Okay, I get it. Writing is hard. And not only is it hard, it’s time-consuming, sometimes all-consuming. You fall in love with your characters, your world, your stakes. You love your work. You believe in your work. So as a querying writer or an agented writer going on submission for the first time, you want more than anything for an agent or editor to see all the things that you love about your work and […]
Tag Archives | NaNoWriMo
Some NaNoWriMo Tips From Someone Who Has Never Done NaNoWriMo
Beginner Resources, Writers Toolbox, Writing Life
To all those about to embark on the adventure known as National Novel Writing Month (Fun fact: For some reason my wife can’t stand the phrase NaNoWriMo, so I always have to refer to it by its full name), here are some tips to help you get through the next 30 days. While I have not yet tried this monthly challenge myself, these are the same tips I give anyone writing their first draft of […]
How I Wrote 15,000 words in one weekend (Or, fast drafting 101 just in time for NaNoWriMo!)
Writing Life
Hiii! As many of you know, I’m an editor and a writer. As such, I feel the pull of time all the time. It would be one thing if this was just a day job I hated, but I ADORE my job as such I give it a lot of my time, which often means a lot less time for my writing. That’s a choice I make. I’ve become such a stronger editor by being […]
NANOWRIMO PREP TIPS: THE OUTLINE IS KEY!
Writers Toolbox
There are two kinds of writers (and people, I’d say) in this world: plotters and pantsers. And for either type, crossing over to the other side is the stuff of nightmares.When it comes to tackling a big fast drafting project for something like NaNoWriMo (there’s less than two weeks to go!), though, even the most diehard pantser could learn a trick or two from us outlining jedi. Lucky for you, as a screenwriter-turned-novelist (and back again!), […]
Making Your Characters Do Stuff
Writers Toolbox
Good morning, Pub Crawlers, and Happy NaNoWriMo 2016 for those of you participating! I thought I’d talk about Character Agency today, as this is a huge part of the drafting process, and some of you might find it useful as you are drafting your novels. As part of my job, I read a lot of queries and a lot of manuscripts. I help edit my clients’ work before submission and identify weak areas. Something I’ve […]