​Today, in honor of the break-neck deadline many of us have imposed upon ourselves for NaNoWriMo, I want to remind everyone that writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint.

Many of us live our life with deadlines, and in the past I've often written about the importance of deadlines, but for anyone who is feeling the crushing grip of anxiety that comes from knowing that--short of divine intervention--you will not be meeting your NaNo (or whatever) goal this month of year, I want to remind you that meeting that deadline--or not--isn't the end of the world.

Self-imposed deadlines are good, and striving to meet them is healthy, but rather than setting them up as the be-all, end-all, let me offer some counter advice, especially when it comes to editing: 

Take. Some. Time.

Take some time between finishing your first draft and jumping into editing. Take some time between finishing that first edit and jumping into the second round.

There are stories out there about books that take 10 or 20 years to write and publish, and although that might be a longer timeframe than many of you are comfortable with, remember that it also isn't necessary to pump out several books a year. Or even one a year.

Once you've finished your rough draft, however long that may take, take some time to let the story settle. Step away for a week or a month, brainstorm new ideas for, or step away from writing altogether and spend your time reading, or painting, or playing Madden 2019 and waiting to see how long you can play before the music drives you crazy.

Take some time to come back refreshed and recharged, instead of burned out on your story.

​Take some time, but not too much.

Set yourself a goal for when to come back. No shorter than two weeks, no longer than two months. Mark it on your calendar, or set a notification on your phone, and on that pre-ordained day, sit back down and get back to work. If you don't start then, it's too easy to walk away from that book for years, letting it languish in a drawer or a dusty corner of your hard drive, filled with potential it will never reach without your attention.

So give yourself two weeks or two months, then get back to work. Take some time to rest, then make some time to edit. Few people enjoy editing as much as they enjoy writing, but it's a necessary process. And when you've edited it as much as you can, if you have aspirations of publishing, hire an editor to take it a step further.

 hSo that scene list continues to work for me, and I've kept up with my writing (almost) daily. I started out with seventeen scenes, which I'd mentioned not being overly enthused with because that would make for a very short novel, but I've already added six more as I wrote, so I think the length will grow organically. Still Snowflake-ish, but not perfect adherence to the method, which is what I'd predicted from the beginning.

I also found a new inspiration to keep me going. If planning my novel out with the Snowflake Method keeps me going by giving me something concrete to work with, stumbling upon the #OctWritingChallenge hashtag on Twitter gave me some external motivation.

National Novel Writing Month is next month, and next week's blog post will be on that, and hopefully by then I will have finally decided whether to have The Talented's sequel or The Emperor's Daughter's sequel for my NaNo project this year. However, my challenge for this month is only 500 words or 1 hour of editing a day.

This Monthly Twitter Writing Challenge has apparently been going on for years, originally geared toward people who couldn't meet NaNoWriMo's goal of 50,000 words in a month because life is just too busy but could commit to a smaller goal of 500 words a day, and so far it has really worked to inspire me to hit a very reachable goal. 500 words a day is just enough that you have to make a point of it, because you won't accidentally stumble into it, but isn't so much that you have to set the rest of your life on hold.

It's also a nice change from NaNo because it's 500 words every day. No making up for missed days. And you get to share it on Twitter, which makes for a fun community experience.

It's also getting me ready for NaNo by getting me writing daily again, a habit which is great to have and which I suffer to form again once I've broken it.

Unfortunately, blog posts don't count for #OctWritingChallenge, so I'm off to working on my novel again. There's a new 500 words/day writing challenge every month, so if you want to write in NaNo but can't manage 50k, check out #NovWritingChallenge on November 1st. 

I've blogged before about how I like to write my stories out long-hand first. I tried that in at least one of my first five attempts at writing the sequel to The Talented, so on the sixth time around I didn't bother breaking out the ol' pen and paper. And so far, the scenes I've written using the Snowflake Model on the computer seem to be good.

But this weekend, I headed up north for a vacation with my family, and as part of this I left my computer behind. But, as you fellow writers and other creative people might predict, the creative bug hit me while I was up there, computerless.

So I went old school. I grabbed a pen and some paper, and I sat and wrote. I had left off after finishing scene two, so even though I didn't have my previous work in front of me, I'd done enough planning to know what came next, and I was able to pick it up there. I wrote scene three while sitting on the couch in front of the fire, surrounded by family and friends, and it was nice.

Relaxing.

Healing.

I was able to enjoy the process, and knowing that I enjoy it has helped make me excited about it again. I'll be typing up those pages that I wrote later today, and I have a good feeling about them. I feel like they will be worth typing up, and that this time around, the book I'm working on will be worth writing.

So anyone out there feeling despair about their work, don't give up. Try a different planning method, as I've detailed the past two weeks, and if that doesn't work, try a different execution method.

Go old school if you write your first drafts on a computer. Go "new school" and type as you write if you're typically a write-first, type later writer. Record yourself on your phone while driving and type it all up or write it all down when you get home if you come up with brilliant ideas while running errands.

Try something different. Different planning; different execution; different outlook.

And find the fun. That's why we do it.

Last week, I discussed how due to serious difficulties writing anything resembling a decent sequel to The Talented, I turned to Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method for help, and planned to fight past my inner laziness to actually complete all the steps.

Well, today I am reporting that I've mostly done that. I did skip the character sketch step for the moment, since it's a sequel and I'm familiar with the characters, although I plan to come back to that if I ever sit down to write and don't know what to put down, because then at least I'm working on the same novel, instead of getting sidetracked again and again.

That said, while I obviously haven't finished writing the sequel yet, I do have a good start on it because I have my scene list down. I've never really made a scene list before. The closest I've come to that would be when writing a NaNo novel like The Emperor's Daughter, where I'd plug in scenes as they came to me in Scrivener until I got something coherent. But that's NaNo, something I do for fun. I take my Talented series more seriously, which is why I'm willing to keep rewriting that sequel again and again until I get it right.

​But back to that scene list...what did I learn?

Firstly, that I preferred writing the long synopsis to the scene list. Secondly, that my scenes don't naturally have enough conflict, and thirdly, that if I try to plot this way, my "novel" will probably have about 20,000 words. As of now, my scene list only consists of seventeen scenes. I know I will end up adding more, but what more I can't see yet, because even though I can see the story better now, I can't decide which added scenes would enhance the story, and which would be fluff. So I'll start with those seventeen and keep the list fluid.

However, despite my dissatisfaction with a scene list of only seventeen scenes, I'm otherwise pleased with the exercise, because that plus the synopsis has allowed me to see this novel for the first time, and I think that means I have a chance of actually completing a draft worth keeping.

So if you're as stuck as I was, try a different plotting method to get the juices flowing. It can't hurt!

I'm not a fan of the term "writer's block." Sure, we've all experienced it, and I've used that excuse many times myself, but deep down I think that nine times out of ten, "writer's block" is just an excuse for laziness.

That said, whether or not writer's block is a thing, I've been suffering from that or something like it for the better part of the year. I wanted to have my sequel to my fantasy novel The Talented done by winter of 2017. Now, I feel that I'd be lucky to have a rough draft of it done by winter 2018. A lot of this is due to laziness, because I haven't so much as turned my computer on in months, but a not-insignificant reason for this is that I can't figure out what to do with the sequel.

I've started it many times. I've gotten close to finishing it twice. And each time, regardless of whether I was five or fifty pages in, I realized that it was crap. Not the insecure "I'm a horrible writer and don't deserve to live" crap that we all think we write, when really we're quite good at what we do. No, the actual crap that even a mother couldn't pretend to love. At first, I thought I was just being insecure and needed to follow through. Then, when I realized attempt #1 really was bad, I moved on to attempt #2 where I tweaked the plot. Still bad. Attempt #3 and #4 I backed the story up so that it started only a week after the first book ended. Still crap with no real action. Attempt #5 had too much action, full of those horrible author crutches equivalent to your FMC accidentally getting pregnant because she's too stupid to make a doctor's appointment for weeks, despite constant reminders, and then she is surprised by the fallout. It was horrible, and left me once again wondering what I'm doing with my life.

So I'm taking a step back, sipping on some home brew (kombucha, not beer), and reevaluating my life. It's pretty good. I'm engaged and wedding prep is going well. I'm employed and healthy and happy on a personal level. But I have to accept the fact that my usual pantsing isn't getting the job done for The Talented: Part Two. I even attempted some half-assed plotsing for Attempt #5, and that was worse than #4. So I've returned to basics, and went looking for the help of some more experienced writers.

But the title of this blog isn't about writer's block or craft books, this title is about giving something the old college try. And I don't mean that in the usual sense, I mean that in the sense of listening to what your professors tell you to do the first day of classes, which is to actually open and read your textbook for more than just homework, and to spend time consistently on that class, not just cramming before tests. I'm actually going through the steps of the Snowflake Method outlined in Writing Fiction for Dummies, even the steps that involve scene-by-scene details, and writing a 5-10 page synopsis of my story covering those scenes even though none of those pages will make it into the final draft, because I've realized that, for whatever reason, I'm not able to do this on my own, and I need help. So going to this book and going through all those steps is me giving it the college try. If I need to, I'll go to "office hours" by consuming more books on craft, or maybe even get some "tutoring" by other author blogs.

It might be Attempt #6, but I'm giving this the old college try, and failure is not an option.

Today I am pleased to announce that starting in 2018, I will be offering beta reading, content editing, and copy editing services to other authors. Because I know that being an indie author can be hard, and budgets can be very tight, I'm keeping my rates low.

My beta reading service will be offered free to anyone who would like to take advantage of it, whether they are looking to someday publish their book or just want someone to read it and give some constructive feedback.

My content editing services will start at only $50, although final price will be negotiated with the author depending on the length of the work and the state of the manuscript when I receive it. I will edit the first 3,000 words free of charge before giving the author an estimate of what the rest of the work will cost.

Copy editing will start at only $75, and comes with the same first 3,000 words free service as the content editing, and final costs will be mutually determined from there.

If you're interested in any of these services, head over to my services page to learn more and fill out a contact form. Anyone who contacts me before Jan. 1, 2018 will receive a 20% discount on my services. I will also be offering a referrals program, so that anyone referred to me, or anyone who does the referring, either gets bumped to the front of the line for a beta read or 5% off of their next paid editing service, whichever they choose.

Many, many moons ago, I wrote a blog post about why author's bible's are important. The gist of the post was that it helps to keep the story consistent, so that the hair color, eye color, or background story of your different characters stays the same throughout the whole novel, and you don't have to go back and read the whole thing every time you have a question about what Brittney's life was like in sixth grade.

What I didn't address in that post is HOW to make an author's bible. The reason I'm doing that now is that, as I'm working on the sequel to The Talented, I've adapted my bible-creating method to account for that change.

One of the things that I've always done, and still do, is put my bible in alphabetical order when it comes to names and places. It makes it easier for me to find them, and it also lets me know if I'm starting every name with a K or an M, which I'm not sure why I try to do but are definitely problems of mine. Here is an example of my bible early in The Talented​ process, back when it was still draft 1 or 2.

As you can see, there isn't anything fancy about this bible. It's stream of thought lists, and at this stage pretty sparse on the details. At this point, it even had the original spelling of my main character's name, Adrian instead of Adrienne, and for some reason omitted her last name, Rydaeg, completely. 

One thing that it did right, however, is have a nice timeline at the end of my bible that I could look at for reference. This is especially important if your book is stretching months instead of years, or if it is part of a series, because if you get the timeline wrong and a reader notices, it can really through them off. Here's a sample of that timeline, without any real spoilers for those of you who haven't read The Talented yet.

Again, this is a very simplistic timeline that just lists how long it takes for different events to happen. As I read through my drafts I would check the time in the novel against the timeline at the back and adjust accordingly to make sure everything measured up. If I was doing this by hand I probably would have drawn a linear timeline, but for me working on the computer this was easier. If the visual of a traditional timeline works for you, I suggest you make that. Anything that makes keeping your story straight easier helps.

One change that I made in the bible for the second book was to put anything new in bold. This helps me find new things faster, and also lets me know what can't be changed because it's already included in a published book. Here's a snapshot of what's new this time around:

The only downside to putting the new elements in bold is that it has the effect of making the bible look sloppier, not that I care, because for me it's easier to format it that way, and that's the key to an author's bible, it's there to help you.

​On that note, if you prefer a more polished author's bible, that is entirely up to you. Many books include indices at the back of them to help readers keep track of characters and places as well, and an author's bible can easily be adapted to that purpose, just take out the unimportant (to reader) details like hair length and anything that could spoil the plot or give too much detail too soon, such as a completed timeline.

If you want a more personal touch, or something that appeals to your crafty side, you can make your own journal to carry around with you. Here's a picture of an easy(ish) DIY journal, and a picture of one I made myself so that if I'm away from my computer I can plot story ideas in the front and keep track of characters and places in the back.

A way that this can be applied might be starting your day with writing rather than sitting around and scrolling through Facebook and Twitter. Waking up in a new bed, not having to get ready for work, and no longer being surrounded by the things that would trigger that social media habit might make it easier, according to behavioral sciences, to start a new habit. Then, when you get home, refreshed from your vacation, you can set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier and start your day with writing.

What a great reason to plan a vacation soon!

The last thing that needs to be considered when developing your writing habit is how long it will take before writing every day becomes routine rather than a struggle. You may have seen or heard that it takes 21, 28, or 30 days to develop a new habit or break an old. The idea that it takes a month or less to develop a habit is probably one of the most exciting things you've ever heard; but you may have also learned for yourself that developing a new habit is harder than that "fact" implies.

The reason you may have been finding habit development difficult is because this "fact" is not a fact at all. An article by The Huffington Post, which investigates the origin of the "21 Day Habit" myth, also exposes the fact that according to a 12-week-study of people trying to develop new habits, the average length of time it takes someone to develop a new habit is 66 days. That means you'll need to consistently perform your new task of writing for two months before it becomes routine, and perhaps even longer. Don't be disheartened, though! Missing a day won't affect your habit forming long-term, as long as you jump back on that habit-horse in the next day or two.

As an added bonus, the more you enjoy a task, the quicker that habit will develop. Think about how long it took you to fall into the habit of checking your phone throughout the day, or listening to your favorite podcast on the ride home, and you'll see that it took you far less than 66 days to develop those habits. So when you sit down at your desk to develop that habit of writing, embrace the act with joy, and you'll develop that habit faster.

I'd love to hear any thoughts you might have on writing practices or how to get into the habit of writing daily. If you have questions or something to share, please comment below.

1. Establish a writing practice

This one seems simultaneously to be very commonsense and the most difficult step to becoming a better writer. An established writing practice requires hard work and dedication, because it means writing on a regular basis, not just when when your muse is cooperating. Some people establish a practice of writing daily for a certain amount of time, pages, or words; others establish a weekly writing practice with the same goals. Whether daily or weekly, it is important to set aside a time for writing and stick to it if you truly wish to grow in your writing abilities.​

2. Silence your inner critic

Your inner critic becomes a great resource during the editing process, but can hinder you when it comes to creating new material, such as your rough draft. Finding a way to silence the voice in your head that tells you your writing is terrible, that you need to go back and make your last scene perfect before moving on, or that you should just give up and scrap the entire project is the only way you'll be able to keep moving forward and improving.

3. Make sure to recharge

Recharging means different things for different people. For extroverts, step away from the desk and go interact with real people; for introverts, find another quiet activity to distract you from your writing for a short time, such as going for a hike or indulging in your favorite show. Spend time with your family and friends, develop new interests, and get in some physical activity, as it's good for the brain, not just the body.

4. Read for inspiration

I have yet to meet a writer who didn't enjoy reading, but I have met many writers who don't take the time to read. I've been guilty of this myself as well, but if you take the time to read, even if that time feels like an indulgence that you can ill-afford, you'll often find yourself inspired. Sometimes, the story itself is inspiring. Sometimes, the writing style or tone can inspire you. Read poetry to get in touch with figurative language, read novels currently popular in your genre to see what readers want. Read popular novels outside of your genre to see what other markets are out there and what appeals to those readers. Read classics to find out what has worked for centuries. And if you end up reading a book that you don't like, analyze it to figure out why you don't like it and how you can avoid those same mistakes in your own writing.

5. Create a support network

A support network might be an extensive online writing group, a workshop or critique buddy, or just a supportive friend or partner. Having at least one person in your corner that you can turn to when you're discouraged can be the difference between success or failure. If you're nervous about talking to someone you know in the "real world" about your writing, find someone online. There are fantastic online communities of all shapes, sizes, formats, and purposes that can provide support and encouragement. A quick Google search or a jaunt through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can help you connect with like-minded individuals online. 

I'm in no position to lecture anyone on what to do or not to do in pursuit of their dreams, but it occurred to me today that we should all take a moment to be grateful for the good things in our life, big or small. Be grateful to participate in something fun like NaNoWriMo. Be grateful for the people in your life who support you. Be grateful for the amazing piece of technology currently at your fingertips that is more advanced than the computers that sent man to the moon. Be grateful that you are capable of imagination and the capacity to form stories in your mind and put them down on paper, or even just envision the words of others as you read the stories they have written.

It's day 3 of NaNoWriMo. I'm approaching 10k words and will hopefully hit it by tonight. But if I don't, if I fall short of that self-imposed goal, I'm still grateful today for all that I have and all that I am able to do. And I encourage you all to be grateful, too.