Write Now Coach! Blog by Rochelle Melander

I’m delighted to welcome my friend and colleague Peg Rousar-Thompson to the blog. Last summer at WriteCamp Milwaukee, she spoke about the art of procrastination—and I thought it would make a great blog post. Enjoy! The Art of Procrastination by Peg Rousar-Thompson I procrastinate. It’s probably what I do best. And... Read More

08 Dec 2011

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo Virtual Party Winners!

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... Read More

07 Dec 2011

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo: Rest and Recover!

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... Read More

01 Dec 2011

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo: Join the Virtual Party!

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... Read More

30 Nov 2011

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo: Come to the (Virtual) Party!

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,... Read More

29 Nov 2011

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo: Lessons

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... Read More

28 Nov 2011

National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo: The Soundtrack

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... Read More

27 Nov 2011

National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo: Distract Yourself

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... Read More