How to survive NaNoWriMo...

...otherwise know as National Novel Writing Month.
For those who don't know, NaNoWriMo is a challenge for you to write 50,000 words (different ones, obviously) in one month.

I'm not actually doing it this month (I have exams) but seeing as it starts in a few days (1st of November) I figured I would give you some tips on how to survive, and hopefully emerge victorious.

1) Have a plan
If you don't know at least the basics, like how you'll begin, the middle, and how it ends, how can you hope to win? Even if you are a pantser, make sure you at least have a brief outline prepared.

2) Set aside time to write
In order to complete the challenge, you'll need to write about 1,667 words a day. Maybe you find that easy, maybe you don't, but the whole challenge will feel a lot more accomplishable (ok, not a word...) if you put aside time to write every day rather than stealing the occasional five minutes. You must commit!

3) Don't give in to those inner thoughts!
You know the ones I mean. That little voice in your head that tells you it's rubbish, you're not good enough, you'll never complete it. Ignore them. Banish them from your mind. Because if you really motivate yourself, you can do it. You will feel, at times, like there's no point continuing. But there will be other days when you feel on top of the world and that everyone should bow down to your awesomeness. Embrace those days, and ignore the others. Even if it isn't the greatest writing in the world, you can always edit it later. Your goal is word count, not beautifully flowing descriptions.
Don't give up!


Remember, NaNoWriMo isn't just about 50,000 words. It can improve your writing in other ways too. When I did it in August, I didn't reach 50,000 words. But I completed the longest novel I'd ever written in the shortest amount of time it had ever taken me, and my writing skills greatly improved. Since then, I have been able to write much more in far less time, and I've found it easier to get the words out in the way I wanted. NaNoWriMo has other benefits, so don't worry if you don't quite hit 50,000.

Good luck!

Gone, by Michael Grant

Whoops, it's been a month. Exactly a month in fact...
Anyway, onto the book review.

Suddenly it’s a world without adults and normal has crashed and burned. When life as you know it ends at 15, everything changes. There are no adults, no answers.

Those left must do all they can to survive.

But everyone’s idea of survival is different. Some look after themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power . . . Even kill.

For Sam and Astrid, it is a race against time as they try to solve the questions that now dominate their lives . . . What is the mysterious wall that has encircled the town of Perdido Beach and trapped everyone within? Why have some kids developed strange powers? And can they defeat Caine and his gang of bullies before they turn fifteen and disappear too?

It isn't until the world collapses around you that you find out what kind of person you really are.

I decided to read this because I was recommended to read Plague, the fourth in the series. While I enjoyed the concept, I didn't understand the characters or the setting or anything that was happening. But the concept was so fascinating, I decided to have a look at the first.
To be completely honest, I didn't approach it with high hopes. In the fourth book, there seemed to be so many characters, and I fears it would be the same in the first.
I was wrong.

Cover: *****
I love the cover. It stands out, with the black against green (or yellow, depending on the light), and it's ambiguous. It doesn't insist you think the characters look a certain way. I realise that there is another version, with people on the front. But I prefer this one.
Plus, the edges of the pages were bright green.

If all books had coloured edges, I would reorder my bookshelf so it looked like a rainbow. But I digress.

Plot: *****
It was engaging. The problems escalated throughout the book, constantly raising the stakes, and always causing me to ask questions (and thus forcing me to read on). And, even though there were lots of hints and clues, not everything was revealed. And so, obviously, now I have to get the next one.

Characters: ****
They were extremely well developed, especially considering the large cast. I could understand their actions, even when they weren't necessarily for the good. There was some real empathy going on here, even for the lesser characters.
My one problem was that there were so many, which led to head hopping. Sam was the main character, but I often found myself in Astrid, or Quinn's head, which could be a little disorientating.

Writing: ****
This book was extremely well written. Michael Grant has a style that, while urging you to read on, doesn't get in the way of the actual storytelling. It was seamless. The only problem was the occasional head hop, as I mentioned before.

Other:
If you look at the back cover of the book, you'll see a count down. The count down continues at the beginning of each chapter. And you don't find out what it's for until near the end. It was pretty exciting.

Overall, I would give this book five stars. Definitely recommended.