Tag Archives: NaNoWriMo

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2018 – 4th Quarter Writing Updates

It is that time again! Let’s how much progress I’ve made on my goals before I post my next year’s goals. 2018 was an interesting year!

Goals for my writing for 2018:

  1. Finish getting The Gate Trilogy Ready
    1. Book 2 – Publish Summer August 8 of 2018 (The Nowhere Gate)
      1. Beta readers (First came back two are behind and I’ve scheduled a fourth)
      2. Schedule Cover Reveal (July 7, 2018)
      3. Professional editor
      4. Order link: Amazon
    2. Book 3 – Publish Summer Fall of 2019
      1. Edit (Lots to rewrite but edits are done)
      2. Cover Completed
      3. Do rewrite
      4. Transcribe edits (Started! Five chapters in!)
      5. Beta readers (Sent out in December/January)
      6. Cover reveal (Scheduled for June)
      7. Professional editor
  2. Publish Audiobook
    1. Unfathomable Chance
      1. Release in 2018 – Release happened in May. 
    2. Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand
      1. Find voice
      2. Consider publishing 2019
  3. Focus on Unfathomable Plan (On Hiatus)
    1. Finish writing in 2018 (At 42,000 words)
    2. Start editing 2019
  4. Work on other writing projects after Unfathomable Plan is done.
    1. Temporum: The Four Seasons – Book 1
      1. Finish Outline
      2. Start Writing
      3. Finish Writing 2018 (On Hold)
      4. Edit
    2. 1001 Islands 2
      1. Finish Outline
      2. Start Writing
      3. Finish Writing 20##
      4. Edit
    3. Seven Eves – Alaskan Supernatural Crime Novel (on hold)
    4. Demon’s Due – Paranormal Erotica/Romance
    5. Noble Chronicles Series (5 Books Planned)
    6. Zendar 2 (Added April)
      1. Finish Outline
      2. Start Writing (Started writing for NaNoWriMo – Just hit 20,000 words!)
      3. Finish Writing 2019
      4. Edit
    7. Write Anthology Short Story – (Part of Gate) – Romance The Curse Anthology
      1. Write!
      2. Submitted for review!
      3. If you are interested go to my new anthologies page: The Truest Gate
    8. Write Anthology Short Story – Epic Fantasy
      1. Write!
      2. Submit for review!
    9. Worlds Apart Sci-Fi Anthology
      1. Submit Story
      2. Help Promote
      3. Published: Amazon
    10. Holiday Chords: Christmas Romance Anthology
      1. Wrote story
      2. Help Promote
      3. Published: Amazon
  5. Consider Publishing Love’s Metamorphosis in eBook
  6. An Honest Misunderstanding
    1. Publishing on Wattpad in 2018 – To come out over the winter! 
    2. One Beta Reader is editing
  7. Editing Projects
    1. Red Door
    2. Truthseer (Started editing in September)
  8. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2018
    1. Will be writing Zendar 2: A Tale of Wind and Blood
      1. Wrote 15,000 words for NaNoWriMo
  9. Work on Escape Room information.
    1. Conjured Kingdoms
      1. Writing (Finished Writing)
      2. Find Cover Artist
      3. Website Summary
      4. Book Summary
      5. Promotional Video and other supporting work
      6. Room/Puzzle work
    2. Work on video language
    3. Work on media kits
  10. Keep up momentum on writing events, speaking events, and conventions.
    1. Book and Attended Steamposium CANCELLED BY COORDINATOR
    2. Book and Attend Arctic Comic Con (April 2018)
    3. Book and Attend SenshiCon (September 2018)
    4. Book Read Alaska (Didn’t attend)
    5. Attend Read Alaska
    6. Submit Application for World Con 
      1. If I get in Attend WorldCon in San Jose.
    7. Apply for Emerald City Comic Con (2019)
      1. On the wait-list for Artist Alley.
  11. Read 5

Writing updates:

The King’s Gate (book 3 of the trilogy) has gone to Beta Readers. I’m so excited to hear back from them! There is still some work to be done but I’m pretty happy with the final product. The King’s Gate is scheduling for release on September 9, 2019. Now all that is left is to schedule the cover reveal!

Unfathomable Plan has been placed on Hiatus while I work on Zendar 2. I needed a break to work out a particularly difficult scene. I have a few ideas.

Zendar: A Tale of Wind and Sand is progressing beautifully. I hope to be done writing in the next few months and then I can share Bella’s romantic story! Thanks to a start on NaNoWriMo I was able to get a fantastic head start! I’m already 25,000 words in and show now signs of slowing!

I’ve made some progress on Truthseer but it is slow going. It’s is really eye opening

Anthologies:

Crazy Ink Anthologies has scheduled The Curse for release on November 3, 2019. Woot!

The Epic Fantasy anthology story was cancelled so I’ll start looking for another group for A Ghostly Gate. I’m totally behind writing this but I’ve gotten around the hard part and starting the easier part that I already had a clear picture of. Should hopefully wrap it up this month.

I had a last minute request for a short story Christmas romance for Stained Glass Publishing’s Holiday Chords. It is very cute! Also Pandemonium was published in World’s Apart, make sure to check them both out! (Links above.)

Escape  Book:

Conjured Kingdoms is done! I’ve turned it in for reading by the client. I hope to hear something back soon! It’s a cute and sweet YA/middle school story. It is fun for all ages! It will cover the story leading up to the ‘creation’ of the escape room. I can’t wait!

Here is the summary:

Has life ever been so unbearable that you wish to be anywhere else? That is what Bennie was imagining with all her heart; to be far away from her unhappy relatives and cruel school mates. One day her belief in other realms where she could be happy was so strong that she conjured a door to a different world. Places of wonder and bursting with magic—real magic! Unwilling to return Bennie jumps from world to world, making friends, and finding mystical objects. That is until one day she opens the wrong door.

Reading Goal:

It is my goal was to read 50 books. I’ve completed them and finished the 55 books read! I’ve kept the goal at 50 for 2019 but I’ll talk more about that.

Happy reading!

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NaNoWriMo – Day 11

That’s right 30% of the way through National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and had my best day yet! I’ve written 3,903 words yesterday, bringing my total word count to just over 11,000. Which means I’m just a little behind the curve ball but yesterday sure helped close the gap.

My goal this year is 25,000 words. Anyone going for for the win?

I’ve been diligently writing away on Zendar: A Tale of Wind and Blood, book two in the Zendar Collection. Bella’s story is starting to take on a life of its own and the story is just starting to heat up.

However, I was distracted by a short story anthology I’m writing for a friend. To help with her Christmas Romance anthology. It is a cute little romance about second chances and forgiveness. I’ll hopefully finish it up shortly and then get back into Zendar 2.

Do comment if you are participating in NaNoWriMo this year! I’d love to hear what word count you are on. My user name is K.T. Munson if you are so inclined to add me!

As always, happy writing!

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My Author Interview – Booklattes

I’d like to thank Hannah with Booklattes so much for these awesome questions! If you have any questions be sure to ask them. 

Ya’ll NaNoWriMo starts TODAY!! Where has the time gone?? I’ll mainly be working on edits for AT this year (aka my book with a super secret title) but good luck to everyone participating and cranking out those novels! K.T. Munson is one of my lovely author friends and I send her some writing questions recently […]

via Author Interviews: K.T. Munson author of “The Sixth Gate” — booklattes

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World Building Tips and NaNoWriMo Check in

One week is already done and I’m behind…but I’m ahead in my editing of The Nowhere Gate so am I really losing? I don’t think so! Last weekend I edited 5 chapters and two more over the last two days bringing me over the 50% mark. Completely rewriting one because I didn’t like the way the character was acting at all! So this NaNoWriMo check in is I’m just shy of 5,000 words!

For those of you stuck on world building here is some tips to help out!

Don’t get overwhelmed by world-building.

Start from a single point or image. From there determine what is important to the story based on genre. Consider:

  • Culture
  • Religion
  • Government
  • Climate
  • Advancement (industrial, technological, medical, magical)

Choose a single idea or concept and build from it. For example in one of my books, 1001 Islands, I started from a single scene. From that I decided I needed a world consisting of 1001 islands, which is full of pirate like activities in the middle and witches. From there I built in 3 major islands, each have their own culture, government, and climate.

Time

Another item to consider is time. How long has this world existed? Inventing a history for your world is as important as creating the present. This is where you build in quirks. A king that died from choking on a feather and a stone that people kiss to get the gift of gab. These have happened in our history, why not make something similar happen in your fictional world? In short, Earth’s history is weird, consider the same when building a world.

Senses

Use all of your senses when talking about time and events. What does the city smell like? What are the sounds? Think back to a book you’ve read recently and see if you can remember what a place smelled or sounded like.

Sketch a map. 

I am a very visual person and when I am starting I decide what the world is going to look like. I usually do a terrible drawing or use paint on the computer to give myself a springboard. This helps with judging distances, placing cities, and deciding climate. Especially when you have multiple worlds.

The small things.

After you have a general building block things start to get complicated. What is the social standing of people, clothing like, normal food, and buildings made of? Consider the infrastructure of basic society; like economy, military or security, political, and philosophy. That just to touch on a few. Once you have the framework these sorts of questions are easier. Drill down into the details – even if they never make their way into the book. This will create a three dimensional society.

Don’t overshare.

Once you build all of this the first thing you want to do is share EVERYTHING. Don’t do this. What is awesome to create as the writer isn’t always awesome to read as a reader. Stick to what is important to the plot and characters and build the world around that.

Hope this was helpful! Any other questions feel free to comment.

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And so it begins…

Halloween has ended but that’s okay, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has begun! If you don’t already have me as a friend on NaNoWriMo be sure to add me (it is K.T. Munson).

I’d like to start off by saying that this isn’t so much about winning but about writing. It is about setting goals and realizing they are goals you can actually obtain. For those of you returning and those of you who are new, set your goals and strive to achieve them – whether it is 10,000, 50,000, or 100,000 words in November.

My goal?

It is 25,000 words. I very narrowly met this goal last year and I had to do a lot that last weekend. I hope to put the same effort in this year.

What is your writing goal?

Don’t set an overly daunting goal. If 50,000 seems crazy, set a smaller goal and then you reach that goal, move the bar up. Start at 1,000 words. When you achieve that, don’t rest, raise the bar. Now make it 2,000 words, then 4,000 words, next thing you know, you’ll have 10,000 words. Set a goal and strive to achieve it!

Not sure what NaNoWriMo is? Make sure to go check it out: NaNoWriMo. It is a great community.

Tell me about your novel! What are your NaNoWriMo aspirations?

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Third Quarter Writing Updates

I’m nearly on time this quarter and it is time to see where I am on my goals.

Goals for my writing/the year:

  1. Building Mailing List – I’d like to get a mailing list so when I have giveaways and such, I can let everyone who is interested know.
    1. Mailing lists can be found HERE.
  2. Finish Writing The Gate Trilogy (I expect this to happen within the next month). (I’m done writing, now on to the editing)
    1. Get all 3 covers done for The Gate Trilogy, reveal the first one.
      1. Book cover 1 is done (Reveal completed!).
      2. Book 2 is done.
      3. Prequel was done – pushed off completion of book 3.
      4. Book 3 is in draft but in the last stages.
    2. Publish The Sixth Gate on July 7, 2017
      1. Published on July 7th! On Amazon.
    3. Finish editing all 3 books – get ready for Beta readers.
      1. Working on editing book 2 – finished but need to transcribe.
      2. Consider publishing in 2018.
  3. Choose which book to have done for Audio Book
    1. Find a ‘voice’ for the audio book and pick a date for release next spring (2018).
    2. Send a poll in the fall for which book through Mailing List.
    3. Consider putting off another year.
  4. Start writing next book. Decide between 1001 Islands #2, Unfathomable Chance #2, or the new YA Fantasy novel – Temporum: The Four Seasons.
    1. I’ve started writing Temporum: The Four Seasons
      1. Found a major plot hole. Working to resolve it and get writing again.
    2. I’m planning to write Unfathomable Chance #2 for NaNoWriMo and am working on the Outline
      1. Came up with a tentative name: Unfathomable Plan
      2. I’ve tentatively started writing. About 9,000 words in as of today!
    3. I’m also working on the Outline for 1001 Islands #2 which will be a backup for NaNoWriMo if I haven’t completed the outline for Unfathomable Chance #2
      1. Finished outline for Book 2 just today!
  5. Work on Seven Eves – Alaskan Supernatural Crime Novel
    1. I’ve written three more chapters and hit 10,000 words!
  6. Edit and Get to Beta Readers An Honest Misunderstanding and consider publishing (maybe just on Wattpad).
    1. One Beta Reader is editing
  7. Breathe new life into my Historical Mystery Novella. Finish writing ‘The Red Door’ – SO MUCH REWRITING/EDITING!
    1. Edited and started jotting down notes to finish writing.
  8. Editing/rewrite Truthseer 
    1. I finally re-read this. It is going to take some work but I sure love this story!
  9. Participate in NaNoWriMo
    1. I’ll be working on Unfathomable Plan for NaNoWriMo!
  10. Keep up momentum on writing events, speaking events, and conventions.
    1. Attended YukiCon.
    2. Attended Steamposium and TaikaiCon
    3. Scheduled/booked SenshiCon and Colony Christmas.
    4. Attend SensiCon
    5. Attend Colony Christmas
  11. Read 45 30 0 books before December 31st. Done! Now I’m just gaining books!

Writing updates:

I’ve published The Sixth Gate and already have 11 reviews on Amazon! Make sure to check it out.

Temporum: The Four Seasons is a YA Fantasy. Eva is a 17 year old heroine who falls through a mirror and ends up where the word is divided into four courts based on the seasons. I finalized the outline and just hit 10,000 words! Until I realized there is a major plot hole. Next to fix/rewrite before I continue.

To complicate matters, Unfathomable Chance 2 – tentatively named Unfathomable Plan – has been harassing me, so I started writing it just to make it leave me alone…now I’m over 9,000 words in…oops! Not to mention I’ve been pulled back into Seven Eves. So many stories wanting my attention.

Audiobook:

The votes are in and the winner is Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand by one (1) vote! It was so close, I was worried it would be a tie!

Reading Goal:

It is my goal to read 45 books. It is October and I’ve already read 46! I’m already one book over with a good pile to keep me busy!

Happy reading!

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Second Quarter Writing Updates

We are already nearly through July and it is time to see where I am on my goals.

Goals for my writing/the year:

  1. Building Mailing List – I’d like to get a mailing list so when I have giveaways and such, I can let everyone who is interested know.
    1. Mailing lists can be found HERE.
  2. Finish Writing The Gate Trilogy (I expect this to happen within the next month). (I’m done writing, now on to the editing)
    1. Get all 3 covers done for The Gate Trilogy, reveal the first one.
      1. Book cover 1 is done (Reveal completed!).
      2. Book 2 is done.
      3. Prequel was done – pushed off completion of book 3.
      4. Book 3 is in draft.
    2. Publish The Sixth Gate on July 7, 2017
      1. Published on July 7th! On Amazon.
    3. Finish editing all 3 books – get ready for Beta readers.
      1. Working on editing book 2 – about half done.
  3. Choose which book to have done for Audio Book
    1. Find a ‘voice’ for the audio book and pick a date for release next spring (2018).
    2. Send a poll in the fall for which book through Mailing List. (SEE BELOW!)
  4. Start writing next book. Decide between 1001 Islands #2, Unfathomable Chance #2, or the new YA Fantasy novel – Temporum: The Four Seasons.
    1. I’ve started writing Temporum: The Four Seasons
      1. 10,000 words in as of today!
    2. I’m planning to write Unfathomable Chance #2 for NaNoWriMo and am working on the Outline
      1. Ongoing – About 3/4 done but still really rough concept.
    3. I’m also working on the Outline for 1001 Islands #2 which will be a backup for NaNoWriMo if I haven’t completed the outline for Unfathomable Chance #2
      1. Finished outline for Book 2 just today! Will be the book I start writing in November!
  5. Work on Seven Eves – Alaskan Supernatural Crime Novel
    1. I’ve written three more chapters and hit 10,000 words!
  6. Edit and Get to Beta Readers An Honest Misunderstanding and consider publishing (maybe just on Wattpad).
    1. One Beta Reader is editing
  7. Breathe new life into my Historical Mystery Novella. Finish writing ‘The Red Door’ – SO MUCH REWRITING/EDITING!
    1. Edited and started jotting down notes.
  8. Editing/rewrite Truthseer 
  9. Participate in NaNoWriMo
  10. Keep up momentum on writing events, speaking events, and conventions.
    1. Attended YukiCon.
    2. Attended Steamposium and TaikaiCon
    3. Scheduled/booked SenshiCon and Colony Christmas.
    4. Attend SensiCon
    5. Attend Colony Christmas
  11. Read 45 30 8 books before December 31st.

Writing updates:

I’ve published The Sixth Gate and already have 3 reviews on Amazon! Make sure to check it out.

Temporum: The Four Seasons is a YA Fantasy. Eva is a 17 year old heroine who falls through a mirror and ends up where the word is divided into four courts based on the seasons. I finalized the outline and just hit 10,000 words! This one is really coming together!

I’ve really thrown myself back into Seven Eves and making progress on that but I am getting sidetracked by summer and Temporum!

Audiobook:

Make sure to vote on the below poll! I’m taking multiple polls from different areas and will be tabulating them all through the next month. I’ll make a decision early September!

Reading Goal:

It is my goal to read 45 books. I am very excited to already be 33 books in. I’m now months ahead of schedule! I’ll have to make it harder next year for sure.

Happy reading!