Hey Milwaukee Writers, I hope you’ll consider entering this fabulous contest at Boswell Book Company and then come to the event. There will be prizes for everyone who comes, chocolate, AND lots of tips for succeeding at NaNoWriMo this year. Should be a fun evening. Read More
Yes, we have winners for the NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon Virtual party! Congrats to all who wrote and finished their NaNoWriMo project. You rock and deserve HEAPS of prizes. So if you did not win in this round of prizes, you have my permission to splurge on something decadent: chocolate, wine, a massage, or perhaps a mocha...Read More
The day after I finished NaNoWriMo, I got up early and wrote. But I was tired. Here’s what author and marathon runner Hal Higdon says about a runner’s need for recovery: “Generally, it takes a minimum of two to three weeks for the body to recover from the strain of running 26 miles 385 yards....Read More
Hey fellow NaNo winners: have you started celebrating yet? I have. On Tuesday night, I went to a Brandi Carlile concert. On Wednesday, I took the morning off to see the Impressionism exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I’d hoped to have a party to commemorate this year’s NaNoWriMo win—or at least attend one of...Read More
Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing. —Melinda Haynes Sometime late Monday morning, I crossed the NaNoWriMo finish line with 51,583 words. How did I celebrate? I had pizza night on Monday instead of Friday. Yesterday morning I got up before the sun, took my daughter to school,...Read More
National Novel Writing Month is like boot camp for writers. Even though I work as a professional writer and writing coach, I still need the kind of tune-up you get from attending boot camp. Every year National Novel Writing Month gives me that—and I do not even have to leave my house. I crossed the...Read More
It does not take much to derail a #NaNo project. At least that’s how it seems to me. For the last two years, I have reached 50,000 words in about 26 days. But then again, I was not doing a virtual book tour, blogging every day, and hosting Thanksgiving. Last week was all about getting...Read More
When a reporter asked Ernest Hemingway how he started a new book, Hemingway said, “Defrost the Refrigerator.” The long Thanksgiving weekend is quickly coming to a close. Hopefully, you have kept up on your word count for NaNoWriMo while also eating turkey and trimmings, watching football and parades, and napping on the sofa. If not,...Read More
Earlier in November, I wrote about my five must-haves for writing a novel. Today, I return to that theme with my list of five must-haves—borrowed from the literary greats—for anyone who is trying to write a novel this month: 1. A valet. It is said that Victor Hugo forced himself to work regularly by confining...Read More
I’m delighted to welcome Elle Amberley to the Write Now! Coach Blog. Elle is a super-prolific author who writes in both French and English. Enjoy! The Curse of Being Prolific by Elle Amberley Writer’s block? What’s that? I often hear about the dreadful writer’s block, sounds horrible. I always fear of it landing on me...Read More
