A Mad Vox

Discover the shiny in your story.

This is the 23rd day of NaNoWriMo. I don't know about you, but I've noticed there are all sorts of new things on the horizon, ready to draw my attention and take up all my free time. In this next week, the number of those things will likely increase.

Which is why today I'm going to talk about really understanding what is shiny about your story.

Sometimes I feel like creative writers can gravitate toward ideas that are presented in a certain way:
There's a sense of newness. Yet a relatability that seems attainable. It's attractive, it's inspiring, and it's just within our grasp if we can just put in enough effort to reach it.

Inspiration comes from just about any giving source. The problem is when we let our inspiration overtake our sense of focus on one project and start gearing up to do another.
It makes it tough to focus on the task at hand. And the luster seems to fade a bit from the project at hand.

This is a classic example of 'grass is greener' syndrome.

Or the snowflakes are prettier?

Hmm... It doesn't really snow where I am, but I do know it's that time of year where everything is sparkly and novel, and if you're anything like someone we know you're can get distracted quite easily. And often.

But, what if we learn to find the shiny thing in our own work?
This will help us to stay focused long enough to finish and It will be a way to guarantee that you'll attract a readership. At least if you follow through on the activity part of this learning.

Experiment

Can you identify the shiny part of your story? The part of the story that makes others go "Ooh, I want to read that!"

That's the thing that you can use to keep going and push through the distractions of everything else to complete your challenge.

This is an experiment to try.

Talk to at least 3 people about your novel ideally, in your target readership. Give them a synopsis and let them ask you a couple of questions about your story.

Note their reactions as you describe your character and the various things the character encounters in your story. Did you notice their eyes light up about any aspect of the character or any aspects of your story?

Ask the person if the story sounds like something they'd be interested in reading? And ask them why.

Note: Before you talk to these people make sure to answer these questions for yourself first. This will give you a hypothesis and let you compare your answers with actual data.

QoTD

Did you try the experiment? What did you learn about your story that others find shiny and how can you add in more of those shiny things? Let me know on social media (and mention Episode 23)

By rediscovering the sense of newness about your story through someone else's eyes, the idea is that you'll be drawn into a feedback loop that will inspire you to want to tell your story to the person who's excited to read it.

I hope all of that sparkle and shine will give you what you need to stay focused and committed to polishing that first draft that you'll have finished by the end of the month.

Thanks for listening! If you find this of value please consider rating and reviewing it in Apple podcasts (A.k.a. iTunes) and sharing it with a friend.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

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Take time to back up your story.

It's day 18 of NaNoWriMo. We've been chugging along for two and a half weeks. I feel like things are going well. I'm optimistic about the state of our novel writing because I believe we will get there.

But... And there had to be a but... I feel like I need to back UP here and let you know about something important.

Imagine this scenario of you getting almost all the way through your novel and all of a sudden, due to circumstances beyond your control you no longer have access to your previous writing. How does that make you feel? If you have a growing pit in your stomach at the mere thought then this is the episode for you.

This episode is meant to help you back up your novel. I would advise you to do that immediately.

If you're anything like someone we know you've probably devised a trustworthy method to flawlessly capture your finest novelry along with a few other words you've bookmarked to rework later.
You're feeling secure in this method of writing that has never failed you before.

Let me do a time check. Yep, it's time Back up your novel.

No matter if you're writing on your own reliable personal computer, offline, in the cloud, or some other way. Now that you know why you need to back up your writing I'm going to give you a few tips on how.

There are typically three ways that writers are writing their novels.

Offline

This means either by hand or dictation into a device with audio capturing capability.

• On a computer, this could be a desktop, laptop, or other personal digital device, such as a tablet or a phone.

Online

I recommend using a different storage method than the one that you're using to write your novel.

For personal device /private storage

Back up methods Offline/ external storage

• External Hard Drive
• Thumb Drive
• Print

Cloud-Based

• Emailing your novel to yourself and then downloading that file
• Google Docs
• One Drive, if you prefer Microsoft

If you use an iOS device you can use AirDrop to transfer your novel to another iOs device using blue tooth or WiFi.

NaNoWriMo Sponsored: Dropbox Paper

If you do at least one of these this week you will avoid the panic and heartache that will overtake your senses in the earlier scenario I gave.

I'm curious to know if you have a backup, which method you prefer to use: Offline, Transfer to an external device, or the cloud where it's always accessible with an internet connection?

LMK #amadvox on Twitter, and note you're responding to Episode 18.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Try the Weekend Double Up Challenge.

Today, writer, let's play a writing game called the "Weekend Double Up Challenge"

We're headed into another weekend. This is a perfect time to try to boost your word count up there, as this next week might be a little shorter and unpredictable due to the upcoming holiday.

The Double Up Challenge

Calculate your daily word count goal and double it

Do three sprints with the following prompts.

• Incorporate two senses in your story. If your character has seen something, try adding in another way to experience something in your story. For example, have the lights go out and let them find their way out of a situation by sound or by smell.

Memories - Every show has that character building episode where the characters sit around and reminisce about the old days. Try a scene where each character is rehashing a version of past events that somewhat contradict another character's version of events. That will make for some interesting character-driven moments and it may help your MC figure out what motivates others by being able to see them in a new light.

Double double. Have your characters double back and return to a place they've been to before. What would they do differently having the knowledge and info at this point in your story that they didn't have previously?

For more prompt ideas

NaNo Word Sprints: twitter.com/NaNoWordSprints

NaNoWriMo Prompts forum: nanowrimo.org/forums/word-wars-prompts-sprints

If you are a subscriber and find the show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider leaving a rating and a review to help others know about A Mad Vox.

Have you followed any writing prompts this month or have you decided to stick strictly to your plot?

Let me know #amadvox on Twitter or reply on this episode page: podcast.amadvox.com Episode 17

Thank you for listening!

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Choose What Happens Next.

This is the 29th day of NaNoWriMo. We have one more day and then... this leads to a very good question of what's next? That's what this episode is all about.

Perhaps you've given it a lot of thought, or you're still feverishly typing away to finish the story you've outlined. Either way, I've got some ideas to share with you that will help you move forward after the challenge.

What's next?

1. Finish
2. Take a break - take as much time as you need and when your creativity cup is full come on back for the next step
3. Dive into the next creative project
4. NaNoEdMo (National Novel Editing Month)

Starts March 1.
Challenge: 50 hours of editing.

I'm curious to know what you're going to do next?

What's next for A Mad Vox beyond "NaNoWriMo Edition"?

It's been a pleasure sharing my tips and tools to help you crush Nano. I have been wanting to do this for a long time, at least for the last few years. It turned out that this was the perfect time for me to make it happen. But I couldn't have done it without the encouragement and support of my friends and family, the challenge organizers, as well as other podcasting pioneers who have gone before and made it simple by sharing their tips and tools with newbies like me.

This is my way of paying it forward. I hope it doesn't stop with me or you. I plan to continue podcasting; trying out new creative things to challenge myself, share my experiences with others, and inspire more people to discover, hone, and use their voices to share their stories.

After tomorrow I'll be taking a break from podcasting daily to bring you the regular and likely, weekly, edition of A Mad Vox coming next.

In the meantime, I'm gathering my best creative productivity tips and tools and making my list of other fun challenges to try in the future. Until then, please make sure to subscribe via your favorite podcatcher.

Thank you so much for listening to A Mad Vox: NaNoWriMo Edition. I'll see you in the next episode!

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

## We've Got the Goods to Celebrate Your Progress.

Show notes summary:

• Celebrate
• Thank MLs
• Thank people who have supported you thus far.
• Check out NaNoWriMo.org for sponsor goodies to try either 50% or for a no-credit-card required free trial!

Today is Municipal Liaison Appreciation day. A Municipal Liaison (ML) is a designated volunteer who works hard to coordinate write-in schedules, manages communication to your region each week, in addition to a bunch of other things behind the scenes, which of course, includes writing their own novel.

If you have a moment go to the Nanowrimo.org website and send a note to your ML thanking them for the all of the support and guidance that they've provided to local writers like you all this month.

I'm curious to know if you've used any of the sponsor goods on the site this month?
Let me know on Twitter by using the hashtag #amadvox and I'll check it out.

Find "A Mad Vox" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or almost anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you find this show of value, don’t keep it a secret. Please consider sharing this show with someone you know participating in NaNoWriMo, and leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts to let others know about A Mad Vox. Thank you!

How do you leave a review on Apple Podcasts?

Find the show using search keywords "A Mad Vox" in the App store under the Podcast Category (Arts).

Click on the show page. Find the tab that says "rating and reviews".

Rate the show (Gimme ALL the stars, please! :)) and write a brief review. Then hit submit.

Connect with A Mad Vox on social media! Use #amadvox to join in the conversation.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook