NaNoWriMo: Maps (write aid)

I would like to claim that my lack of posts this week was due to an unwavering focus on writing a novel as part of NaNoWriMo. Sadly it would not be the truth. In fact, I have yet to really begin.

Oh, I have several ideas on starting but a major project at work has been demanding more time than I anticipated. My novel has yet begun to blossom. Still I wanted to share a writing tip that may help you with your writing endeavors.

Draw a map of the world your characters live in.

Drawing a map of this world, be it the school or campus grounds, the workplace where the story takes place, or the actual world the characters live in with mountains, rivers, and seas will help you more fully imagine the setting and provide a reference as your characters journey through your story.

Be sure to set the scope of the map appropriately. If your story setting only encompasses a small town, a map of the entire continent may not prove helpful. It doesn’t have to be fully detailed just enough to provide a visual aid to help with your story.

I hope this tip proves useful for you.

Happy Writing!

© 2018 – James Sponseller – mindescapes.net

Special thanks to OpenClipart-Vectors @ pixabay for the map image

NaNoWriMo Day 2, Getting Started

So I am already a day behind on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I missed the hors d’ oeuvres, the fancy evening gowns of the kickoff party and arrived here late. What’s that? No kickoff party? Oh, then I only lost a day of opportunity to get this novel underway.

Actually, I haven’t signed up and likely won’t. With current work and family obligations, I don’t believe I can pull off 50,000 words before December. That doesn’t mean I can’t play along at home though!

Over the course of this month I will take steps to at least begin a novel and see where the writing takes me. I’ll talk about methods used, planning strategies, and writing aids. Also about comfort and getting in the zone.

Time to roll up these sleeves and get started. Wish me luck!

“In the beginning…” 😉

-James Sponseller

Halloween A Year Past, Last of the Fun (collection)

One of the things I enjoy about some of the content I create is that it is timeless, as enjoyable now as when it was first unveiled to the world. This post compiles a collection of the Halloween Challenge posts I published for 2017, entries 26 through 31, the last of the fun. I hope you enjoy them!

Have a great Halloween!


Here is day 26 of JNW’s Halloween Challenge: Creature.

[Begin scene]

Creature of the nights,
You give me such a scare…

When I out the lights,
You’re simply standing there…

Ever you are silent,
As on the walls you dance…

Never you’ve been violent,
I know you’ve had the chance…

Maybe I’ve been wrong,
And I should fear you not…

You’ve been here all along,
Perhaps a friend I’ve got!

[End scene]

Sounds a bit surreal or at least a little crazy 😉


Here is day 27 of JNW’s Halloween Challenge: Werewolf

I welcome any feedback you have on this. Too long? Too generic? Too boring? Please let me know!

[Begin scene]

Jonathon and the Werewolves

Jonathon knew he was in trouble now. He winced at each clank as his revolver tumbled down the side of the ravine. The only defense he had against THEM were the six silver bullets loaded inside it. He cursed himself for being clumsy as he watched the gun come to a stop at the bottom. Now defenseless and the sun quickly setting, he needed to find his sister soon.

She knew better than to wander far from the village on days of a full moon but she just hasn’t been the same since their parents passed away last month. They were taken by a sickness that swept through the village. A sickness that set upon the whole family but only the children’s youth allowed them to recover , their parents sadly succumbed. On their deathbed, Jonathon had promised his parents that he would look after his younger sister, Bethany. A promise that had now brought him to the top of this ravine, hoping to find his sister here again.

Of late she had taken to spending the afternoons up here, staring towards the horizon, as if expecting to see her parents arriving home from one of their trips to a nearby village. When he arrived today, she was nowhere in sight. And now the day was at a close, the sun dipping past the horizon, replaced in the east by the bright rising moon, the orangefading away as it climbed higher.
“BETHHHHAAAAANNYYYY”, he shouted, again and again, pausing in between to listen for some reply. Silence. His sense of panic began to grow as the seconds passed by. Still no response.

“A-ROOOOOO”, the howl breaking the silence. The first of several howls
to ring out from the basin below. He needed to get back to the safety of the village NOW! He hoped he had simply missed crossing paths with Bethany on his way out here and that she was safe in the village because he had just run out of time to search.

Jonathon broke into a run away from the cliff that overlooked the ravine and headed to where the slope was more gradual. He would be able to keep a good pace as he raced back towards the village, hoping to avoid the beasts.

“A-ROOOOO”, a howl from somewhere behind him. THEY were already in pursuit but were still paces behind. He picked up his pace, reaching the limits to what his legs could do, running faster towards the bottom of the hill and the road that would see him quickly back to town.

“UMPHH”, the sound escaping him as his face hit the dirt. Tripped up by a root sticking up from the ground, his escape had been delayed. He scrambled to get back up, desperate to flee, but collapsed again when his ankle could not bear his weight. The night went still, quiet. Too quiet. Then THEY emerged from the shadows, beady eyes glinting in the moonlight. There were only two werewolves standing there but even one alone would be too many. The nearest werewolf poised to pounce, mouth open wide, saliva dripping from its rows of fangs.

“BANG!!”, the loud clap echoing around. The near werewolf was thrown back a pace where it shuddered a bit before falling still. The other tore off into the night, no longer interested in its prey, not wanting the same fate. “Jonathon!”, a young voice exclaimed and suddenly he was nearly tackled by his little sister. Behind her, now examining the dead werewolf, was the village’s renowned hunter. He looked rather pleased with his success and quipped, “Bit of silver always does the trick.”

Bethany and the hunter helped Jonathon up onto his good leg and they returned to the village, Jonathon hobbling along, thankful for his sister’s aid. She explained on the way back just where she had really been that day and how she sought the hunter’s help when she realized her brother must have gone out looking for her.

Though he had vowed to look after her, it didn’t quite work out that way. This time anyway.

[End scene]

Thanks for reading!


Here is day 28 of JNW’s Halloween Challenge: Zombie. This one is rather short.

Q: How do zombies prefer to exercise?

A: Zomba Class

Tee-hee-hee-hee.


Here is day 29 of JNW’s Halloween Challenge: Vampire

A bit of a fluff limerick 😉

[Begin scene]

Up is his big stone castle…

Lives a vampire who finds it a hassle…

To go on down…

Nearby the town…

So never feeds on any vassal!

[End scene]


Here is day 30 of JNW’s Halloween Challenge: Leaves

I could not decide on a good way to draw this so decided to use a photo for a bit of fluff to go with this Haiku.

[Begin scene]

A trend setting leaf…

Red when all others are green…

Likely first to fall.

[End scene]


Here is day 31 and the last for the 2017 JNW’s Halloween Challenge. Topic: Costume

In the image, each spider is wearing a costume 🙂 I did not work the word into the haiku below however.

I hope everyone has had as much fun reading my entries for the challenge as I have had creating them!

Halloween is fun!

Such a ghoulish holiday.

Remember All Saints.


That’s it for Halloween for another year! Thanks for reading!

© 2018 – James Sponseller – mindescapes.net