Sundays are kick-back-and-relax days in the Morrill household, but I'm really looking forward to cheering you on from my cozy place on the couch.
If you're just joining us on the word war (or if today's the first you've heard of it) here's a quick recap:
A word war is when you and another writer (or in this case, lots of other writers!) compete to see who can write the most words in a designated period of time.
This word war began Friday and will end tonight. It's a come-and-go, write-when-you-can style of war, so it's never too late to join!
The goal is to buckle down and focus on our manuscripts whenever we can, make good use of our writing time, and encourage each other as we do. Hopefully you'll be meeting new writers and deepening friendships along the way.
Here's how you can connect with each other:
1. In the comments section of the blog. Something as simple as "Just wrote 1,000 words in the last hour!" is fine. Or you can challenge each other to word wars. There's strength in being able to encourage each other and in knowing that others are hard at work too.
2. On Twitter, using the hashtag #GTWwordwar or on the Go Teen Writers Facebook Group. (This is a closed group, so if you're not a member yet, apply to join and then shoot me an email telling me so that I can approve you pronto.)
Enjoy!
Sundays are kick-back-and-relax-days at our house too. :-) I might write a little in the evening, but I don't think I'll do much today. But to those who are - the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI might be able to word war a bit in the late afternoon, but I have plans with friends and family for most of the day.
ReplyDeleteLast day :(. This has been loads of fun! This was actually my first word war. I reached my goal for the day yesterday (2000 words, less, I know, but it's a personal best) and got quite some done in my book. I should be able to WW in a few hours. Thanks a lot for doing this, Mrs. Morrill!
ReplyDelete2801 words today. Bleh, my counts are lousy. I think it's because I'm just trying to push through to the climax of my novel where there's drama and stuff, and I kind of just want to be done. :P This does not bode well for finishing any of my WIPs in a timely fashion . . .
ReplyDeleteWhoops. I meant yesterday. *facepalm*
DeleteTotal of 1406 today! I am not exactly sure how much time I will have today :( But good luck to everyone else...
ReplyDeleteAnyone around to Word War?
ReplyDeleteSure, purpledragonwriting! How about from :30 to :40? (Oh, and it's nice to WW with you again).
DeleteSounds good. (nice to WW with you too :D)
Delete228 words. Last sentece(s): “Well, we’re making a barricade. A barricade made of branches, filled with ice, and covered with darkness full of the watching eyes of predators. What the…” he searched his mind for the right term, “Le’Lek will
Deleteand then it was :40. How did you do?
I got roughly 180 words (less, I know) and the last sentence of: The assassin was used to late-night missions, but the likely chance of a trap had been lurking in his head since he escaped the ship.
DeleteI started a sentence after that too, but it was unfinished :).
Wanna go again?
DeleteCool. Again at :50 to :00?
DeleteSure! Works with me.
DeleteI got down 299 words. (so close to 300!) Last sentence was: “I think I know a place that’ll work.”
DeleteI got 280, although (looks around guiltily) I went a minute over. My last sentence is: Besides, the Emperor would never forgive him.
DeleteHow did you do?
Want to do another from :10 to :20?
DeleteSure. (hopefully I can finish this book today! :D I'm in the second last scene.)
DeleteI got down 270 words this time. Last sentence: Saskia and the others began creating massive spikes of criss crossing spikes of ice, filling in the gap.
DeleteI got 176 (though I went a few second over) and the last sentence of: Leaving two sparrows and a tracking fairy in extreme shock.
DeleteWhat about you?
wanna go again, from :05 to :15? Oh and good luck on finishing your book. (BTW, you have an awesome name.)
DeleteWhy thank you. Sadly I have to go now. :( But hopefully I'll be back later.
DeleteOops, I meant :35 to :45 :).
DeleteI have not really been word warring on here, but I have still been writing a ton! I was really behind on my NaNoWriMo word count goal, but I have about 2,000 more words to catch up. This weekend so far, I have written 4790 words!
ReplyDeleteWow, Alea! That's a lot of words. (P.S. I'm the same Jonathan from the critique group, in case you were wondering) Good luck with achieving your goal!
Delete... Bekah here.
ReplyDeleteThis has almost NOTHING to do with wws, but does anyone have a suggestion on how to write 25,000+ words in a week, especially since my story is almost finished????
I know I will put more in during rewrites, but my goal was the 50,000 word first draft (NaNoWriMo).
Help!!!!
Please!!!!
Hi Bekah! I have a friend who has had similar problems, word wars definitely help you to get out some words, but in regards to content, I have a few tips that might help. Go back through your story finding scenes where you introduce a new character/place/thing/etc. and focus on truly describing them. Second, ranting scenes, these help you get out words so easily. Every story has a character struggling with something, so let them rant on it. Either to another character (extra dialog!), or to themselves. Third, add in a random new character, as you go they may become ore crucial, but if not you can always end up pulling them out in the editing process. But they can add a lot to the story and much more description and dialog. Hope this helps! Good luck on writing!
DeleteEep! I've had that happen to me before.
DeleteFirst of all, you're going to have to do around 3,500 to 3,600 words a day. Difficult, but I have faith in you.
Second of all, the plot thing. I had that happen to me three years ago. Terribly frustrating, isn't it? I agree with Melody that you should try expanding the earlier scenes (something I've done in past years, but am challenging myself to not do this year), but if you find that your plot still doesn't have enough in it, you could always try the plot twist. Perhaps they discover that the villain survived (I don't know what you're writing so I'm just listing suggestions), and they have to have one more even more desperate final battle. Maybe your MC has finally gotten back together with her Love Interest, but you can pull a fast one and decided that her best friend needs one. Maybe your characters discover an old treasure map, and they decide to go follow it.
Maybe you'll edit this extra stuff out when NaNo's over ... but then again, there's always sequel material ...
Anyone wants to WW?
ReplyDeletePS. I'm the same Jonathan who has been words warring with you guys; I'm just using my Google Account now :). Faster that way.
Oh, scratch that, I have to go :(. Sorry.
DeleteI'm sitting at 5,734 words for the WW so far. (Sorry about not joining ya'll yesterday. I could have, but the scene I was working on involved quite a bit of copying from the fist draft - which was written in a notebook) and I didn't feel like warring with it. It was a knighting/coronation/engagement ceremony for the two main characters, and very solemn.
ReplyDeleteHowever, today I'm dealing with the aftermath, which will be quite emotional (ie, it was rather unexpected for both of them, and no one had told them about the last ceremony, and now she's quite upset) and I'm ready to go to war!
Want to war?
DeleteSure! How about a fifteen minute starting at :45?
Deletesounds good!
DeleteIf you guys go again can I join?
DeletePS I'm the same Jonathan who was word warring with you yesterday, but today I'm logging in with my Google account. Faster that way :).
I have 890 words, last sentence: He grunted with a laugh pulling her closer by her hair.
Delete510. Last sentence: “Clara, it’s conflicting with my plans, too,” Andrew pointed out.
DeleteSure Jonathan! Lets go again at :07 for ten minutes?
DeleteSounds great!
DeleteCan I join?
DeleteHop in!
DeleteI have 531, last sentence: “They will be safe.”
DeleteI got down 206 words. Last sentence: Thank you for your help.
Delete259. Last Sentence: “We’ll … find a way to make this work,” he whispered in her ear, as he drew her to the nearest set of stairs and sat down ...
DeleteAnd it's incomplete. I'm the queen of impossibly long sentences.
I am trying to finish my story before tonight, I only have 3,263 left to write!
DeleteYou all want to go again at :27? ten minutes?
DeleteI still have at least 30,000 (I've finished NaNo and had started with 30,000 words, but I'm expecting at least 120,000 out of this book) of mine to go, but I'd like to introduce the last of the important characters by tonight. Yeah, they come in late, but they're an important influence on the last few steps of the MCs' journey, and one of my favorite couples I've ever written.
DeleteFine by me!
DeleteI need to go find some sort of breakfast, so I think I'll bail on this one, but I'll be back. (Unlike two days ago when I just ... disappeared into editing)
DeleteOkay, sorry guys I had to disappear earlier, but I'm back now :). Can I join in now?
DeleteBye Kendra! I have 636, last sentence: He nodded towards a small entry way in the court yard.
DeleteFeel free to join in, Jonathan!
DeleteThanks, Melody! :42 to :52?
Deletesounds good, how did you do on the last one purpledragonwriting?
Delete206 words... again. And, I finished the first draft! :DDD It's ridiculously short at the moment, but I have reached the end. Oh, and the last sentence was: Little did he know how much larger their adventure would be than he could ever imagine. (It's the first book in a trilogy) (accidentally posted in the wrong place before.)
DeleteI have 610, last sentence: She went on, her voice thick with emotion.
Delete'Kay I got 222, with the last sentence of: This was bad. This was very, very bad. Hhow about you?
DeleteYay for purpledragonwriting! Congrats on finishing!
DeleteOkay, Melody, how do you *ever* get such large word counts? Your fingers must fly over those keys.
DeleteI am writing my last book in a trilogy! Trilogies are fun, purpledragonwriting. :-)
DeleteYes, congratulations, purpledragonwriting! :)
DeleteMy family tells me I destroy keyboards with writing. My sister goes nuts listening to me type. ;-)
DeleteLOL I bet. Wanna go again from :05 to :15?
DeleteSounds good!
DeleteI have 626, last sentence in the middle of dialog: "I will follow them all the way there if we have to, we are finding Shiloh and ending this rebellion!
Delete'Kay, I got 195, and the last lines of (they go together, really): What a novelty. Royal assassin needs the help of the crazy, insane man. Dorlin clutched his dagger unconsciously.
DeleteLove that line! Dealing with assassins? My last book involved some modern day ones.
DeleteI would like to join on your next word war!
DeleteHow does :30 till :40 sound?
DeleteThanks Melody! And yes, my protagonist is an assassin who must realize that his master (the Emperor) killed his family and that unless Dorlin doesn't accept his role as the last Flameweaver and confront his fear of fire the world could very much end. And it must be fun to write about modern day assassins. :) Maybe I try it someday.
DeleteSounds awesome!
DeleteCan I jump in on that one? :D
DeleteCome on in Mickayla! And yes, that sounds great.
DeleteFeel free, Catsi!
DeleteSure, Catsi! The more the merrier.
DeleteI'm back for this war, at least. Congratulations on being done with the first book PurpleDragon. Mine is the first of a seven book series, and I'm ... quite a ways from finished.
DeleteHad to stop, but I got 159.
DeleteOkay, 153, and the last line is: The young assassin tossed the cabbie a coin and silently slipped out the carriage.
DeleteI have to go for now guys, but I'll be back in 15-20 minutes. Good luck!
I have 620, last sentence: Blackeye grunted approaching them slowly, his one eye searching them suspiciously.
DeleteI got 227. Ran out of conversation, so I fell off of my roll for a moment. Should do better with the next war.
DeleteLast sentence: She hated how comfortable she was in his arms.
Bye Jonathan! Thanks for doing word wars with us!
DeleteI am taking a lunch break... war with you all in a few!
DeleteDo you guys want to war with me?
DeleteI will war, Laurel! (though, keep in mind, this time I'm going to type up stuff from my notebook, so I'll probably end up with a higher word count)
DeleteI can! (That's pretty much what I'd been doing yesterday, Emily, though I'd been editing while typing, very fun.) Shall we go :02 to :12?
Deletesure! (my computer might restart, so if I don't reply right at twelve/ have a low word count, that's why.)
DeleteSorry I disappeared for that last war... Dad dragged me out to do some chores. Jumping in late for the current one.
DeleteOkay, I'm back! Can I join in?
Delete310 wordcount, last line of: "I do as he says, feeling the water against the palm of my hands, but not on my fingers."
DeletePoor MC has frozen fingers. *should feel bad but doesn't* >:D :P
I didn't get to write at all. I'd love to join in on the next one, though.
DeleteSo sorry! I didn't see this! Great job guys... do you want to do another? Maybe :18 to :28?
DeleteOkay!
DeleteOh sorry...I have to go again. I'll be back in an hour.
Delete269. Last sentence: “I probably look terrible,” she muttered.
DeleteAnd now my computer wants to restart, so I'm going to disappear for a few minutes. My books at 88,400 words though! I've never written anything this long before in my life! (maniac giggling) And I still have at least 30,000 to 40,000 left to go!
Now we stare at the clock and wait for it to move...
Delete478. Last sentence: Sure enough, I hear her walking away and I fall back into bed, but then decide why not, just get on with the day and so I get out of bed.
DeleteThat was a really long sentence... whatever. I don't really feel like fixing it :)
304... Not so good this time. Last line(s): The mask slips for a minute, and a few tears well in her crystal eyes. “That means a lot.”
DeleteIt always feels weird posting dialogue without a tag. XD
Wow! Good wordcount. Want to go again, :35-:45?
DeleteMay I join, if you do another?
DeleteSure thing, Anonymous! The more the merrier.
DeleteMind if I join?
DeleteAll right! This is my first time ever, so... from :35-:45, right?
DeleteSure! Good job Catsi!
DeleteYeah that sounds good, and good luck Anonymous! The word wars get easier the longer you do them (although I haven't been doing them very long, so I'm not one to ask for advice :) )
DeleteI'm doing Nanowrimo but am way behind . I guess I can fit in one word war.
DeleteI'm going to join, if you don't mind :)
Deletewhen we start?
Deleteanyone??
DeleteI'll join in the next one y'all do. :)
Deleteme too
DeleteI am back! Joining in on the next war!
Delete161, last sentence: What she read surprised her.
Delete294... I just keep doing worse and worst. XD Last line: "No, you shouldn't." Clara's voice sounds from the doorway.
DeleteAh... I'll bet you beat me, Laurel R. I only got 103 words. Not bad, I suppose, for my first time.
Delete551. Last sentence: Adele remembered that their Mommy told her to watch over Belle, and Adele [set out to find Belle.]
Delete:) it's fine... this was a scene that I had been thinking about in my head for the longest time, so it all just kind of wrote itself..
Deletegood job everyone!
Oh yeah, my last sentence was: "He watched the last wisp of smoke curl into the lightening sky, then made ready to leave."
DeleteIm in!!
DeleteI have to go for a bit but I'll be back later!
DeleteWow, Laurel. Great job. Can't wait to see who gets the highest word count, now that Melody's back. ;)
DeleteOkay, see you Laurel. Guess I'll have to wait for that Melody-vs.-Laurel ward war. XD :50-:00?
DeleteSounds good! You are hilarious, Catsi! ;-)
DeleteYou're on!
Deletei'll join
DeleteI have 579, my last sentence: Shiloh pushed past him and got the door for him, plowing down the stars after him.
DeleteGah... I hardly even want to post my word count. I'm always a slow writer, more of a think-while-writing type, but I didn't think I'd only get 86. Last sentence is: "To his further dismay, Glorindon turned and realized that not one definitive path led away from the glade towards the Watchtower of Isal, but three."
Delete299. Getting better... “Trust me, Doctor Wyder, there are plenty of of people in the world that God wants. I’m not one of them.”
DeleteGood job, Melody! As always. :)
Hey, that's fine, Anonymous! I'm usually a slow writer too. ;)
DeleteI think I'll plan out the scene a bit more before engaging in another war, but thank you all for putting up with me!
DeleteI finished my word count for Nanowrimo! I still have more story to do, but I reached 50k!
DeleteAwesome, Melody! I'm almost 16K from completing my NaNo, but I'm still pressing on.
DeleteKeep is up, Catsi! What is your nanowrimo profile? Was hoping to find you and keep up seeing your progress. :-)
DeleteCatsi Eceer. ^-^
DeleteWait, here's a link: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/catsi-eceer
DeleteThanks! Ooooo, your story looks so interesting!
DeleteYours too! :D I think I'll just send you a message on NaNo, so that we don't spam GTW. XD
DeleteGood idea. ;-)
DeleteCatsi: hahahahahahha so sorry I left now!
Deleteanyone still on and want to war?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLaurel, I suppose I could war again. You up for it?
DeleteErm... never mind. Didn't realize this was from a while ago.
DeleteIf you're still around than I would love to war!
DeleteI'll be back in a few minutes. Then we can war!
DeleteOkay!
DeleteAll right, just have to get on my writing computer and then we can get started....
Delete:)
DeleteReady! How long would you like to go for? I'd personally like a longer one now, so how does :40 to :00 sound?
DeleteI'm so sorry but I actually have to leave :( annoying responsibilities regarding dinner and things like that... sorry again!
DeleteNo problem at all.
Delete206 words... again. And, I finished the first draft! :DDD It's ridiculously short at the moment, but I have reached the end. Oh, and the last sentence was: Little did he know how much larger their adventure would be than he could ever imagine. (It's the first book in a trilogy)
ReplyDelete^^^This was supposed to be in the WW above. Not sure what went wrong there :P
DeleteAnyone want to do a word war with me?
ReplyDeleteWe are having some a few comments up if you wish to join!
DeleteYesterday ended with a grand total of 2,171!
ReplyDeleteHey, congrats! That's a lot of words :)
DeleteWould anyone like to do a WW with me? :)
ReplyDeleteSure! What time?
Delete4:00 to 4:20 be okay?
DeleteOkay... though I think I'm an hour ahead of you 'cause it's almost 5 here! :D
DeleteIt's 4:13 here
Delete747! What'd you get?
Delete478! Wow, you beat me by over 200 words! :P
Delete:D I'm actually pretty shocked at the count... I usually don't get that many. I guess word wars really do help!
Delete762 words in twenty minutes! Yay! :D
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Random, but the E on the end of your pen name doesn't happen to stand for Elizabeth, does it?
DeleteSorry about the comment down there, I thought I was replying to this message... :D and now I'll just repeat the comment... You caught me... my first name is actually Elizabeth, Hope is my middle but I use E. as a pen name! :D
DeleteYou caught me... my first name is actually Elizabeth, Hope is my middle but I use E. as a pen name! :D
ReplyDeleteMy name is Elisabeth Hope as well! :D
DeleteWow... you're the second Elisabeth Hope I've meet... well, talked to... all of the Elisabeth Hope's are online... :/ Wait, you spell yours with an S?
DeleteBy the way, do you have a pinterest?
I'm sorry to cut in on your conversation, but would either of you like to word war with me?
DeleteI'd love to but I have to eat... if you're on around 6:30pm I can probably do it! (or 5:30 if you're an hour behind) :)
DeleteNo. :P
DeleteSorry! Wish I could, but my brother's getting back on. XP
I got 593!
ReplyDeleteAnyone around for a WW?
ReplyDeleteI will. Maybe Hope E. and Elisabeth Sullivan will join us!
DeleteYes! :45 to :55?
DeleteYou're on!
DeleteOkay I'll try to do it but I may have to leave early
Delete190. Last sentence (incomplete): Not that she minded at the moment, she doubted it would be easy to distinguish dark ghosts from the shadows without sharper
Delete413 words. :)
DeleteI'm so slow :P
DeleteI got 165. Last sentence (also incomplete): He guessed the nasom had covered much ground in the night and were hard on their trail already
DeleteGood job both of you!
DeleteCongratulations, Hope E.! I'll have to step up my game to keep up with you. And Jessica, don't worry about being slow. After all, you're faster than I am!
DeleteI usually get about as much as you do, though I used to be forty words slower.
DeleteI think your last sentence sounds pretty interesting, by the way. I'd very much like to read your story one day.
DeleteThank you guys! I had fun! I usually don't write that many words... I am really enjoying the word war... plus I'm doing Nanowrimo and my word-count goal is 40,000 and I only just today reached 30,000 so this is a really great inspiration! Keep it up! :D
DeleteYou too! I'm not doing NaNoWriMo, but maybe I should some time. Currently my book is only at about 15K words...
DeleteMary I join y'all in a word war?
Delete*May. Stupid autocorrect.
DeleteSure, why not? I have some time. Would you like ten minutes or twenty?
DeleteTwenty sounds great! Starting at :15?
DeleteSure!
Delete308 words. Last sentence: Perhaps he could defend against the nasom as well?
DeleteI got 595 words. My last sentence is, “I know that I was picked for my career choice, and the Council is the overall target."
DeleteWow, nice job! I thought I had done well, too. :P
DeleteGood job! It was fun warring with you. I'd love to go again, but I have to look over my plot outline to see what I have left between me and my climax.
DeleteEr... think of my reply down there as up here, I guess.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePlot outline, nonsense! Just make it up as you go along, I say.
Delete