Every November thousands of otherwise normal people give up their spare time and write a 50,000-word novel in a month. The challenge is called National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. Some participants are published writers who do this every day on their own but appreciate the camaraderie. Others are new writers who hope their...Read More
Dear Writers, It’s time to plan for National Novel Writing Month, and I can help! Tomorrow at the Write Now! Mastermind class, I’ll be talking to Angela Ackerman about building great characters. If you’re not signed up yet, you can do so here. If you need even more help, check out Angela Ackerman’s post Building...Read More
Are you ready to NaNo? If not, I can help! Next week, I’ll be welcoming Angela Ackerman to the Write Now! Mastermind class to talk about Character Creation: Forging an Unforgettable Hero. We’ll meet next Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM CDT (Think Chicago) to talk about building great characters. If you’re not yet signed up, you can...Read More
If you’re a NaNoWriMo participant or wannabe, you know that we’re counting down the days to the 2013 challenge with lots of blog posts to help you prepare. Next Tuesday, I’ll be offering a chance to win a copy of my book, Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It)....Read More
How does a novelist remember all those details about character and plot? I’ve been working with a teenaged client who’s writing an epic tale. He predicts the story will take seven books to tell. And, of course, with that much story, he’s also got a complicated plot, multiple characters, and a variety of settings. At...Read More
So we’re eight days into this crazy NaNoWriMo challenge, and I have to ask: how are you doing? Are you rocking the word count or lagging behind? Are you still getting to your story with energy and excitement or are you ready to toss the story and start anew? No matter how well your NaNoWriMo...Read More
Dear Writers, This Wednesday, October 31 at 12:00 CT, the Write Now! Mastermind class will be all about productivity. If you’re planning on doing National Novel Writing Month or if you just want to increase your productivity, come hear my favorite tools for getting more writing done. If you’re not already a member, you can...Read More
Although I love a twisting plot, I tend to fall for books with well-drawn, intriguing characters. If the characters are rich, I find myself quoting them and relaying their experiences to my husband, almost as if they’re real people. I’ve even dreamt about a few of my favorite fictional characters. In order to write characters...Read More
Several years ago, I heard a story about a writer who kept his notes about his novel in a brown paper bag in his office. Every time he had a random thought about the book—a snippet of dialogue or a song lyric, he’d jot it down and toss it in the bag. You know where...Read More
Remember what it was like to be in love? I’m talking about those first few weeks or months, when you can barely last a day without each other. You’ll sacrifice work, food, friends, and even sleep to spend a few moments with your beloved. That’s what you need to feel about your National Novel Writing...Read More
