Cross the Finish Line – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
You may not know it, but you’re a racehorse. If you look at writers from a publisher’s point of view, that’s exactly what you are. You’re someone who writes glorious novels, and if you want to make a name for yourself, you’ll do it frequently—once a year or more. If you want to have publishers […]
Switching Gears – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
Sometimes as writers, when we give writing advice, we often give advice by telling “How I write” instead of “How to write.” This idea came to me strongly after I spoke on a podcast with the good folks at Writing Excuses. At one point, Howard Tayler, a cartoonist who writes mainly for the online Schlock […]
Taking it Up a Notch – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
A writer once came to me saying that his critique group often tells him, “You’re almost there, but you need to take it up a notch.” In other words, you’re good but not great. The question that he would ask was, “Kick what up a notch?” Each of us is always struggling to reach new […]
What’s in Your Secret Sauce? – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
In my book Million Dollar Outlines I discuss some of the markers that can help me discover if a book is a potential hit. I look at whether it was written to a wide audience or a narrow one, whether it transports the reader to another world, and how well it arouses powerful, desirable emotions […]
When to Stop Polishing a Manuscript – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
Many new writers don’t know when to stop polishing a manuscript and move on to the next. Part of the reason for that might have to do with Ernest Hemingway. Many years ago, a writer asked Hemingway, “How many times should I rewrite a manuscript?” Now, Hemingway hated dumb questions, so he answered “Oh, at […]
What is the “Core” for Your Genre – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
I once received the following question in the mail from one of our readers, “I am hoping to take one of your workshops soon, and I wondered if you might have time for a general writer’s question about the fantasy genre. I was told there are core questions for every genre. Such as in mysteries, […]
The Shiver Test – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
When you’re brainstorming a new story, how do you know that it will be good? A young writer once presented me with an outline for a novel that was nicely formed, had an interesting protagonist, and appeared to be well designed. She said, “It’s almost all there, but I don’t quite feel that it’s bestseller […]
Creating Likeable Protagonists – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
In Hollywood, it is said that “There are only two ways to make a likeable character.” Here are those two ways, plus a few more. 1) Put your character in pain. Putting a character in physical pain often doesn’t work well, but putting them in emotional turmoil can be very powerful. A person who suffers […]
Balancing Productivity and Art – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
If you are producing anything—toy dolls, bread, vacuum cleaners, or novels—there are some variables that you have to work with. Ideally, a publisher would like you to bring them in 1) quickly, 2) beautifully written, 3) and at a low price. But buyers will almost always be willing to make tradeoffs. Your goal is to […]
Five Strategies for Getting Started – NaNoWriMo Daily Writing Tips
Sometimes you’re not in the mood to write, but you know that you should. Maybe you’ve set a goal and hope to reach it, or you’re on a deadline. Here are a few strategies that you can use to get started: You don’t know what to write? Find a writing prompt, a sentence that suggests […]
