My Favorite Tools for Starting a Novel!

October 30th, 2023  |  Season 7  |  16 mins 45 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, novel, writers, writing, writing tips

I know most of you following me are already writers, but some of you only dabble, and a few of you have only entertained the thought from time-to-time. And while it is a lot of work, dedication, and persistence to write a manuscript, there are things you can do to make it easier.

Finding Your Pace: A Writer's Struggle

October 11th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  9 mins 3 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

Some writers are sprinters, some are marathoners, and some are hikers who will reach the end, someday. Finding the pace that works for you, for your current story, for your current life situation is crucial.

So You've Decided To Write A Novel? 7 Tips For Getting Started

October 4th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  10 mins 55 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

Whether you’ve just decided it’s finally time to write that book you’ve been thinking about on your own or you’ve been bit by the NaNoWriMo bug, starting a novel can be intimidating!

It doesn’t matter if you’re a pantser (writing by the seat of your pants), a plotter, or something in between, there’s still stuff you can do to prepare yourself before you start writing.

6 Tips To Recharge your Creative Energies

December 7th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  3 mins 22 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

Eventually, we all need a break. In today's episode, I discuss 6 ways you can recharge your creative energies.

So You've Finished Your Rough Draft. Now What?

November 30th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  6 mins 13 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

When a writer finishes a rough draft, they often feel like celebrating -- but they also know they've got a LOT of editing ahead. In this episode, I talk about the ways to handle the end of a draft, and what your next steps could be.

What NaNoWriMo Gives You -- Win OR 'Lose'

November 23rd, 2020  |  Season 1  |  10 mins 6 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

While not everyone who tries NaNoWriMo ends the month with 50,000 words or more, that doesn't mean those who don't are 'losers'. In this episode, I talk about what NaNoWriMo gives you, win or 'lose'.

How One Writer Made It Through NaNoWriMo

November 20th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  6 mins 17 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

In a flashback to my most successful -- in terms of wordcount - NaNoWriMos, I talk about how I managed to make it to a NaNo-and-a-half in one month.

How To Write? You Do You!

November 16th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  9 mins 42 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

There are more ways to write a novel than there are writers -- and what worked last time, may not work this time. In this episode, I talk about all the advice out there -- and ways you can use and adapt them to work for you.

Maintaining Your Momentum

November 13th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  5 mins 54 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

You had a great idea for a story, you sat down to write it, and away you went. At first, everything just flowed out of you, but usually, at least for me, somewhere around 12,000 words, my writing starts to turn into a chore. Here's wishing you luck.

Getting Your Words Out

November 9th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  5 mins 54 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, nanowrimo, writers, writing, writing tips

To be a writer, you need two things -- time to write and the ability to get the words on the paper to share the story you want to tell. Of course, it's a lot harder than that, but in this episode, I'll be talking about ways to make time for your writing, and ways to keep the story moving forward.