Today’s post is an excerpt from my new book, Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) called Write What You Know. If you are going to write you must become aware of this richness in you and come to believe in it and know it is there so that...Read More

What are you planning to do this weekend? No doubt I will be trick or treating with my children. But I will also be doing my last minute prep. Here are three things you can do this weekend to guarantee that you rock your NaNo. 1. Get snacks. Last summer, when I caught my teenaged...Read More

Studies show that people who write down where and how a behavior will occur have a better chance of getting things done. In one study, women were asked to perform a breast self-exam. One group was asked to write down when and where they would do so, while the other was not. Both groups were...Read More

I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork. —Peter De Vries In 2009, The Guardian ran a wonderful feature called writer’s rooms. In the articles, writers talk about where they write. Even better, there are pictures! Here are some places that famous writers have found to be inspiring: *Michael Morpurgo tried writing...Read More

I am getting myself a pin that says, “No!” Yup, that’s right. Then I won’t even have to think when someone asks me to bake cookies, host a party, lead a fundraiser, chaperone a field trip, or whatever. I will just point to my button and say, “Read it and weep.” Here’s the thing: I...Read More

Earlier in this blog, I talked about setting the book in a place you’d love to vacation. It’s not a bad idea. Chances are if we like the setting of our novel, our readers will find it a wonderful place to visit, too. Think back to your favorite books. No doubt part of what made...Read More

The plot is just a bribe to keep them reading.   –Kurt Vonnegot What happens next? It’s the question that keeps many of us reading a book into the wee hours of the morning. It is also the question that you want your readers to be asking of your book. That’s why you need a plot....Read More

Maybe one of the best part of the write-a-thon is choosing who you get to spend it with. I’m not talking about your NaNo buddies, though they are important. I am talking about the characters in your book. These will be your most constant companions for the next month. You either want to choose people...Read More

When we travel, I buy postcards. I rarely send any. I think about it. Sometimes I even take addresses and stamps with me. But, I usually end up bringing all those postcards home and stuffing them in the stationary drawer. So, what should I do with all of those treasures? Why, give them away, of...Read More