Sunday, December 5, 2010

Join Us For JANO 2011

Again this year, Sleuths' Ink will sponsor JANO 2011. You've heard of NaNo. We call our write-a-novel-in-a-month JANO (because it begins in January!) The goal is to write like mad (no editing) beginning Jan. 1 and end up with a 50,000-word novel that you can edit the rest of the year.

What a great way to kick off 2011. Start a new novel or add to a work in progress (any genre). While you're wrapping those gifts, start thinking of a great premise. Start plotting now. Get your character bios ready. But, remember, NO ACTUAL WRITING until Jan. 1, 2011.

With help from many donors and SI members, we award GREAT prizes at a celebratory party in February. Categories include best title, best first sentence, most unique plot, the first three writers to reach 50,000 words and more. Note: You do not have to be a Sleuths' Ink member to win these prizes. Last year we had participants from four different states!

In addition, one lucky SI member will win a Kindle at Saturday's holiday party! In order to qualify for the Kindle next year, you must be a member of Sleuths' Ink (just $15/year).

To sign up for JANO 2011, contact Stephanie Jarkins at skoyless@gmail.com Hope you join us for JANO 2011. It's fun. Try it. You'll be glad you got your JANO on.

8 comments:

Shirley said...

Count me in. I'm reading to spend the cold, dreary month of January writing a novel.

Stephanie Jarkins said...

Please do join us for JANO.

Here is a wee bit that I wrote in February after participating in JANO this year.

Things I learned from JANO

1. At the fourth week, pink dragons are just fine in my text as long as they are described well.
2. Have an outline, otherwise the pink dragons start killing off characters for no reason.
3. Writing is work! Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t written enough!
4. “Writers’ block” is an indulgence of the indolent.
5. When scenes are flowing a thousand words flies by; when it is all muckled up, a hundred words is a victory.
6. The highligher tool is the most valuable one in my toolbar.
7. Different font colours for the different POVs has saved my hide more than once.
8. JANO isn’t the end of the world, I need my family and friends to keep my tenuous grip on so-called ‘reality.’
9. Perfectionism is the murderer of JANO. Just type it - d*mn it!
10. Have fun, it ain’t worth doin’ if I ain’t havin’ fun!

Musings of a competitive cuss, a.k.a. Stephanie Jarkins
January 2010

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the company of the 2010 Jano writers and was highly motivated by the friendly competition. Count me in too Stephanie! I'm thinking of adding to the word count I left off on last January. I don't think I've added much if any while fiddling with my words over the summer. If I were to finish this Jano, I'd have to give myself a serious reward. New lap top,
ipad... I am the queen of starting new projects and so it would be good to break that long standing habit.

Beth said...

I hope several writers join us. We had a great time during our first annual JANO last year and I'm sure we'll top it this year.

I can't think of a better way to spend the cold, blustery month of January--nor can I think of a better way to kick off 2011.

Let's all make a pact to do our best to achieve 50,000 words during JANO 2011. Are you in?!

Beth said...

BTW, I'm still not sure what I'll write. Still contemplating while I wrap gifts, shop and exercise (or play on FB), so it's not too late for all of you.

Also, don't let the 50k word count scare you. If you only achieve 5,000 words in Jan., that's 5k more than you would have had and you'll still be eligible for many prizes.

Shirley said...

Stephanie, I love "The Things I learned from Jano. Those are cool!

Barbara Graham said...

I sent my email to sign up. I'm very excited. January is the perfect month for this--weather is predictably cold and all the holiday excitement is over. I need to get this next book done. Thanks for organizing JANO!

Palooski65 said...

This is me, hanging my head in shame--so proud of all you ladies who are making terrigic progress on your WIP's.

I'm going to be the cheering section------this time.

March Meeting

    Schyrlet Cameron-  Schyrlet is half of the writing team CC Brown. CC Brown is the pseudonym adopted by the two sisters,  Schyrlet Camero...