Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Suck Less

So I was trolling Facebook the other day. It's pretty standard for me these days. I can fly through my lists and like and comment in a few minutes. I like it. Someone had said something about their family motto (for which I instantly felt inferior), and my husband reminded me that we too, have a family motto.

Suck Less.

I decided this is a good motto for a lot of things, writing included. So as I prepare to k-i-l-l my concept for NaNo with lots of words, I'm going to try to make them suck less.

Of course, how one goes about doing that is another matter entirely. I've been reading a lot lately (lucky you, because as usual, I'll be talking about the books I love), and I think instead of giving you a recommendation on why you'll like a book from a reader's standpoint, I think I'll talk about how amazing the books are based on their writing -- and what I learned from it.

This might only last for one or two books (let's be honest here), but I've read some really good ones lately that have struck something in me. Something that sounds a lot like This sucks less. Make yours suck less.

So that's my official goal for NaNo. Do you have a writing goal? In general or for NaNo?

19 comments:

Rebecca Gomez said...

For NaNo, I simply want to get my book written. I'll worry about sucking less when I revise!

Echo F. M. said...

My goal for NaNo this year is to be as descriptive as possible. They might not be great descriptions, but I'd rather get out as much as I can as creatively as I can. We'll work on sucking less later.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Yes, it's "suck less"!
And I like the idea of recommending a book based on the writing. I like to be surprised.

ilima said...

Love your motto. I think mine should be...Write Something. :)

Stephsco said...

I'm so encouraged to see published authors participating in Nano! I had mixed feelings on the experience before, wondering if I was simply word-hurling to make the deadline, but the more I write, and the more intentional I am with my time, Nano is a great opportunity to stay focused.

My Nano goal is to resist RESIST! editing.

Miranda Hardy said...

I'm just hoping to keep to my writing schedule through the month. Hopefully, I can exceed my expectations.

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

My goal is to get back on a good writing schedule. It'd be awesome if I got 50k out of it but BICHOK every day is my main goal...and then to keep it up AFTER NaNo!

Peggy Eddleman said...

I didn't know you were doing NaNo! I am, too, for the first time ever. :) My goal is to write all of my book, how ever many words over 50,000 that takes.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I like your motto. Over the next week, I plan on finishing up my MG novel. After that, I'll be writing a short story for an anthology.

Angela Brown said...

Suck less is pretty straight to the point.

And meaningful.

No NaNo for me this year. Just working on some short stories, about 4 to start off with, that I hope to finish before the end of November.

Happy Halloween!!

Stina said...

Can't wait to read your new posts, Elana!!!

I'm finishing edits to bk 2 of book deal, which I plan to send to CP and first round betas next week. I'll be working on promo for upcoming launch, AND working on new WIP. I'm not officially doing NaNo. I just happen to be writing a first draft during November.

Good luck with your NaNo project!!!

Anonymous said...

No goals for NaNo since I'm not doing it this year. Best wishes to you with NaNo.

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

I only have about half the month of November to actually draft (other revisions plus travel interfering) but I'm going to do my best because it's DO OR DIE TIME!!!

Haneen Ibrahim said...

Simply 'Finish' that is my main goal for NaNo, and then I can brag and say I've written two novels Ha Ha!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love that! (Our family motto has been technology hates us ... but we're looking to update :P)

My goal for NaNo is to have conflict/tension in all my scenes - and to have no wasted scenes. Ha. We'll see. :)

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Kittie Howard said...

I'm too much of a wimp to do NaNo. But 'Suck Less" works! But Jemi's family motto is close to home: Dinosaurs Live Here! Computer stuff drives me nuts!

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Kathryn Purdie said...

That's a great way to review. I look forward to your posts. And it ties in with November...being positive and being grateful go hand-in-hand, yes? I, too, am going to commit to suck less. :-)

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