As I’ve been slowly finding my way back to writing joy, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned in the hope that it will help someone else. Goodness knows this pandemic life hasn’t been easy.

Here are my top tips (so far) to recapture joy in your writing:

1. Give yourself a break

I’ve learned from bitter experience that pushing through isn’t always the answer. I kept working through 2020 thinking nothing was wrong (I’m an extreme introvert—I love staying at home), but, looking back, the quality of my work was lacking. And, if I’m being honest, my heart wasn’t in it. It felt like work.

If you’re feeling something similar, step away if you can. Give yourself a vacation. And maybe a social media and news vacation while you’re at it. How long depends on how you feel. When your project starts whispering in your ear and filling your dreams again, it’s a good sign that you’re ready to get back at it.

If you have an external deadline that you’re working toward, you may not have much choice but to power through, but I’d suggest asking if you can have an extension. If you’re upfront and give plenty of warning, most editors and publishers will understand, especially now. Just don’t make a habit of it.

And if your external deadline is for a contest or an open call, ask yourself what you’ll regret more: rushing to submit work that may not be your best or waiting for the next opportunity. There are always new anthologies, submission windows, and contests opening up. Sometimes you have to choose your battles.

2. Tidy/simplify/organize your writing space

If you firmly believe that a messy desk is the sign of a brilliant mind, you may want to skip this one. I’m an organized chaos kind of gal, so I get it. But I find that once in a while, I need to clean, especially now that my writing space is doing double duty as a work-from-home space.

I have a Rubbermaid tub in the basement that houses stuff that I don’t need anymore but want to hang on to. I’ve filed away past years’ important documents and shredded the rest. If I haven’t looked at it or referenced it in a year, and there’s not a creative or personal business need to keep it … it goes. 

It’s amazing how much all those pieces of paper can weigh and how light you’ll feel when you get rid of them.

Have too many devices, cords, etc.? See what you can move/remove without negatively impacting your process. Loose pens? Put them in a small jar or cup. Notes everywhere? Get a corkboard or a magnet board.

You don’t have to go for the full Marie Kondo treatment, but clearing out some of the clutter will make your writing space more pleasant to work in, which can help you recapture joy in your creative process.

3. Small changes can make a big difference

While you’re tidying up, consider the tools of your trade. Is there something you can change that would make a big difference? Is there a piece of technology that’s hindering your creative work?

I’ll give you a couple of examples, so you can have a better idea of what I’m talking about.

Example one:

When I got my last computer, I invested in a wireless keyboard and mouse. I didn’t want the clutter of extra cables. Unfortunately, over time both became glitchy. I was also concerned about the environmental impact of using so many batteries.

I went back to corded peripherals. They’re much more dependable. I didn’t realize how much stress I was experiencing from using the wireless ones until I stopped.

Example two:

Years ago, I purchased a standing desk. It’s adjustable, so I can sit or stand, but at the time, sitting was an issue. I would get so focused on a task or project that I would lean forward, hunch over my keyboard, and tense up. I was so sore after sitting for 30 minutes or an hour that standing at my desk was the solution.

Now, I’ve been writing while standing for eight years. I’m not sure if it’s still benefiting me the way it used to, so I’ve decided to try sitting again for a while. I’ve adjusted the chair, so the seat pan and chair back are both tilted to encourage me to lean back and relax. It’s only been a week, but it’s working out well. I’m not sore, and I’ve already seen better productivity.

4. Every word’s a victory

If your practice has been shaken by the pandemic or your productivity is not where it used to be, take heart. This too shall pass.

Taking a break can feel like defeat, but when you start writing again, adopt the beginner’s mindset. Every word you write, every sentence, every paragraph, is a victory. It’s a word, sentence, or paragraph you didn’t have before.

Build on that foundation as you start to recapture joy. Set small, reasonable goals. Stay flexible. Stay positive.

5. So, celebrate!

Writing is hella hard. Take some time to recognize the work you’ve done each day. It may seem silly to celebrate a sentence or two, but soon, you’ll be celebrating paragraphs, pages, and even chapters.

When you first start writing again, your initial gains may be small. Reward yourself accordingly. A piece of your favorite candy for a couple of sentences or a paragraph. Fifteen minutes of YouTube for a page. Thirty minutes of gaming for a chapter. A nice dinner (or take out) with a loved one for a short story edited and submitted.

You get the idea. You’ll want to decide what an appropriate reward is for each accomplishment based on your own preferences and life circumstances. Recognizing your writing accomplishments will go a long way to maintaining your motivation moving forward.

6. Be kind (to yourself) and stay strong

And now, we enter the self-care portion of the column. Self-care has been getting some flack lately, but what I’m talking about here isn’t about a spa day (though that’s nice—maybe use it as a reward?). It’s about making sure you stay healthy. That’s the best kind of self-care.

• Sleep: Make sure you get a full night of it, that’s seven or eight hours for most people. Develop a sleep hygiene routine (I’ll let you Google that).
• Physical activity: Fit (see what I did there?) some in every day. I walk my dog twice a day. After work, to separate work time from creative time, I do a little weightless workout or some yoga. A simple, ten-minute routine. You don’t have to sweat. Just get moving.
• Feed your body and mind: I’m not recommending any kind of restrictive diet here. Just eat well-balanced meals, and work in as much “brain food” as you can. Leafy greens, oily fish, avocado, nuts, etc. “Brain food” is another thing you can Google.
• Foster self-awareness: This is all about listening to your body and what it needs. Uncomfortable? Get up and stretch. Hungry? Have a healthy snack. Sleepy? Take a ten-minute “power nap.”
• Breathe: This is the simplest way to make yourself feel good. Counted breathing, progressive relaxation, all the way up to meditation. All you need is five minutes to relax and refresh.

Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.

7. Bonus: Prepare for tough decisions

If you find you’re still struggling to recapture joy and get back into the writing groove even after you’re healthy, well-rested, motivated, and have organized your schedule for prime writing time, there may be something else interfering that you haven’t considered.

The last 20 months of pandemic have affected the mental health of a lot of people in negative ways. If you suspect that you may need some support, see a doctor and talk about options. If your employer has an employee assistance program, reach out. Call a helpline. See if there is a support group in your area (or elsewhere—you can attend by Zoom).

Take a hard look at your commitments. Are you doing too much? Is there anything that you can cut back on? For example, if you volunteer 15 hours a week, consider volunteering fewer hours and make up the difference with a donation or in-kind contribution. Could a family member take on some of your responsibilities and free up some of your time? An older child with a driver’s license could ferry younger siblings to lessons or games.

Sometimes it’s a matter of priority. We’ve gotten into the habit of doing different things with our time because of pandemic restrictions and lockdowns. Do you really need to binge-watch a whole season of that show? Do you have to make that perfect loaf of sourdough bread from scratch? If you genuinely enjoy these activities, use them as a reward (see number 5).

My tough decision is saying goodbye to my DIY MFA family. Though I love writing these columns, I think it’s time to focus on my mental and physical health. Finding out that I’m autistic was a blessing, but it changes everything.

The pandemic has been a game-changer for a lot of reasons. While the pieces of our pre-pandemic “normal” lives are slowly drifting back into place, we have to recognize how much the world, and how much we, have changed. There’s no going back. Now is the perfect time to take control of your life and process and transform them into something that will serve you well into the future.

And try to have some fun in the process, will you? This column is supposed to be about joy!

Remember to keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Tell us in the comments: What have you done to recapture joy in your creative life?

Melanie is an instructional designer by day, SF&F author-in-progress, and ink alchemist by night. She is the third generation of Marttilas to live in her little house on the street that bears her family name. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Speculations: Recapture Joy in Your Writing appeared first on DIY MFA.

I imagine you wondering whether this is a science fictional article, or a fantastic one. It’s both. And yet it’s neither. I’ll explain more, shortly. I’m heading in a more personal direction this time.

The past 18 months have been challenging for all of us. Pandemic life is not kind, to say the least, but challenges often come with gifts, if you can persevere long enough to overcome the one and receive the other. One of my challenges was mental health. The gift was learning that I am on the autism spectrum.

So, this Speculations is going to be partly on the science side—the social sciences, anyway—and partly about how my journey to diagnosis has affected me as a writer and creative in general. Both and neither. See?

Before I proceed, a disclaimer: I can only speak for myself and my experience. Autism is not a monolith. It’s in the name: autism spectrum disorder. No two autistic people are the same.

A Niggling Suspicion about the Autism Spectrum

A few years ago, I was listening to Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) radio in the car. A middle-aged woman who’d recently been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum was talking about her experience. I can’t remember specifically what she said, but I remember my reaction: “Am I on the autism spectrum, too?”

I wouldn’t follow up on my suspicions until February 2021.

Into the Past

I was a shy child. But I could also be giggly and hyperactive. I didn’t make friends easily. While I felt the impact of life events intensely, I often failed to read the emotional cues of other children. Sarcasm went over my head. I often said inappropriate things. I never knew how to react.

I did well in school, often finishing my homework before I left class. In those days, I read books in a matter of days. Sometimes hours.

In my teens, I learned that people thought I was a snob. I was so occupied with observation, with trying to decode other people’s behaviour—so I could have a clue about how to behave myself—that I came off as aloof and superior.

I continued to have difficulties navigating interpersonal relationships into adulthood. My early relationships were serious from the first, but inevitably imploded after a couple of years. Moving away from home to attend university was more of a culture shock for me than many of my peers.

Even after meeting and marrying my spouse, getting a full-time job, a mortgage, and a car, I continued to struggle. Eventually I was diagnosed with depression, prescribed medication, and a course of talk therapy.

Back to the Pandemic

You thought I was going to say future, didn’t you?

In December 2020, I was successful in an internal assessment process and started my dream job as an instructional designer. I also finished the latest draft of a science fiction novel and submitted it to my critique group.

In January 2021, the critiques began to roll in. No one could relate to my character. I couldn’t seem to get the emotions on the page. At the same time, I was struggling to get up to speed in my new job. Impostor syndrome on every side, I began to have panic attacks.

Out of curiosity, I filled out an online screening tool from Autism Canada. The results indicated that I was likely on the spectrum.

I am privileged to have a good employer with excellent benefits and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). I reached out for counselling after consulting my doctor. I expressed my niggling suspicion to my counsellor: Am I on the autism spectrum? Could this be the reason for my difficulties in my career and creative life? My disposition toward depression and anxiety?

My counsellor made a referral to a psychotherapist who specialized in diagnosing adults and children on the autism spectrum. After an interview, during which the process was explained and the cost detailed, I committed to the assessment process. I had to know.

Over the course of April and May, I was assessed. The conclusion? Yes. I am on the autism spectrum. High functioning, non-severe symptoms. If it was still a distinct diagnosis, I’d be Asperger’s, or an aspie.

The diagnosis was a relief. It explained so much, not the least of which was why I was always so exhausted. In the past, I’d investigated other possibilities, like anaemia and sleep apnea, with my doctor. Diagnosis revealed to me that it’s a side-effect of trying to function in a neurotypical world.

Because of my high intelligence (this is not a brag—an intelligence test was part of the assessment, and I scored very high in two of five categories, above average in two others, and average in the last), I have developed coping and masking strategies that allowed me to excel in school and at work.

Life on the Autism Spectrum

Here I am, a 51-year-old woman, finally given the key to my life’s struggles. Though the door is unlocked and I’ve entered the room, there is so much to sift through that it will be years before I understand it all.

I’ve gained perspective though. I’ve taken a number of courses to help me improve my ability to get emotions on the page. I’m back to revisions on my novel, but it’s going slow. I’m learning to listen to my instinct. I’m a good writer. I have the publications to prove it. I’m good at my job. I wouldn’t have a 20-year career otherwise. I’m not less than. I’m just different. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that.

I’ve recently experienced my first episode of autistic burnout, post-diagnosis. I didn’t know what was happening to me until the worst was past. Essentially, overwhelm causes executive function to shut down. Decisions seem impossible. It’s hard to think. It’s hard to articulate anything. The only cure is rest and doing activities that bring you joy. Dog cuddles and writing are high on my list.

I’m reaching out to the EAP again in the hope that they’ll help me identify the warning signs and prevent another episode from happening in the future. I’ve made some small changes that have had big results in terms of fending off overwhelm.

This is not the end of my journey. It’s a work in progress. Just like me.

Thank you for joining me for this very personal Speculations.

And, until next time, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie is an instructional designer by day, SF&F author-in-progress and ink alchemist by night. She is the third generation of Marttilas to live in her little house on the street that bears her family name. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Speculating Neurodiversity: One Author’s Journey with the Autism Spectrum appeared first on DIY MFA.

Then May 25, 2020 arrived, and 8 minutes and 46 seconds changed everything. Though George Floyd was not the first, nor, sadly, the last Black person to die as a result of police violence, his death was the last straw and people all over the world are protesting in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

I had planned another topic for this Speculations, but I want instead to amplify Black voices in science fiction and fantasy. There is a lot of great literature produced by Black writers, not only across all genres, but also in non-fiction. If you do nothing else in response to the events of May 25th, you should be reading, researching, and learning. We need to do better, but we can’t unless we seek first to understand systemic racism, the injustice it fosters, and interrogate our own innate biases.

As Cree Myles said in her recent The Mary Sue article, if you want to unlearn racism, read Black science fiction and fantasy. I want to suggest some fabulous authors to start with.

The Elder Statespersons

Octavia Butler (June 22, 1947 – February 24, 2006) published her first short fiction in 1971. She went on to win two Hugo and two Nebula awards, among other prestigious awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction author to win the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, in 2000, she won the PEN Lifetime Achievement award, and in 2010, she was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

Butler’s Parable series, though written in the 90’s, was chillingly prescient in the 2010’s. If you’re going to start anywhere, I’d start with the Parable of the Sower. Then, keep on reading.

Samuel R. Delany was born in 1942 and published his first novel, The Jewels of Aptor, in 1962. After winning four Nebula Awards and two Hugo Awards, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2002. From 1975 until 2015, he was professor of English, Comparative Literature, and Creative Writing at SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Albany, and Temple University. The Science Fiction Writers of America named Delany their 30^th SFWA Grand Master in 2013.

His web site (linked above) includes a helpful “Delany for Beginners” page which features fiction and non-fiction selections.  

The Critically and Publicly Acclaimed

Caribbean-born Canadian, Nalo Hopkinson, now lives in California, where she teaches at UC Riverside. She has won the Campbell (now the Astounding), Locus, Sunburst (twice), Aurora, Philip K. Dick, and World Fantasy awards. At the last WorldCon I attended in Helsinki, I tried to get to as many of Hopkinson’s panels and presentations as I could. She’s that insightful. Brown Girl in the Ring, Skin Folk, The Salt Roads, Sister Mine, Midnight Robber, it doesn’t matter where you start. Open a Nalo Hopkinson novel or collection and you’ll be steeped in Caribbean folklore, Afro-Caribbean culture, and feminist themes.

N.K. Jemisin worked as a counselling psychologist and has the distinction of being the only author to win back-to-back-to-back Hugo awards for books of the same series. That series would be The Broken Earth. You could start earlier with The Inheritance trilogy or the Dreamblood duology, or head straight for her latest novel, The City We Became, start of The Great Cities series (sentient cities vs. eldritch horrors—yum!).

Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian-American author of science fiction and fantasy for adults and younger readers. Recently, she’s also written for Marvel’s Black Panther and Shuri comics and for Dark Horse’s LaGuardia comic. Like other authors on this list, she’s won the Locus, Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards. Her novel Who Fears Death is being adapted into a TV series for HBO and Okofafor is working on an adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Wildseed for Amazon Prime. Her best-known series is Binti, which you can now get in a collected volume.

Marlon James is a Jamaican writer who wrote three critically acclaimed (A Brief History of Seven Killings won the 2015 Man Booker Prize) literary novels before diving into fantasy with his Black Leopard Red Wolf, the first of a planned trilogy. James is a master of deep point of view. The reader becomes Tracker. Brilliant.

Authors with New and Upcoming Novels

Full disclosure, I attended TorCon (Tor.com’s virtual convention) in June and a session on worldbuilding with Onyebuchi, Morrow, Davis, and Clark. It was awesome, and that’s why they’re on this list.

Tochi Onyebuchi is a civil rights lawyer of Nigerian descent and a science fiction author. After releasing three books for young adults, his first adult novel, Riot Baby, was published Jan 21, 2020.

Though A Song Below Water is not Bethany C. Morrow’s debut, it is her most recent YA release (June 2, 2020). A Black siren in Portland? I am so there.

Charlotte Nicole Davis’s debut, The Good Luck Girls, released in October, 2019. A magical Black sisterhood trying to save themselves and the world? It sounds amazing.

Historian Dexter Gabriel writes science fiction as P. Djèli Clark to avoid confusion in his distinct reader audiences. Also, djèli refers to a West African storyteller (how cool is that?). I loved The Black God’s Drums and am looking forward to the Oct 13, 2020 release of Ring Shout. Clark has already won the Nebula and Locus awards for his novellas.

The Tip of the Iceberg

This list of suggestions is not exhaustive. There is so much wonderful work out there to discover (if you haven’t already). To that end, here are some places to deepen your search:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_science_fiction
• https://www.tor.com/tag/black-sff/
• https://bookriot.com/2019/01/22/african-fantasy-novels/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/gwj03j/2020_sff_new_releases_by_black_authors/

I encourage you to read and support Black authors across the board. It’s the least we can do.

Until next time, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Ten Black Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors to Read Now appeared first on DIY MFA.

This time around, I’m exploring the tarot as a mythic storytelling tool. This will be a three-part series. In this first part, I’ll introduce you to the tarot. In part two, I’ll look at the various tarot books written with writers in mind. Finally, I’ll choose one method to explore the structure of a couple of well-known novels, one science fiction, and one fantasy.

Let’s get started.

The Origins of the Tarot

The basis of the tarot was a deck of playing cards, not dissimilar to the playing cards we know today. Instead of 52 cards (four suits, ace through ten, plus three face cards), however, the core of the deck was 56 cards. In this case, one, or ace through ten, plus four face cards, page, knight, queen, and king, per suit.

This deck of cards was brought to Italy, France, and Germany from the Islamic countries, some experts say Egypt, but it could easily have been Spain. In the other European countries, an additional 22 cards, called triumphs, or trumps, which had no suit, were added. The first tarot decks were recorded as being used in Italy around 1440. The game played with these cards was related to bridge and was variously called triumph, trionfi, tarocco, or tarock.

It would be three centuries before the tarot started to be used in cartomancy or reading the cards to tell the future. Again, Italy led the way with the first tarot cartomancy guidebook dating to 1750. The French would refine the process and deck through the remainder of the 18^th century.

The Minor Arcana

The core deck I mentioned above is also called the minor arcana. Like our playing cards, it’s divided into four suits. These suits correspond not only to the suits you’re familiar with, but also elements and qualities.

The face or court cards are like character archetypes and though the queens may be the only identifiably female card, any of the court cards can represent either (or any) gender. Think of the court cards as representing a spectrum of experience and archetypal role.

The pages represent youthful or innocent characters, the knights are young adults entering the world and encountering its challenges, the queens are parental figures, and the kings are elders. Pair these with the elements and qualities identified with their respective suit, and you can identify archetypes like the young romantic (page of cups) or the crone (king of swords).

The Major Arcana

The 22 cards of the major arcana are numbered zero through 21. While each card has a specific meaning associated with it, people who read the cards for esoteric purposes, or for creative purposes, can simply look at the card and let their intuition lead them to its meaning.

0 – The Fool: Depicts a person walking, sometimes off a cliff, blithely unaware of what they’re getting into. Often accompanied by a small animal, occasionally harassed or held back by that animal. Represents inexperience, the beginning of a journey, or potential as yet untapped.

1 – The Magician: Shows a person with a wand and other tools of the magical trade. Somewhere in the picture is an infinity symbol, or lemniscate. The meaning is transformation, which is related to magic and alchemy. Also, the ability to change the world with knowledge. The magician could also be a charlatan.

2 – The High Priestess: Pictures a woman, sometimes seated. She could be wearing robes or a headdress. The original name of the card was the papess, or female pope. The card means hidden secrets, prophecy, revelations, or intuition.

3 – The Empress: A woman with a crown and sceptre. Representing creation and procreation, the empress is the mother of a nation. She protects and nurtures.

4 – The Emperor: Depicts a man with crown and sceptre, the defender of the realm. Could mean either the masculine virtues, or the masculine weaknesses.

5 – The Hierophant/Pope: Shows a pope, often blessing children. Means good advice or spiritual guidance.

6 – The Lovers: Two people accompanied by Cupid. Other than the obvious meaning, the card also conveys harmony, people working together toward a common goal, or opposites coming together for a greater purpose.

7 – The Chariot: The image is self-explanatory. Could mean travel or riding into battle.

8 – Strength: Usually depicts a woman holding open the jaws of a lion. The card means fortitude or calmness in the face of danger.

9 – The Hermit: Usually a male figure with a walking stick and lantern. Represents a mentor figure, the wisdom of age, or voluntary separation.

10 – The Wheel of Fortune: Depicts the wheel with animals or iconic figures at the four cardinal points. These will vary depending on the focus of the tarot deck. The wheel of fortune means the circle of life, changing circumstances (for better or worse), or evolution.

11 – Justice: Usually shows the scales, but sometimes the figure of justice or blind justice. It represents the law, fairness, and considered decision-making.

12 – The Hanged Man: The image is not what you’d expect, but shows a person hanging upside down from one foot. Generally does not actually mean punishment or hanging, but a change in perspective, self-sacrifice, or trials.

13 – Death: While the card depicts death or the grim reaper, its meaning isn’t literal. The death card means the end of something, loss, or stagnation.

14 – Temperance: This card can show a number of different images, but the meaning is balance, everything in moderation, waiting, or the deferral of a goal.

15 – The Devil: The images vary, but all depict a devil of some variety. Again, the meaning of this card is not literal. It means that a deal is made, or a bond is formed.

16 – The Tower: Shows a tower being struck by lightning and/or on fire. It means disaster or ruin. This is the big bad card of the deck (rather than death or the devil).

17 – The Star: Depicts either an actual star or a young woman. It represents hope or achieving one’s desires, but not in the expected way.

18 – The Moon: The images will show various representations of the moon. The card’s meaning is secrecy, deception, and the ability to see the truth.

19 – The Sun: Shows various depictions of the sun. The best card in the major arcana. It means happiness, peace, or the achievement of a goal.

20 – Judgment: Typically depicts some version of the Biblical judgement day. The meaning of the card is metaphorical, though. It means outcome or result.

21 – The World: While it may show an image of the world, it more often shows a person in harmony with the natural world. It means completion, success, or the proof of lasting change.

Next Time

If you’ve studied any of the mythic structures, you should be able to see similarities with some of the cards of the major arcana. The whole of the tarot is useful as a brainstorming or structuring tool. It can be used to help you through a block or difficulty in your story.

Next time, I’ll be looking at five books on using the tarot cards as a writer.

Until then, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Mythic Storytelling: An Introduction to the Tarot appeared first on DIY MFA.

First, it’s October, so there’s enough time for preparation and participation, if you wish to take on a new project for November. But there are more options than the flurry (or fury, depending on your perspective) of words that is the official NaNoWriMo.

Second, in the last year, NaNoWriMo has undertaken a redesign of their site and of their mission statement. They want to become a support and resource for writers, year-round. This transformation hit the web site in September. Check it out and see what you think.

Here are a few of the ways that you can utilize NaNoWriMo to improve your writing, to experiment, or to shake things up a bit, however—and whenever—you want to challenge yourself in your creative journey.

1) NaNoWriMo Prep

Last year, NaNoWriMo teamed up with Wesleyan University to offer an online prep course. This is a university level introductory creative writing course offered by Wesleyan professors. There are assignments and checkpoints. Everything you need to get started on your writing journey.

The intent is for participants to start the course in September, so it might be a little late for this year’s NaNo, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t register for and complete the course at some other time of the year.

That’s not all NaNoWriMo offers in terms of preparation, though. If you’re interested in something a little more informal, a little more social, check out their NaNo Prep Resources. They have NaNo Prep 101 events, Tweet chats, virtual write-ins, and their fabulous archive of pep talks from some of the best writers in the biz.

2) Tackle a new project during National Novel Writing Month

This is the original challenge NaNoWriMo set in 1999. Write 50,000 words of a new writing project in thirty days (November), or 1,667 words per day. For some writers, this won’t be a challenge, but for others, it will be daunting. It depends on how much time you can devote to the project. For those, like myself, who work a full-time day job, it can be a tall order.

You don’t have to write 1,667 words a day, though, and many people don’t. You can make use of the time off you do have during the month and plan to write more on those days. The key is to let everyone else in your life know what you’re doing so that you have the dedicated time to focus and some support. You may be surprised at what you can accomplish if you put forth a concerted effort and your partner or family pitches in on other day to day tasks.

Sign up with your project on the NaNoWriMo site. This is called becoming a wrimo. They have a nice little tracking feature that will send you encouragement every time you hit a milestone. They also have badges you can award yourself, and the ongoing pep talk series will keep you motivated, too. Make use of the NaNoWriMo forums to connect with other wrimos. If nothing else, sign up for your city or regional forum so you can stay in touch with wrimos in your area.

Many participants do online write-ins, which can help keep you accountable. If your city has a Municipal Liaison, you will probably have the opportunity to participate in in-person write-ins at your public library, a café, or in someone’s home. Become a part of the NaNoWriMo community and bask in the support of like-minded creatives. It’s one of the best parts of NaNoWriMo.

3) Be a NaNoWriMo rebel

You don’t have to play by the rules, though. You could choose to work on revisions during November. Short stories? Why not? Write a poem a day! You could write more than 50,000 words in the month, or less. In other words, set your own goals. You could even do the NaNo challenge in another month altogether. You just forego some of the community benefits of participating in November.

Here’s the thingL NaNoWriMo serves as motivation. It’s an exercise in goal setting and in meeting those goals. Sure, it’s nice to validate your 50,000 words at the end of the month, and though you get some nice swag for accomplishing that goal, the real prize is all those lovely words. You did that. NaNoWriMo is what you make of it. You don’t like the terms? Change them. Make NaNoWriMo work for you.

I know writers and published authors who use NaNoWriMo purely for the motivation. They may or may not use the web site or its resources. 50,000 words is good for a middle grade novel or a novella, but most published novels are upwards of 80,000 words. If you’re aiming for that, you’re usually writing past November, anyway. Maybe 30,000 words is a more reasonable goal for you. I’ve had years in which I wasn’t able to write that much. Regardless, celebrate your accomplishment. Every word is a victory.

If it suits you, go the rebel route.

4) The What’s Next months

The folks at NaNoWriMo know that you might continue to draft after November is over. You might also need some time to recover. Sometime in January, you’ll start to receive messages about the What’s Next months. NaNo asks you to commit to a revision goal. Again, this is just motivational. You get to decide what your version of success looks like.

NaNo also puts on virtual events and blog posts focused on what you do with all the words you wrote in November (and possibly after). It’s not just about revision, either. They’ll talk about self-publishing and querying, too. Some Municipal Liaisons will host What’s Next events as well. Watch the forums and your inbox. I expect this aspect of NaNoWriMo to be one of the ones that sees some heavy development with the site’s refit.

5) Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo

Every April and July since 2011, Camp NaNoWriMo kicks into gear. There are some key differences from NaNoWriMo itself. First, each participant sets their own project and writing goals. It’s much less formal. You are only seeing if you can meet the goals you personally set. You don’t have to be a rebel to work on revision, short fiction, or poetry in the Camp NaNo months. You do you.

Participants join virtual “cabins” on the site and many campers go on to form critique groups or other writing support groups with their cabin mates. Again, NaNoWriMo offers online resources and events focused on the Camp NaNoWriMo experience.

You can see how the organization has been working toward the goal of becoming a year-round writing support and community-building resource for some time. NaNoWriMo is also a charitable organization in the United States. They sponsor the Young Writers Program, which seeks to raise and support young creatives across the country. For more information on the Young Writers Program, see Bronwen Fleetwood’s DIY MFA article about it.

Remember, you’re in control of your NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is free unless you choose to donate to the Young Writers Program or purchase NaNo merchandise. Regardless of how you choose to engage with the NaNo community, you set your own goals and you determine whether you are successful or not. Again, it’s nice to get that “win” and the associated swag, but you can provide your own prizes for whatever goal you choose to set.

The good people at NaNoWriMo have cleverly gamified writing to the benefit of writers everywhere. Just a few of the famous NaNo success stories are Erin Morgenstern, Hugh Howey, J.M. Frey, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Rainbow Rowell. You can check out the full list of published wrimos on the site.

Who knows what you might accomplish if you take the NaNoWriMo challenge? Until next time, keep speculating and see where it leads you!

Melanie Marttila creates worlds from whole cloth. She’s a dreamsinger, an ink alchemist, and an unabashed learning mutt. Her speculative short fiction has appeared in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, On Spec Magazine, and Sudbury Ink. She lives and writes in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where she spends her days working as a corporate trainer. She blogs at https://www.melaniemarttila.ca and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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