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NaNoWriMo Exercises to Help You Finish Strong

With only a few days left of NaNoWriMo, the exhaustion is probably setting in (unless you’re one of those barbarians superstars who's already finished. These last days will be an adventure for your mind and hands, and we're looking out for both. Here are time-efficient "exercises" to make sure you stay in mental and phalangeal tip-top shape, so you can finish out strong and WRITE THAT NOVEL.

The Chomp

Place your hands together as if you're holding a burger. Now hold a burger and take a bite. Writing is a serious business and you need the protein. Pro-tip: If burgers aren't your thing, pick a food inspired by one of your characters to help you plot while you eat! 

Finger Stretches

You've probably experienced your fair share of finger fatigue this month. If your digits start cramping up, you might want to try a nifty finger stretching app like this one. Or, take the time to pause and really ponder what's next for your characters.

The Imbibe

Curl your hands as if you're holding a glass. Struggling with the proper form? We are too—that's why we recommend trying this one with an actual glass of wine, for motivation.

Nuke It

Place your food of choice in the microwave, and press start. You're probably full of noveling stress, so you might want to have a mini-dance party while it's cooking to clear your head.

Halo Time

Pull out that wallet and make a donation to the Office of Letters and Light. You'll feel good, and good feelings make good novels, right?

These are just a few of the things you can do to hold on to your sanity for a couple more days and write that 50,000th word. If you're really struggling, join other writers in your area by attending a write-in! Alternatively, you can become a hermit for a few days and stick with Written? Kitten! to help you stay on track. You can also see if there are NaNo-related socials or events in your region to help keep your motivation levels high.

For more inspiration, check out our previous post, A Round-Up of Tools to Help You Finish Your #NaNoWriMo Novel. Happy noveling!

Posted by Marsha Auguste

10 Rules To Surviving a Goosebumps Tale

It's been 20 years since the premiere of the Goosebumps TV series, and we'd like to take a moment to apprecaite R.L. Stine for all he's done to ensure our safety. Whether he’s warning us about those nefarious lawn gnomes or making sure we keep an eye out for Frosty’s evil twin each winter, he always has our backs.

If you’re the kind of person who willingly ventures in to haunted houses (or worse yet, ventures into haunted houses and makes off with something), your life choices need some guidance.  Look no further!  Following these simple rules will ensure that you don’t end up living a real-life Goosebumps tale.

Posted by Marsha Auguste

How To Make Our Favorite Lembas Bread, Plus Dips!

Lembas bread is a well-kept secret of the elves, and if Legolas is to be believed, "one small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man."  While we can't guarantee the exact same dietary satisfaction, we can say this is one tasty lembas bread recipe that goes with everything and is easy to make. Sure to be a hit at your next Middle Earth-inspired celebration!

Posted by Marsha Auguste

Hidden Gems to Explore at NY Comic-Con 2015

There's so much to see and do during New York Comic-Con weekend that it's easy to miss out on some low-key, but no-less-awesome panels and events. Luckily, we scoured the listings to bring you our top picks that you might not have heard about!

For example, all weekend, there will be fandom-specific meet-ups in room 1E03, which we've never seen on the schedule before.  Fans of Batman, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Doctor Who are just a few of the groups getting their own time slot to geek out and show off their nerd cred.  Meeting fellow fans is always one the best parts of NYCC, so don't forget to check the schedule and pop into this room at some point! 

Posted by Marsha Auguste