November 1, 2022     Note From Rochelle   Dear Writers,   I need your help! I am teaching a life-changing class on overcoming procrastination: Overcoming Procrastination and Fear to Write. But we have just a few people signed up to attend. Please take a moment to grab the link and share it with a...Read More

October 20, 2020   Do you NaNo? By Rochelle Melander   Do you NaNoWriMo? The National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo) event brings people together to do one wild and crazy task: write a 50,000-word book in a month. I’ve done it nearly every year for a decade, and have used it to write several novels,...Read More

October 16, 2018     Note From Rochelle   Dear Writers, I need your help. I want to offer you the types of workshops that will help you move forward with your writing and other projects. But I need to know what you want to learn. Please take a moment to fill out my survey...Read More

November 1, 2016     Note From Rochelle     Dear Writers,   Greetings writers!   Ready, set, go! National Novel Writing Month started today. I’m writing a brand new book for you this month, which I hope to be able to share with you in the New Year.   Today’s tip provides some last...Read More

October 25, 2016     Note From Rochelle     Dear Writers,   Greetings writers!   If you’re planning to write your 50,000-word novel during #NaNoWriMo, it’s time to sharpen your pencils and prepare. This week’s tip provides everything you need to plan your novel for #NaNoWriMo. But if you need an additional kick in...Read More

September 27, 2016   Note From Rochelle   Dear Writers, Greetings! Over the weekend, one of the subscribers let me know that the Plot Your Write Life Challenge had stopped sending quests to subscribers. Yikes! We’ve discovered some technical issues with the shopping cart, which we’re working to fix. I’m trying to laugh at the absurdity...Read More

November 10, 2015 Note From Rochelle Dear Writers, When I work on my NaNoWriMo project, the gremlins assault me with messages like: +“Are you sure this is worth your time?” +”What if it’s not good enough?” + “You can’t compete with big name authors.” It takes a big dose of chutzpah with a bit of...Read More

You’re at a networking event. (Maybe you’re an introverted writer who avoids any group gathering with strangers, but work with me here.) While chatting over wine and cheese, someone who knows you’re a writer asks you, “So what are you working on now?” My advice? Make something up. Don’t ever tell people what you’re working...Read More

The past is never dead. It’s not even past. —William Faulkner Before you freak out and say—“What, I’m doing National Novel Writing Month! I have thousands of words to write, why would I rewrite any one of them!”—notice that I did not say revise. Do not review a scene and revise what you have written...Read More

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