By Julia Press Simmons
Saturday Ink is a weekly newsletter for weekend readers and writers. It is full of mini-articles, resources, stories, and poems written by talented writers worldwide. It is also a great place to find new and interesting books to read, and small businesses to support. We enjoyed putting this together for you, and we hope you love it!
CONTENTS
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH ~ HOW TO WRITE A BOOK IN 30 DAYS
THRILLERS ~ OUR TOP FIVE
SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY ~ KINDRED
HOT MIC ~ PODCAST OF THE WEEK
BINGE REPORT ~ LIZZO'S WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG GRRRLS
WE ARE DAYS AWAY FROM NANOWRIMO
In November of every year, writers from all over the world come together to participate in National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. The challenge is to write a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days. This may sound daunting, but with a little planning and a lot of dedication, it is definitely possible. And even if you don't reach the 50,000-word goal, you will still have written more than you would have without participating.
LET'S PREPARE
Start with a plan
Decide what you want to write about. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's one of the most important steps in preparing for NaNoWriMo. If you don't have a clear idea of what you want to write, it will be very difficult to stay focused and motivated throughout the month.
Make a rough outline of your story. This doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a basic outline of the plot and characters. Having this will help you stay on track and make sure your story is going where you want it to go.
Set some goals
Set some writing goals. What do you want to achieve with your novel? Do you want to finish or get a good start? How many words do you want to write each day? Having specific goals will help keep you on track during Nanowrimo.
Choose your tools
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for Nanowrimo is to choose the right tools. What works for one person might not work for another, so it's important to find what will help you stay on track and motivated throughout the month.
There are a few essential things every Nanowrimo participant needs: a way to track your word count, a writing space that's comfortable for you, and some sort of reward system to keep you going. Beyond that, it's up to you to decide what else you might need to succeed.
Get organized
One of the most important things you can do is to organize your scenes. Having a clear idea of what happens in each scene will make it much easier to write when the time comes. You don't have to have everything mapped out perfectly, but having a general idea of where your story is going will help you stay on track during the month.
Another helpful tip is to plan for breaks.
Make a Schedule
This will help you stay on track and make sure you have enough time to write every day. Decide how many words you want to write each day and block out time in your calendar. Make sure to leave some wiggle room in case you need an extra day or two.
Once you have a schedule, start thinking about what you want to write about. If you don't have an idea yet, that's okay! Use this time to brainstorm ideas and come up with something that you're excited about.
Get Inspired
1. Read books in the genre you want to write in.
2. brainstorm ideas for your novel and make a plan.
3. start building your writing habit by setting aside time every day to write.
4. connect with other writers who are also preparing for NaNoWriMo.
THRILLERS ~ OUR TOP FIVE
There are few things more exciting than a good thriller. The suspense, the fear, the adrenaline- all of it comes together to create an unforgettable experience. Here are the top five thrillers that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
RAZORBLADE TEARS
A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.
Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.
THE RELUCTANT KING
Meet the Kings, one of the most influential families in New York City. In the power circles of the movers and shakers, they are regarded as modern-day royalty. A politically connected father, a socialite mother, and three promising children: they look every bit the all-American family...but every family has secrets. Some darker than others.
AN UGLY GIRL'S DIARY
On the opening night of his restaurant, bad boy Tye Gates discovers a diary moments after being unfaithful to his fiancé'. Trying to identify its owner, he delves into the words of a woman who considers herself unattractive and worthy of physical and emotional abuse.
ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS
Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive, who just happens to be her white boss. But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice arrives in the executive suite and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.
EVERY VOICE AIN'T FROM GOD
Zakari has known Nicole was the one since high school. He prays about whether their relationship is meant to be and receives confirmation one night during a church service. Zakari and Nicole are getting married! Until she breaks up with him the next day.
SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY! CONGRATULATIONS TO AUDREY CHECK YOUR EMAIL! YOU'VE WON AN ECOPY OF EVERY VOICE AIN'T FROM GOD
HOT MIC ~ PODCAST OF THE WEEK
Follow @AmeriesBookClub on IG, and join me and Lola Jaye on my IGLIVE (@Amerie) Oct. 28 1pm EST/10am PST. Bring your questions! One of the most devastating genocides in human history is highlighted in Lola Jaye's THE ATTIC CHILD, in which a young boy is taken from his Congolese home and thrust into a European world which, at worst, hates him, and at best, sees him as a living curiosity. Through sheer force of will, Dikembe/Celestine not only survives, but finds a way to love and thrive despite all that is set against him. As his story intersects with the parallel story of a young woman desperate to make sense of her own trauma, the reader explores universal truths of love, narrative, and survival. My heart bled as I bore witness to Dikembe's coming of age, and it nearly burst when he reached his ultimate triumph. Lola Jaye has surpassed her goal to "give a lion a voice," resulting in a world, a shared history, and a truth that is laid painfully bare. #ReadWithAmerie#AmeriesBookClub @Amerie @AmeriesBookClub @Lola.Jaye #LolaJaye @WilliamMorrowBooks #TheAtticChild
BINGE REPORT ~ LIZZO'S WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG GRRRLS.
Superstar Lizzo is on the hunt for confident, badass women to join her world tour, and only the most talented dancers will have what it takes to twerk it out on world stages with her and join in the ranks of the elite BIG GRRRLS.
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