Week 1: Setting Deadlines

Welcome to week 1 of "How to Write and Publish Your First Novel"! Last week we talked a little bit about the importance of precursors, like deciding whether you're a hobbyist or a career writer, setting a tentative publication date for your goals, and creating your author website. Now, it's time to get planning!

Write, Rewrite, Repeat: How to Revise Your Story

When I was a freshman in college, I discovered Nanowrimo. Excited, I emailed my creative writing professor about mentioning it in class, thinking it might be a fun extracurricular activity for the other students. Although I didn't save her exact response, it went something like this: "Nanowrimo is silly, because there's no way a person can write anything but complete garbage if they only give themselves a month to do it." At the time, I felt ashamed and embarrassed for even suggesting something so foolish; but I've grown up a little since then, and now I know she was wrong. If you never write garbage, you never write at all.

Yoga With Adriene: A Writer’s Resolution . . . Again.

I am a sedentary person. Don't get me wrong, I love nature and long walks in the woods, but I move slowly (and always bring snacks). Needless to say, when I "exercise," nary a calorie is burned. The root of my problem is that I believe I look much better than I actually do. As…