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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty
@chrisbaty.bsky.social
570 followers 230 following 73 posts
Writer, former word nerd at Figma, and founder of NaNoWriMo. Doing NaNoWriMo this fall? Check out www.nano2.org! 🏝️Alameda, CA
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 12h
That feels like a cinematic way to write. Love it, Chris.

And so agree that the second draft is where all my cool high concepts go to die. 🤣
chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 12h
Ooh! Where do you get your names?
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 13h
Before I dive in, I try to figure out what's missing from main character's life.

I know they’ll get some version of it in the end—though probably not in the way they were expecting. And having that character arc is really useful in building out story beats.

What are your go-to planning tips?
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 13h
How much planning do you *really* need to do for #NaNoWriMo?

NaNo 2.0’s Maria Berejan lays out the options: nano2.org/posts/2025/h...

Do you have a favorite novel planning tip or approach you’d be willing to share? I'll drop mine below! 👇
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 13h
Before I dive in, I try to figure out what's missing from main character's life.

I know they’ll get some version of it in the end—though probably not in the way they were expecting. And having that character arc is really useful in building out story beats.

What are your go-to planning tips?
chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 1d
There's another Chris Baty who lives in England and I keep getting added to his work email threads.

I can't help but think this is the universe feeding me valuable material for #NaNoWriMo.
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Reposted by Chris Baty
nano2point0.bsky.social
NaNo 2.0 @nano2point0.bsky.social · 2d
When it’s tough to quiet your inner editor, remember Terry Pratchett: "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." You can always go back and edit, but first you’ve got to get something on the page. Check out NaNo2.org for resources & inspiration as you dig into #Preptober. #NaNoWriMo
Dark blue and light blue squares background. Clipboard with quote by Terry Pratchett: "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." NaNo2.0 logo on light blue cloud with fountain pen tip.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 4d
The compensation is roughly $3,000 per work. It looks like the default arrangement is to split that 50/50 with your publisher. Legal fees will also be taken out.

Still, for authors whose entire catalog got vacuumed up (hi @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social) this could be a meaningful amount of money.
chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 4d
Anthropic is settling the class action lawsuit brought by authors, and there’s now an easy way to see if your book was involved. secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

If you've ever published an ebook, be sure to check! "No Plot? No Problem!" was on the list, and filing a claim was easy.
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 5d
Before it shut down, #NaNoWriMo offered 100% non-boring creative writing workbooks and curriculum to K-12 classrooms.

NaNo 2.0's resident educator @lambradley.bsky.social preserved and updated all of it, and it's now available for free on our site! nano2.org/posts/2025/i... 📚
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 6d
Lisa! So great to see your face!
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 6d
You can follow @nano2point0.bsky.social for updates, pep talks, writing badges, word sprints, and more!
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 6d
After they closed NaNoWriMo, I started chatting with some folks about keeping November’s writing adventure going in a more DIY form. Today, we launched a site! www.nano2.org.

Sweaty origin story here: nano2.org/posts/2025/w...

We’ll be noveling next month, and we’d love to have you join us!
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · 14d
Gah, so excited that @heavyweight.bsky.social is back.

If you love heartfelt audio stories told with self-deprecating humor and an impeccable soundtrack, Heavyweight is the perfect salve for these trying times.

New episode only made me cry twice. www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/hea...
#59 Etta - Heavyweight Podcast - Pushkin
Gregor's parents are pushing 90. Gregor wants to move them out of their big Victorian home. But they refuse. So, he's come up with a bold plan.
www.pushkin.fm
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Jun 11
I will cheerfully pay Apple 3 billion dollars to add a tapback that captures the emotional middle ground between ❤️ and 👍.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · May 8
❤️
chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 18
Thank you! I love that you did Script Frenzy too.

And yes, November is a terrible month for so many reasons. 🤣 When we were planning the second NaNo in 2000 it was the only time where all 20 folks from the first year were free.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 3
Ah geez. Thank YOU, Sushi, for being such a big part of the community. This feels like such a needless loss, but I'm grateful for all the creative mayhem we experienced together. ❤️
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 3
You're a legend, Hillary, and you (and all MLs) deserve a lifetime of gratitude for all you did to encourage writers and shape the event.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 3
Aw, thank you, Jess. I'm so glad it was an important part of your life (and wall decor) back then!
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 2
We can all still write together in November. (Spoiler: let’s write together in November.)

But it’s really hard not to feel a deep sense of loss at what could have been. 📚
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 2
I think a big part of NaNoWriMo's enduring appeal is that, for 30 days out of the year, it makes life feel magical.

I’m hoping the month-long magic can continue in some form, even if the organization goes away.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 2
I left NaNo in 2012, but I still visit Young Writers Program classrooms every fall. The joy of watching kids fall in love with their stories is infectious. When you bash out your first novel as a fifth grader, it changes your relationship to books and writing forever.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 2
NaNoWriMo also put so much into its Young Writers Program—giving thousands of elementary, middle, and high school classrooms free lesson plans, workbooks, stickers, and online support.
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chrisbaty.bsky.social
Chris Baty @chrisbaty.bsky.social · Apr 2
Volunteer-run chapters (thank you, Municipal Liaisons!) meet in cities and towns around the world, and countless writing groups and friendships started at local kick-offs, write-ins, and closing parties.
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