos to become more acquainted, but I am liking it a lot so far. (If you have any Scrivener advice of your own, please let me know in the comments!)
With Scrivener has come the ability–or shall I say, the possibility–of outlining more thoroughly. In newsletters past, I’ve talked about how I am a discovery writer. I’m trying to reign this in a bit, still knowing discovery is a huge part of the process for me, but creating a sparse outline that allows me to see I need to get from Point A to Point B somehow.
A plot grid has been recommended to me a couple times, so I finally caved and downloaded Claire Fraise’s version if you’re interested in one yourself.
Anywho, it’s been a bit rough over here in A.J.-land, so I’m not sure how much writing I’ll accomplish, but I’m sticking to my mantra: just doing my best.
Wishing you all luck if you’re writing this month too!
-a.j. <3
Looking for more? My website is here.
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