NaNoWriMo: Z is for Zone

Hey! I can't believe it—today is the LAST day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! If you missed any of my A-Z posts you can find them in the archives.

Did you make your goal? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment below for a chance to win a signed set of the Superman Duffy comics.

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I’m ending my posts with Z for ZONE — as in, getting “in” the writing zone. It’s different for everyone, I know, but here are a few ideas to help you find your writing ZEN.

Find your ritual. Whether it’s using the same pen every time, or popping a bowl of popcorn before you sit down at your desk, try to remember the last time you wrote well. What was your ritual? Repeat it.

Find a creative environment. Maybe it’s your bedroom, or the local library, or the park down the street. Wherever you write best — go there.

Clear your head. Words not coming? Try going for a walk or reading a book. I like to go for a run.

Write at the right time. Early morning? Late afternoon? Find the time zone your creativity best responds to and aim to write then.

Get inspired by awesomeness. Watch a movie, read a book, look at a painting. Find someone who inspires you and spend a little time studying what makes him/her awesome.

That’s it!

Starting Friday, I’m back to blogging once a week. Even though it will be a lot less work, I’m going to miss my daily posts.

Gotta jet! Thanks for writing with me all month. Let's do it again next year!

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: Y is for Yapping

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Dialogue. One of the most difficult things for me to write.

It’s more than just two (or more) characters YAPPING. Dialogue should move the story forward somehow… Great dialogue can pull a reader in. But bad dialogue? It’s the fastest way for me to give up on a book.

Here are eight tips I’ve learned for creating better dialogue:

1. Listen to how people talk. Yes, eavesdrop. Politely, of course.
2. Not quite the same as real speech. You can lose the “um” and “like” and “er” dialogue…readers can become annoyed with too much “extra” dialogue.
3. Don’t provide too much info at once. Try not to use dialogue to give the reader information that you SHOULD show in the narrative.
4. Use slang sparingly.
5. Don’t overuse dialogue tags. You should only use “said” or “asked” when possible.
6. Break up dialogue with action. Too much dialogue on the page can be daunting.
7. Read widely. But you knew that… <grin>
8. Punctuate dialogue correctly.

What’s some of the best dialogue you’ve ever read?

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: X is for X'ing Out

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Believe me, I know how hard it is to write a few hundred words. Sometimes, it’s like pulling teeth. (Whoops, a cliché...) So, I can imagine you won’t be excited when I say sometimes you need to “X” out some of those words.

After you’ve written your first draft and you go through with your green pen to edit the story, think about some of the ways you can delete some of those extra words.

For instance:

Stand up = stand (unless you really do mean stand down)
Adverbs with “ly” (remember: “crept” is more powerful (and less words) than “walked slowly”) — get rid of as many as you can
X out weak verbs — can you rewrite a sentence to avoid “was”? Or how about “very”?

New York Times Bestselling author Steve Berry says writers should always be conscious of “writing tight” — which is another way of saying, “Keep it simple.”

Gotta jet! Only two days left of NaNoWriMo. How are you doing?

— Chase Superman Duffy

To cliche or not to cliche?

Okay. That’s not actually a serious question.

In fact, I’ve spent the entire month working on not writing clichés in my NaNoWriMo project (just three days left!) You know, those familiar phrases that are used over and over and…

They’re the bane of every writer’s existence.

So today—on PINS AND NEEDLES DAY—I thought I’d give you a Top 10 list of the clichés you should avoid like the plague. (ha! See what I did there?)

1. Dead as a door nail
2. Low hanging fruit
3. Faster than a speeding bullet
4. The pot calling the kettle black
5. Think outside the box
6. Thick as thieves
7. Plenty of fish in the sea
8. Like a kid in a candy store
9. Fish out of water
10. Take a tiger by the tail

Hey! What’s your least favourite cliché? (Or favourite, if you prefer.) Comment below—I’m waiting on pins and needles to hear your answer. (Ha!)

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: W is for Words

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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WORDS.

You can’t write without them.

But will just any word work?

Sometimes, when I’m stuck for the right word, I use my thesaurus, or even the dictionary to see if something sparks my creativity. I jot down fun words, or words I might want to use in the future in my notebook — you never know when they might come in handy. Like transpiration (one of the Chase books is called that!) or Xerces, which is my sister’s middle name.

No one expects you to know the dictionary inside and out, but there are a couple of ways you can increase your word power.

1. Games: Crossword puzzles and games like Scrabble can be a fast, and fun, way to learn new words.
2. Word apps: Do you have a Smart Phone or a Tablet? There are several free applications that send you an email or text with a “word of the day.”
3. Read: Self explanatory, right? Try keeping a notebook of some of your favourite words from the books you’ve read.

Have fun! I gotta jet! 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: V is for VIEWPOINT

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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I admit, I still get a bit confused by Point of View (POV) or the VIEWPOINT of the story. POV is the way an author wants the reader to “see” and “hear” what’s going on.

Essentially, there are three types of POV.

1st Person — This is when the story is narrated by a character with I-me-my-mine in his/her speech. The advantage is that you get to hear the thoughts of the narrator and see the world through his or her eyes.

2nd Person — This is when the author uses “you” or “your” in the narrative, speaking directly to YOU. This is a rare POV type.  My fave is from Dr. Seuss, Oh! The Places You’ll Go! (Random House, 1990) "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go."
 (Good advice, right?)

3rd Person — This is when the story is told through an “outsider” point of view and when you read the description, it is the author’s voice, not the character’s, you are reading. By describing the characters actions through words, the reader should be able to know what is going on in the character’s head.

I know — still confusing, right? The best way to learn about the different types of POV is to read…but you already knew that. <grin>

Gotta jet! Only a few days left of NaNoWriMo! How much have YOU written?

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: U is for Unique

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Cat got your tongue?
Laughter is the best medicine.
Fit as a fiddle.
Every cloud has a silver lining.

These are examples of clichés — phrases that have been used so many times that they are no longer UNIQUE.

An author once told me there are no original ideas — most are just twists on similar concepts and stories. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make your words unique.

I’m working on getting rid of all of the clichés in my writing, and you know what? It’s forcing me to stretch my imagination, and find new, fun ways of saying things.

What are some of your favourite clichés? What are some ways you could say the same thing, but with a UNIQUE twist?

Gotta jet!

 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: T is for Thick Skin

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Art is subjective.

Whether someone likes a painting, a poem, or even a sculpture is based on personal opinion — and the most important thing I’ve learned is that you’re never going to make everyone happy.

So when you send your finished work out into the world to be critiqued by the public, you need to develop a THICK SKIN.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s important to have people read and edit your writing if you want to get better, but as long as the criticism is constructive (and not mean), then take advantage of the feedback to learn how you can improve.

Still, I know it’s hard seeing all of those “red edits” all over your writing. When I’m asked to give feedback on some writing, I use a green pen — green for growth. It looks a lot less harsh!

Gotta jet! 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: S is for Show

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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One of the most common mistakes writers make is to “tell” the reader the events of a story or how a character is feeling instead of allowing the reader to feel or see what’s going on by SHOWING.

So, instead of saying, “Melissa was sad” (which is telling the reader), you might try something like:

Tears welled in the corners of Melissa’s eyes. Her bottom lip trembled. Taking a deep breath, I reached for a tissue and handed it to her, just as the first teardrop rolled along her cheek.

Even though I know the difference, sometimes it’s hard to determine what parts of my story could use more “showing” vs “telling” — and even, how.

Here are a couple of ways you can let the reader see:

1. Use dialogue
2. Use all the senses — taste, touch, scent, sight, and smell
3. Use great adjectives and strong verbs

Go through your own writing. Are there places you can SHOW the reader what’s happening? How can you expand on them? Want to learn more? There are many writing craft books you can check out, but Show & Tell in a Nutshell by Jessica Bell has exercises so you can learn by...showing. <grin>

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

 

P.S. Just over a week left in NaNoWriMo—have you hit YOUR target goal? 

NaNoWriMo: R is for Reading

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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I know I'm  blogging according to my NaNoWriMo alphabet this month, but I wish READING started with an “A” because from everything I’ve been taught about writing, the most important thing you can do to improve your craft is —

READ!

Reading widens your skills as a writer, and gives you an appreciation of different writing styles. Books can inspire your writing, and of course can increase your vocabulary and spelling.

In fact, if you want to be a great writer, READ as much as you can.

Some of MY favourite books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll (I love the Mad Hatter) and of course, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.


What are YOU reading?

Gotta jet!

 

— Chase Superman Duffy

Oh, those crazy days!

Did you know that today is ABSURDITY DAY, UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY and BEAUTIFUL DAY? Crazy, right?

And tomorrow is WORLD HELLO DAY.

* waves at you * Hi!

If you didn’t know about these crazy days, don’t be alarmed. What “special” days I didn’t learn about through social media, I found on this website. I don’t even know who makes them up!

But if I had the power to create my own special day, I’d make June 1 RUN FASTER THAN GORDON LIGHTNING SMITH DAY. Actually every day should be THAT day, in my opinion.

What about you? If you could make up a special day, what would it be?

Comment below or to send your idea to my email (chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com) for a chance to WIN your copy of SHIVER ME TIMBERS, the newest adventure in the Superman Duffy comics. It’s the perfect book to celebrate next year’s TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY, aye!

Gotta jet! Come back tomorrow for my R post in the A-Z of NaNoWriMo—it's the homestretch! How are YOU doing on your project?

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: Q is for QUIET SPACE

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Where do you like to write?

It’s true that music is my muse, but even before I plug in my headphones or turn on my MP3 player, I need to find a QUIET space to write. 

 

That’s when I am my most creative — without the TV in the background, or my little sister asking me questions, or my phone buzzing from texts or Facebook notifications.

I literally have to tune out everything — except my music. And when I’m editing, I need absolute quiet. On those days, I lock myself in my bedroom until I’ve finished my work.

When it’s nice outside, I’ll sometimes take my Journal to the park, or sit on the bench in my back yard. I can also go to the library or a coffee shop — though sometimes I am distracted by all of the people. Did you know that one of the best ways to create characters is by observing others? People watching can be lots of fun!

Do you need QUIET when you write? Where do you go to get away from the noise?

Gotta jet! 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: P is for Practice

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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It’s no secret I love to run — I’m on the school track and field team, and I’d love to be a professional athlete someday. But running fast or for long periods of time takes PRACTICE. 

I train for track and field almost every day. In the winter, I hit the treadmill, and as soon as the snow is gone and the ground has thawed, I start outdoor training by running around my Grandpa’s canola field. Without practice, I could never get better.

The same goes for writing.

I love to write almost as much as I love running. But if I want to write better, I need to practice. And that means putting pen to paper (or typing on a keyboard) — as often as possible.

Some authors say you should write every day, even if it’s just in your Journal. I admit, I don’t write every day (except during NaNoWriMo, obviously), but I DO try and practice writing a couple of times a week, even if it means trying new forms of writing. Once I even tried writing a song!

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

P.S. – P is also for PLOT, one of the most important parts of storytelling. The plot is what happens in the story. Whether you outline or just write the story as it happens, the plot explains how all of the events in the story go together.

NaNoWriMo: O is for Outline

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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To OUTLINE, or not to outline. That is ALWAYS my question whenever I start a new story.

I love the idea of just writing free-flow — putting pen to paper and letting the ideas come out fast and furious. Giving my characters free reign to take over the story, or never knowing what comes next.

The problem is, when the plot is TOO loose, I can get writer’s block.

I know that outlining your story gives you a roadmap of what will happen at key points of the plot. It helps you organize your thoughts, and of course, provides some structure.

But…

I’m not the type that wants to be confined to an outline.

Here’s the great news, though! My Language Arts teacher told me that you can write a BASIC outline, just jotting down some key plot points, and then when you’re writing, it can CHANGE. She says I don’t even have to FOLLOW the outline…but if I get stuck on “what comes next” then there’s a back-up plan, or a way to reign in my characters when they try to go all AWOL on me.

Sounds logical. What do you think? To outline or not to outline…? I HOPE you outlined even a little for NaNoWriMo!

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: N is for Non-Fiction

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Aside from my Journal and this blog, I’m more of a fiction kind of kid. You know, the stories that transport readers to an imaginary world…?
 

And, I know NaNoWriMo stands for National NOVEL Writing Month, but there's nothing to say YOU can't write NON FICTION for your NaNoWriMo project—the object is to just get you writing. Right?

Non-fiction writing focuses on the real world and real people—like biographies, autobiographies, memoirs and documentaries. And then there’s the really boring stuff, like manuals, text books and…essays.

Don’t get me wrong, I do read non-fiction—especially biographies on some of my favourite sports heroes. But writing it? That’s going to take some practice.

Maybe after NaNoWriMo...

Gotta jet!

 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: M is for Muse

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Music is my MUSE.

Maybe that sounds funny, but I don’t fully understand the idea of making someone specific (or even made up) responsible for my creativity.

I don’t believe in waiting for “the muse to strike” (whatever THAT means…) because you should be able to write at any time. Right? (Especially during NaNoWriMo!)

But if we’re talking about straight up inspiration, or the kinds of things that inspire my creativity, then music is absolutely my muse.

In fact, whenever I start writing a short story, an essay, a poem, or even in my journal, I create a new playlist on my MP3 player. It’s a combination of songs that speaks to whatever “mood” the piece I’m writing should reflect. Like, when I’m writing action, the songs are more upbeat. Sometimes, I try to find songs without lyrics, so the music just fades into the background. But I almost ALWAYS have music playing when I write. It inspires/energizes/grounds me!

Do you have a muse?

Gotta jet!
 

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: L is for Language

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

 

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I was about five years old when my Grandpa taught me how to speak Pig Latin. You know, the LANGUAGE where you take the first letter off a word, stick it on the end, and then add on the letters “ay” — so, for example, “hand” becomes “andhay.”

By the time I was ten, I’d become so fluent in Pig Latin, Grandpa could hardly keep up. I taught a couple of my friends, and now my little sister, Amelia, is catching on too. (Which means it’s harder to keep things “secret” from her.)

I’m not sure who made up Pig Latin, but it’s not the only “made up” language used by authors. J.R.R. Tolkien, for example, created his own language for the Lord of the Rings series, and of course there’s “Vulcan” in Star Trek, and so on. Made up languages are more common in science fiction or fantasy books, I guess, but it sure sounds like fun. Language — made up or otherwise — is an important part of writing.

Right now, I’m writing a short story that has a few “fantasy” elements. I think I’m going to try my hand at creating my own language. Maybe it will catch on like Pig Latin!

Ottagay etjay!

 

— Chase Superman Duffy

13 Freaky Facts About Friday the 13th

I’m not very superstitious.

Walking under ladders, crossing paths with a black cat—those things don’t scare me. But I admit, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Friday the 13th.

Not the movie (though that’s pretty scary) but the actual day…like today. It makes me kind of nervous. Turns out I have good reason.

Check out these freaky facts about the number 13.

1. The British Navy is said to have built a ship named Friday the 13th, which on its maiden voyage left dock on a Friday the 13th and was never heard from again. Bermuda Triangle, anyone?
2. Apollo 13—the rocket that exploded in 1970—launched at 13:13 on April 11, 1970. It exploded on the 13th. Not a Friday, but still…
3. Many hospital rooms have no room 13, and some tall buildings skip the 13th floor. I’ve actually seen that!
4. Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Try saying those ten times fast!
5. Quarterback Dan Mariono wore #13 throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins (Grandpa’s favourite team)—but despite being called one of the greatest quarterbacks of ALL time, he never won a Superbowl.
6. Butch Cassidy, notorious American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.
7. Fidel Castro was born on Friday, August 13, 1926.
8. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. What happens if someone cancels last minute?
9. Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest. Sign me up!
10. Napoleon was triskaidekaphobic—he had an abnormal fear of the #13.
11. The 1980 film “Friday the 13th” made nearly $40 million during it’s initial cinema run.
12.  It’s estimated that 21 million North Americans fear Friday the 13th. (I’m one of them for sure!)
13. Want to ward off Friday the 13th bad luck? According to superstition, you should: touch wood, cross your fingers, avoid black cats, or throw salt over your shoulder. How about all of the above?!

Gotta jet! May you have a LUCKY Friday the 13th…

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for another A-Z of NaNoWriMo post — we're almost half way through the month! How much writing have YOU done?

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: K is for KEEP IT SIMPLE

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts.  My goal this year: 5,000 words.

 

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The writing process can seem very complicated. Creating characters, outlining a story, figuring out how it ends—it’s a lot of work!

But when it comes to writing, at least when you’re just starting out, the best advice I’ve ever received is this: KEEP IT SIMPLE.

It sounds easy, but believe me, sometimes “simple” is anything but! You want to be able to get right to the point, which means you don’t need excessive adjectives and adverbs. The description, the action, and the plot should all “move the story forward.”

Here are three “Keep It Simple” hints:

Keep your list of characters short. Too many characters can be hard to keep track of.

Keep your story to one plot. Too many side plots can confuse readers.

Keep your personal goals manageable. Trying to write too much, too soon can be overwhelming. Promise yourself you will write “a little” every day, even if it’s just one sentence. (If you're doing NaNoWriMo, this shouldn't be a problem...)

Gotta jet! YOU...get writing! <grin>

~ Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: J is for JOURNAL

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Okay, I confess. I keep a JOURNAL.

I actually started writing in it as soon as I learned to hold a pen—though most of what I wrote back then is probably gibberish.

In the beginning, my journal was just a place to record “stuff.” Like, what I did during the day, how I felt after a race, or even, a place to save a favourite recipe. (I do cook, sometimes…)

But later, my journal became a place to write story ideas, and sometimes, a place to begin writing something, like a poem, short story, and the first few chapters of my novel.

I use my blog more like a journal now, which is great for sharing. But if you want to keep your thoughts private, a writing journal is one the greatest things you can start. You don’t have to write it in everyday — but it sure is fun (and embarrassing) to read some of those old entries.

If you’re going to start a journal, my best advice is to look for a notebook and a pen that you are proud to own. Book stores and stationary shops have great selections—everything from plain to out of this world—like my Star Wars journal. Find the journal that reflects YOU and then…

Start writing!

Okay—Gotta jet. I've got some serious NaNoWriMo words to catch up on today!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

 

NaNoWriMo: I is for Imagination

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

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Imagination is more important than knowledge. — Albert Einstein

My mom always tells me that I have a very active IMAGINATION. I think she’s trying to tease me a little, but I’m not insulted at all. In fact, I’m thrilled. Because like Albert Einstein says, imagination is important.

Of course, imagination is important for writing. 

Unless you’re writing “true stories” (i.e.: non-fiction), your characters, the world they live in, and the adventures they go are INSPIRED by your imagination.

But having an active imagination isn’t just important for fairy tales. Imagination makes you think stretch beyond the everyday thinking and find creative solutions for everyday problems. It challenges you to look at things in a different way.
 

You probably already have a great imagination, but there are definitely ways you can boost it.

1. READ.
2. Take up a hobby.
3. Change your routine.
4. Play games.
5. Start a journal.

I do all of those things—but number five is a big one. In fact, that’s my letter J, tomorrow—JOURNALLING.

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: H is for Hooking the Reader

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

                                                           *    *    *  

Every time I go into a bookstore, I’m in awe of how many books are on the shelves—hundreds of thousands of them. And that’s not even a fraction of the number of books published every year.

So, how do you choose which book to read?


My tactic is always to read the first page. If the author makes me want keep going, there’s a good chance I’ll buy the book.

I know what I don’t like in the first few paragraphs—too much dialogue, too many characters, too much description and too much information. So what does make me turn the page?

Here are three writing tips for HOOKING THE READER from the very first page:

Introduce with an intriguing character.
No matter what genre you’re writing—fantasy, science fiction, mystery, etc.—your story should begin with the character. Tell who he/she is in the first line, if you can, but for sure, by the end of the first page. Readers want to know whom they are investing time in.

Begin at a pivotal moment.
Start your story with something your character wants, whether it’s a glass of water or to cross a crumbling bridge. The situation should be unusual. After finishing the first page, your reader should wonder what happens next.

Create an interesting picture.
Describe the setting—but not too much. Your reader should get a sense of place, even by the end of the first page. Don’t just say the character is in “Alberta” — give one or two sentences that show where in Alberta.

Think about some of your favourite books. What is the first line? What was the last line of the first page? Why did you keep reading?

Gotta jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy 

NaNoWriMo: G is for Grammar

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

*    *    * 

I get it — GRAMMAR can be boring.

Even though you’ve been learning about grammar since kindergarten, it’s easy to forget some of the rules when you start writing in the world of social media. I don’t know about you, but before I make a Facebook post, I don’t always think about GRAMMAR rules — actually, sometimes I’m not even great with my spelling! I need to work on that.

But if you’re going to write fiction, there are a few key things you have to keep in mind. If you already know all of this, great! For some, it might be a fairly painless refresher.

Capitalization: Capitalize the first word of every sentence, proper names, and the pronoun, “I.” Also capitalize countries, states and cities. You should also capitalize specifics. For instance, “canola” doesn’t need to be capitalized, but the specific organization does — Alberta Canola Producers Commission.

Punctuation: Every sentence should end with a period, and every question requires a question mark. You can use exclamation marks, but only in cases of extreme excitement, otherwise, it loses its emphasis. Semi-colons and colons are tricky. My language arts teacher says, “If you don’t know how to use them, leave them out.”

Apostrophes: Apostrophes are generally used to show possession — i.e.: Sam’s car. But of course there are always exceptions — like, its. If you’re not sure when to use “it’s” or “its”, sound it out. If you mean “it is” then use the apostrophe.

Grammar Pet Peeves: Okay, so I’m not a grammar expert, but here are the most common mistakes I see on Facebook, Tumblr or Instagram. Even when my spelling isn’t great, I pay attention to these:

You’re = you are (You’re fast!)
Your = possessive (Are those your nano kicks?)

They’re = they are (They’re always here.)
Their = possessive (Is that their house?)
There = a place (I’m excited to go there.)

Of course, this is just the basics, and you’re going to be learning about grammar all through school. But for fiction writers—which you all are, right?—it’s a good start.

See. Not THAT painful! And here's the catch—during NaNoWriMo, you don't have to worry about grammar at all! You can fix that in the editing phase. <grin>

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow when we talk about HOOKING THE READER from the very first page.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: F is for Fiction

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

                                                        *   *   *

I’ve written all kinds of things, from haikus (featured in 5-7-5 Errand Boy) and songs to essays and short stories, but by far my favourite thing to write (and read) is FICTION.

Fiction is a story from the writer’s mind. It’s when you use your imagination to think of the characters, plot and setting of a story. Fiction is “not true” — the opposite of non-fiction, which is based on fact.

My favourite fiction stories are the ones where I get to explore new worlds. Like, in IT’S A BLAST, my character (me!) goes up in a space ship and explores three new planets. I even meet aliens!

There are two main kinds of fiction. Short stories. And novels.

I’m a long ways away from writing a novel, but I am working on a (long) short story for NaNoWriMo. I'm having all kinds of fun creating new characters and sending them on exciting adventures.

So...What are YOU writing? How many words are YOU at?

Gotta Jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

My unusual new favourite book

Tomorrow is Book Lover’s Day and while we’re all in the midst of writing, writing, writing to keep up with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), I thought I’d share my new favourite book—which is probably going to surprise you.

It’s called Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones. And if you thought I picked it up because my grandpa is a farmer, you’d be half right. But actually, I just loved the description - especially the part where it says, “For fans of Roald Dahl.” OBVIOUSLY I love Roald Dahl (Hello, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!)

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer is about a 12-year-old girl and her family who move to a farm they inherited from a great-uncle. Things get interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie (the girl) discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her brain. (Mind. Blown.)

But that’s just the beginning of the unusual chickens that Sophie ends up taking under her wing. And when a local farmer tries to steal her flock, she realizes just how far she’ll go to keep them—and their superpowers—safe.

You guys! This book is AWESOME. If you’ve already started your Christmas wish list, make sure you put this right at the top.

Gotta jet! Happy reading—and writing—this weekend! (And don’t forget to check back tomorrow as I continue the A-Z of NaNoWriMo…)

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: E is for Editing

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. 

My goal this year: 5,000 words.

*   *   *

Ugh. EDITING. I know it’s an “E” word, and it’s a necessary part of the writing process. But sometimes, it’s not easy going back over what you’ve written and trying to fix the mistakes, or even just make the story better.

But here’s the thing. There are no writers—not even J.K. Rowling or Kenneth Oppel—who have written a perfect first draft. Every story needs to be edited, sometimes more than once. NOTE: If you're taking part in NaNoWriMo, don't edit! At least not until you've hit your word count...

I know, you can’t really edit your own work, but before you pass it over to your teacher or your friends and family to read, here’s some EDITING tips that will help you polish your piece.

1. Check for the obvious typos. Spellcheck is amazing, but it doesn’t catch everything. You might mean to say “bare” but you spelled it “bar” or “bear”—read every line and make sure your grammar and spelling is as good as you can get it. Don’t worry if you miss the odd typo, that’s what your actual editor (aka: teacher) will pick up on.

2. Read it out loud. It sounds silly, but if you read your story out loud, you’ll catch when sentences sound funny or maybe you’ve missed a word. You can also pick up on the dialogue and make sure everyone sounds natural. You never know when you’re going to have to read your work out loud anyway, so practice is always good!

3. Flush out the details. If you haven’t used much “sensory detail,” then this is the place. Go through and see where you need more description. But not too much because you also need to…

4. Cut unnecessary words. You don’t need to write thousands of words to write a great story. Did you know there is a type of fiction that uses only SIX words? Seems impossible, but sometimes, you need to go through your words and cut out anything that seems repetitive. Write tight!

5. Let it sit. I know, this one is hard, especially if you’re writing close to a deadline. But sometimes, if I finish a story and then let it sit a few days, any problems stand out. If you can, give it a couple of days or even weeks to simmer.

Once you’ve EDITED your work, you come to one of my other favourite “E” words—the END. Just like your beginning, your end must be well thought out. You want to make sure you tie up any loose ends, unless of course you’re closing off with a cliffhanger.

The ending should give your reader some sense of satisfaction. It doesn’t have to be a Happily Ever After, though those are great, but it does have to “close” the story.

I love the ending to Fields of Home, the first comic in the Chase Superman Duffy adventure series—even though there isn’t a definitive answer to the question my grandpa asks, there is closure to the story, and in MY opinion, it’s magical.

Tomorrow is Friday and I'll have my regular post, but check back Saturday for “F” where we explore FICTION. If you missed some of my posts this week, feel free to browse the archives.

Gotta Jet!

— Chase Superman Duffy

NaNoWriMo: D is for Description

Hey! Are you doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? Follow me this month as I work through the alphabet of great writing tips, from creating ACTION to getting into the ZONE. 

Need a writing buddy? Email me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com or comment in my daily posts. We can inspire each other to put down those daily word counts. My goal this year: 5,000 words.

*   *   *

 

The stars were strung together like poetry, punctuated with the face of the full moon.
Now that’s some great DESCRIPTION, right?  (Not bad if I do say so myself…) 

 

Anyway, obviously “D” is for description, an important part to any book.

If you’re following the other rules, like avoiding ADVERBS and creating great CHARACTERS, the description part can be fun.

The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to describe everything. You just want to paint a picture of the scene using a few key words. There are a couple of tricks to this.

1. DETAIL (Look, another “D” word.) Try and be specific, where possible. That’s what will bring the scene to life. Don’t just say the ground was littered with garbage. Tell the reader what the garbage is. For example: Crumpled paper, faded candy wrappers and rusted tin cans littered the ground. I bet you get a good sense of what the scene looks like just from that.

2. Use the 5 senses. You know what I mean—taste, smell, touch, sound, and sight. You don’t have to use ALL of them in one scene, but it’s a good idea to use at least one. Don’t always rely on sight, though. That one’s easy.

Okay, let’s look at this description for a fall scene.

Mindy and Samuel crept through the dark forest. Their feet crackled on the dry leaves, as noisy as fire crackers in the otherwise quiet. Mindy rubbed her arms and shivered but she couldn’t decide if it was from the cool breeze that blew through the trees or the fear lodged in her throat.

So…what senses did I use? Can you pick out the specific details that make the paragraph come to life?

Your turn! I gotta jet.

Tune in tomorrow for “E”—it’s EXCITING!

— Chase Superman Duffy