NaNoWriMo Spotlight: Jennifer Mitchell aka jenngersnap

Introducing Jennifer Mitchell, known as jenngersnap on the forums. Her NaNo novel was titled "A History of Euron" and was a collection of short stories. It was fun to participate in NaNoWriMo alongside Jen, as I've known her since middle school. She's the wife of Will, and also plays in my pathfinder game (Her character is Stormy, so keep an eye out for her!)


Who are you?

An IT professional at CPCC, as well as an amateur artist and lifelong reader.

Why did you pick NaNoWriMo to consume your November? 

This was my second serious attempt to do NaNoWriMo, although I've done it three or four years total, I think. I still didn't finish, but I did better this year than previous years.

What was your novel about this year? And why did you pick that?

I really wanted to flesh out the world of a comic I have been wanting to draw. I felt that by creating myths and legends and histories that take place long before the comic, the world will feel richer even though those stories may not directly impact the comic itself.

I got a lot of great ideas and myths, even though I didn't make my word count. It was definitely worth it!

What is your typical writing process like?

I like to think about the overall framework first, and then go back and fill in some of the specifics of the story arc or whatever type of writing it is. Then I go over it again, and fill in the specific details. Sometimes, while I am making up the details, I think of a new direction that I want to take the story. In that case, I change the framework and then figure out how to re-adjust the previous details to fit the new shape.

What did you learn from NaNoWriMo this year?

I learned that I need to do a lot more research! World-building is hard, but we live in an amazing world already, so there are tons of very cool ideas to draw from it. The more "stuff" I know about, the more ways I can find to fit it together in a new yet logical way.

NaNoWriMo Spotlight: Will aka Constant Reader

Introducing Will, aka Constant Reader on the site. His novel is titled "A Rose Rent". I was thrilled when Will and his wife informed me they were doing NaNo as well. Will is the magnificent DM for the Pathfinders game my blog serial is based upon.

Who are you?

Born in Tennessee, raised in Arizona and Indiana. Moved out to NC last Summer after getting married and graduating. Currently looking for a career.

Why did you pick NaNoWriMo to consume your November? 

It sounded like a good way to get better at writing. I have a series of books I want to write some day and I need to actually learn to write. According to my favorite author, Jim Butcher, the best way to learn to write is to write.

What was your novel about this year? And why did you pick that?

It was about the decent into madness and restoration. It was a fan fic story that I diagrammed when I was in High School and I decided to finally write it for practice.

What is your typical writing process like?

I have to know what I am going to write. I can't just organically what out what happens, I tend to ramble if I do that. I have to diagram a story with all the important parts so I can link them all together and have pacing and plot and other things readers seem to enjoy.
I'll sit down at my computer put on some music and just start banging away. There is a mental state where your head is in the story and the words just flow that is really hard to cultivate and is extremely fatiguing. 

How did your month go? 

I missed a couple of days and my school work suffered, but my story fell to pieces. I did not finish it because the plot fell apart from so many holes you could have used it as a very flat sponge. I should have gone over the ten year old diagram and re-worked it, but I didn't and paid the price.

What did you learn from NaNoWriMo this year?

You have to plan out the story, do research and have well-developed characters with a well-thought out plot with coherent events that pace the story along well. This provides a solid skeleton on which to flesh out the actual narrative. Once you have the planning done it is simply a matter of self-discipline to actually do the writing, which is by far the most difficult part. It helps to schedule a set time to start writing and use word counts not time amounts to gauge your work. Set up a place where you are comfortable to write and write, just write. Do not worry about anything other that vomiting the story out on the page. If you did the planning correctly the superstructure of the story will hold up the vomit of your writing until you can get around to editing the tea and PB&J smelling mass.

Where else can we find you online?

I hope to start a blog some day, but nothing now.