There are a ton of new things going on here at Write Nonfiction in November. Please bear with me as today’s blog post is longer than usual and chock full of new things to inspire you.
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What is Write Nonfiction in November – a.k.a. NaNonFiWriMo?
The countdown is on! As of today, nonfiction writers have exactly 90 days to prepare for a month-long marathon of writing nonfiction in November. (We have been training for this marathon since January 1, 2013.) Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN), also known as NaNonFiWriMo, is Nina Amir’s creative alternative to the uber-popular NaNoWriMo. Starting today, we will highlight key aspects of WNFIN 2013 in all remaining prompts right up until October 30, 2013.
NaNonFiWriMo is:
• A month-long contest encouraging nonfiction writers to write,
• A self-directed program that operates on the honor system,
• An excellent opportunity to prove that writers can complete an entire nonfiction writing in one month!
Review of Writing Prompt Themes
August begins month eight in our 10-month writing marathon training program for nonfiction writers. We are down to the wire with just three months of writing prompts left! I hope you have been enjoying my creative writing prompts for nonfiction writers. It has been my pleasure to write them using fun monthly themes.
Here is a quick recap of all the interesting themes we’ve discussed so far:
- January – Pop culture
- February – Black History Month
- March – Prayer
- April – Social media experiments
- May – Mud
- June – Piano interpretation
- July – Emerging Trends
August Theme
The theme for the month of August is “All About You.” In this case, the “you” is the unknown blogger who blogs faithfully, but is not as well known as the big-name bloggers. I will highlight various bloggers in each prompt in August and ask you (nonfiction writers) to research and write basic profiles about these bloggers. It may appear to be a repetitive task in August, but it is also an excellent time to practice your writing skills and hone them. Practice makes perfect!
Today, your job is to write basic profiles on Kirra Antrobus, Maia Duerr, Rachel, Rachel Barenblatt, and Katie Orr.
Today’s Sub-Theme – Women, God, and Faith
Our first sub-theme in August’s “All About You” theme focuses on women bloggers who identify strongly with God or faith or both. This was an extremely difficult sub-theme to pinpoint because religion and faith crest and recede at different points, just like the waves of an ocean. It is up to you, the nonfiction writer, to properly identify, research, and describe the fine nuances of today’s three bloggers in writing.
Creative Idea Gal’s Thoughts
The August prompts are a challenge within a challenge for me because I am testing myself on two counts. First, how well can I research and showcase unknown bloggers? Second, can I ask questions of these unknown bloggers that are meaningful enough for them to turn into blog posts? (By the way, I refer to these questions as my own version of “softball questions” – – questions to get the ball rolling into new, creative territory.)
My idea is to research unknown bloggers, read about them, and develop 10 interesting questions to prompt them to respond in well-written, detailed, explanatory blog posts. (Get it? Two writing prompts for the price of one – – nonfiction writers write profiles about unknown bloggers and unknown bloggers respond to my questions in full-length blog posts.)
Let’s try it now.
Creative Idea Gal’s Softball Questions for Today’s Bloggers
My questions directed to today’s bloggers are intended to spark creativity. I strongly believe that people draw things out of us in ways that we cannot draw from ourselves. It is a basic law of humanity that people need people. We cannot be a vacuum within ourselves without at some point desiring human conversation, warmth, and camaraderie.
The following questions are based on my limited research and understanding of what these bloggers do and how they write. Hopefully, these three gals will be inspired enough to read my questions and respond to them thoughtfully, creatively, and in detailed blog posts on their own blogs.
Blogger Kirra Antrobus
(1) What makes your blog thoughtful?
(2) What do you mean when you say “the God of the Bible”?
(3) What do you hope to accomplish in your Wednesday Witness series?
(4) What exactly is the Stone-Campbell movement and why do you think it is important?
(5) You have proclaimed that Jesus is the Light of the World without offering explanations. Which current events in society would support your declaration?
(6) How did your undergraduate degree prepare you for writing your blog?
(7) Have you ever gotten into a debate with any of your blog readers? If so, how did you handle things?
(8) Do you envision yourself writing a book? If so, what would your book be about?
(9) Does your family agree with the substance of your blog messages? Please explain.
(10) Have you or your writing been featured anywhere?
Blogger Maia Duerr
(1) What was the principal reason why you chose to create the Liberated Life Project? Did something or someone motivate you?
(2) How do you introduce yourself to people, using your real name or your dharma name?
(3) The Jizo Chronicles is a fascinating exploration of eco-issues from a religious perspective. Is anyone taking over the reins on that project or have you abandoned it in favor of other projects?
(4) Your goal to help people on their journey towards liberation is promising as much as it is problematic. Do you agree that freedom comes with a price? Why or why not?
(5) You have contributed an essay for an e-book whose proceeds are intended to benefit people affected by the tornadoes in Joplin, MO in May 2011. Would you consider working with Kirra Antrobus (see above) to make those proceeds go further?
(6) I’m intrigued by your “magical casita” in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Can you tell us more about it?
(7) Liberation from financial debt is a type of liberation that would affect the entire nation, as today’s society features stories of average Joes who lost it all. What is the best financial advice you can give to others to help them achieve financial liberation from debt?
(8) How do you reconcile your Buddhist spirituality with your quest to be practical?
(9) Have you found value of offering your e-book for free, as opposed to charging for your book? If so, can you describe that value?
(10) How often do you travel? Are these business trips to support your business or just for pleasure? What lessons learned can you share from your trips?
Blogger Rachel
(1) Is there a reason why you don’t divulge your last name?
(2) Your tagline is “joyful inspiration for the natural homemaker.” How does that relate to faith and family?
(3) Why is it important to write about natural health and health remedies as it relates to God?
(4) How do your healthy recipes compare to healthy recipes found on the Internet?
(5) Why do you offer an e-book for free? What is the advantage of free versus paid?
(6) What do you believe is the single-most important aspect of motherhood?
(7) How do your religious beliefs impact your writing?
(8) How do you compare your Facebook and Twitter social media strategies?
(9) How do you define faith?
(10) Have your Healthy 2Day Wednesday link-ups succeeded in getting your blog visitors to leave more comments?
Blogger Rachel Barenblatt
(1) What kinds of things do you teach in your kallah class?
(2) You have selected 18 blog posts as your favorites from all the years you’ve been blogging. What makes these 18 your favorite? What type of reader reaction have you had on these 18 posts?
(3) The Progressive Faith Blog conference sounds fascinating. Can you describe this conference? What is your role in it? Is it about the Jewish religion only or does it include other religions as well?
(4) Can you describe the style of your chapbooks? What was your inspiration to write your chapbooks?
(5) How do you balance your rabbinate duties with parenting?
(6) The TIME magazine honor you received is exceptional. Did this honor change you or your blog readership? Did you receive benefits from this honor?
(7) What exactly do you mean when you say you create bespoke lifecycle rituals?
(8) How did you feel about working with Muslim religious leaders? What learning experiences can you share?
(9) Can you describe the differences between your conservative upbringing in Judaism before switching over to the reform movement?
(10) You describe yourself as an ordinary Jew who is unorthodox. Have your unorthodox viewpoints caused you problems or conflict? If so, how did you resolve them?
Blogger Katie Orr
(1) Clinging to grace insinuates that you are fighting or struggling or having difficulties. Can you share some insight on how you are clinging?
(2) It is pretty bold to speak the truth. I should know. I do it all the time. What truths do you focus on?
(3) Does being a pastor’s wife make your life easier or more difficult?
(4) Can you offer practical tips on how the Hello Morning program can improve the lives of your readers?
(5) Can you explain more details about Quench Bible Ministries and your Do Not Depart program?
(6) Your many creative endeavors give the impression that you lead a busy, harried life. How do you manage it all?
(7) On a related note, how do you balance motherhood with your creative projects?
(8) Do you earn an income with your creative projects or do you do your projects for passion only?
(9) Has your relationship with God improved as a result of your diverse creative projects?
(10) Have your blog visitors shared success stories on any of your blogs or projects? If so, can you share some?
This is certainly different, innovative, and interesting. What do you think?
Writing Prompt 090
Prompt: Write a basic profile on bloggers Kirra Antrobus, Maia Duerr, Rachel, Rachel Barenblatt, and Katie Orr.
Writing Tips:
- Conduct basic Internet research.
- Answer these questions in your writing: who, what, when, where, why (bonus: how?).
- Write your profile as descriptively as you wish. More details make your writing juicier!
- Bonus: interview the bloggers by asking them questions by e-mail and posting their replies on your own blog. Makes for good reading!
If you complete today’s writing prompt in the form of a blog post, please upload it here! Nina Amir and I want to hear from you!
About the Author
Amanda M. Socci – a.k.a. Creative Idea Gal
Amanda M. Socci is the creator of this unique 10-month training program providing writing prompts to nonfiction writers. Amanda is a diehard creative and an aspiring book author, currently blogging a book on faith, A Slice of Faith, on a community website. Visit Amanda’s blog. Follow Amanda on her journey to book publication. Like A Slice of Faith on Facebook.
I would love to participate in these writing challenges. Unfortunately I can’t figure out how to make time to do it. I did NaNo a year ago and actually fine tuned a book I am now fine tuning by serializing it in the digital magazine I publish. If nothing else it made me rethink my premise and redefine how to tell the story. Thanks for keeping writers excited about writing and giving us all opportunities to think past the last line we wrote and into a different mind set.
Thank you SO MUCH, Sharon, for your positive and insightful comments! I’ve hosted a few writing challenges and have participated in writing challenges given by others. I participated in Nina Amir’s Write Nonfiction in November Challenge in November 2012 and met my challenge. I challenged myself to write a gratitude post for each day in November. I ended up writing two daily gratitude posts. I vowed I would turn those gratitude posts into a book. I haven’t, yet, but I still plan to at some point.
I think the purpose of writing challenges is to get us writers focused and diligent on our work so that we may be less distracted by social media and more serious about working on and completing our writing projects. I’m not quite sure what type of writing project you wish to comnplete in November. If you want to write fiction, NaNoWriMo is best for you. If you want to focus on nonfiction, Nina Amir’s great alternative and the purpose of this website is best suited for you!
It is up to you to prioritize your writing projects and figure out which ones should be finished first. I know you are doing your radio show, digital magazine, and a new faith blog. That’s a lot! I know it is easier said than done to delineate #1, #2, #3, etc. in terms of priorities, but I know you can do it. And once you do, you’ll be in a much better position to figure out if you can realistically complete a fiction or nonfiction writing challenge in November 2013. Please keep us posted!!