The first 36 hours of a new novel
The photo here is a good image for what my MC will be facing in the next day or two. Is she ready? Am I?
I cannot express the joy I experience when I start a new novel. I thought perhaps it was just a personal thing, but I was told today that my whole demeanor [...]
My 16 Rules for NaNoWriMo
Don’t forget to set the clock back. Sleep in anyway.
Keep the half dozen commitments already in place for this weekend AND rock the word count on Sunday.
Show no fear.
Chain notebook to side for the duration.
Eat at least twice a day.
Let husband see my eyeballs periodically…when not glazed over.
Do not miss sleep, do not keep late [...]
Different Novel, Different Process?
I wrote my first novel, long long ago, in a fifty page treatment. Then I slogged through a draft.
I wrote my second novel by the seat of my pants and it wasn’t bad.
I wrote my third novel via outline and found out I lost all impetus to complete it.
My fourth novel came flying out, seat [...]
Writing from Fear
I detest being scared. For that reason, I avoid scary movies. Seriously, I’m probably a little psychotic because I’ll be thinking about scary scenes and frightening situations for years afterward.
And yet, I am seduced by the thought of seeing one particular frightening film.
I remember Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Nightmare on Elm Street, Salem’s Lot, Hitcher, Tales [...]
Learning as We Go
I’ve had a quote on my computer for a couple of years that made sense to me. Or I thought it did. Only recently have I considered how superficial that understanding was. I don’t think any writer can really wrap their mind around this quote until the third or fourth big project. I certainly didn’t. [...]
