Categories
Productivity

3 Ways to Get Ready for Your Writing Year (2022)

Writing year

Is it too soon to talk about next year? Absolutely not. If we wait until 2022 to talk about 2022, we won’t know how to get prepped! For me, 2022 is the year of significant change. Physically, I will be moving back to the UK from New Zealand – so that’s quite a big move in itself. But also, I’m excited to continue writing my companion novel, The Dedworth Shame, and hope to push The Birth of Ida out into the world!

So, what are your plans for 2022? Is it going to be a year of writing? If so, here are three ways to get ready. 

1 – Put 1st January in your calendar (it’ll already be there – but highlight it!)

I have something glorious to offer you in the New Year, and that is The Ultimate Writer’s Planning Workbook. This workbook is sixty pages and will take you through the process of planning your entire writing year. How does that sound? Pretty good to me! It’s going to be available from 1st January to 15th January, and I cannot wait to share it with you.

It’s also going to be added to It’s Time to Write Your Novel, my novel writing masterclass. Together, these two things are going to be the answer to how to write a novel in the new year.

2 – Get a new diary. 

I have purchased two new diaries for the new year – The Year of Growth and The Daily Planner from DreamyMoons. It’s important to me to have something practical and beautiful because the desire to continue planning and prepping my writing schedule is fundamental. We all know that there are days when writing and planning become a challenge, but by having something you cannot wait to use, you are more likely to embrace the action.

3 – Consider your big goals. 

What do you want to achieve in 2022? Take some time to think about this and figure it out, and once you know, write it down. A dream written down is a goal, after all. Try to be realistic with your goals so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Personally, so that I limit overwhelm, I like to write down plans for the next five years. That way, I know that if one year is packed to the brim, and I won’t quite be able to achieve everything I have set out to, I can prioritise one goal for the following year. That’s absolutely fine, and life is not a race.

Are you ready to set your goals for the new year? If you need a hand with this or feel overwhelmed at the prospect, get in touch today. I would love to help. 

Want to read something similar? Check out the following:

3 Things I Did to Level Up My Writing Game
How to Set Effective Writing Goals

Categories
Craft

The Top 5 Things I Learned from Working with an Editor

Working with an editor

Yes, editors do hire editors, and that includes me. I have learned a lot from working with an editor. When it comes to your own work, you are often so involved that you often need someone else to read it before you send it out to readers. That can come in many forms – it might be that you’re looking for a beta reader (someone who reads your touched up manuscript), an alpha reader (someone who reads your rough draft), or you may decide to go for an editor for a more in-depth analysis. Here are five things I learned from hiring an editor.

1) They can help you see your own work clearly. 

It isn’t easy to see your work when you’re so close to it. When I recently sent my first five chapters to an editor, I took out a prologue before I sent it. This was for a few different reasons, but I was so familiar with the world that I had created that I didn’t realise the prologue missing would cause many issues. Ummm…I was wrong! Some important world-building was in that prologue, and so by removing it before sending, I made my editor say…’Where is this exactly?’ An interesting lesson! The world-building throughout the rest of my novel is tight, so I’m not worried about this. Now I know that the first few chapters require more world-building and detail if I want to remove that prologue.

2) Peer review is valuable. 

It can be scary to send your work to other people, but peer review always makes it stronger. Hearing what other people think, what they expected, and how they feel about your story will allow you to make it so much better.

3) They save you time. 

Yes, although it can feel like you’ve been given more work when an editor comes back to you with a report, they are actually saving you a lot of time. They are ploughing through the manuscript for you, marking up those bits that need changing, and providing you with information that it would have taken hours to find yourself.

4) They give you ideas you may have never considered. 

We all need a fresh pair of eyes sometimes, and an editor can help you see a new direction for your work, a character, or a scene. Sometimes, it’s even something that you may have never considered before.

5) They can spot inconsistencies you cannot. 

As we are so close to our stories, we can miss inconsistencies or repeated details. After all, we know the world so well, so when this isn’t communicated to the reader well enough, it won’t always be easy to spot. An editor can help you see those issues, including other common occurrences such as repetitive words and phrases.

What have you learned from hiring editors? Share with me because I would love to know! 

If you are looking for an editor, get in touch today. I would love to help you polish up your work and make it shine, and I am currently booking from Spring 2022.

If you are looking for a similar read, check out the following:

4 Ways to Edit Your Own Writing
Online Writing Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel

Categories
Coaching

The Top 5 Things I Learned from Working with a Coach

Working with a coach

Yes, I am a writing coach, so of course, I could tell you what you could gain from working with me…but I’ve already done that! (See the following blog posts – What Is A Writing Coach & Writing Coach vs Editor: What’s the Difference?)

So, today I thought I would tell you what I’ve learned from working with a coach myself.

I’ve repeatedly said that coaches should be coached, and there is a reason for this. To help others, you should be actively helping yourself. This means that you work on your mindset, are consistently learning about your practice, and putting yourself in the shoes of a client.

I am part of a beautiful coaching community for small business owners and have a personal coach. I have also recently hired a coach to help me with marketing specifically. There are so many coaches that specialise in specific niches now, just like my niche of writing, and it is wonderful to be able to work with experts.

So, here’s what I have learned through being coached.

1) Having space held for you can change everything. 

It’s not every day that you can expect someone to give you their full attention, and that’s fair enough. But, when they do, amazing things can happen. Coaching is a wonderful experience, and it’s partly because of this. Having someone hold that space for you, listen to what you are saying without interruption, and ask you the right questions can help you reveal solutions that you didn’t even realise existed. A coach listens to what you are saying without judgement, in a safe space. This alone has helped me become a better, happier, and more fulfilled person.

2) Coaching can build on success, not just solve problems. 

Did you know that coaching isn’t just for specific problems? Nope, coaching is also to build on success. For example, you don’t have to be struggling with a writing routine or draft to hire a writing coach; you can also be having the most prolific writing period of your life and want it to continue. You could be finding yourself motivated every day to create and want to investigate the set of circumstances that led you there so that you can keep being your best self.

Coaching to build on success is a great way to invest in yourself. It’s saying, ‘Hey, things are going great, and long may they continue. In fact, I’ll make sure they do.’

This is the reason I continue to invest in a coaching programme; because I want to continue building on the success that I have found with them.

3) Having someone rooting for you can hold you accountable. 

It’s not the deadlines given by a coach that hold me accountable; it’s the fact that they are rooting for me personally. Coaching is a professional relationship with a difference – you have someone on your team, and they believe in you and your progress. The thought of sharing my achieved tasks with my coach makes me happy because I’m excited to move forward with them in our next session, not because I’m afraid of missing a deadline.

4) Positive change starts with you.

You only have a coach for an hour or so a week or even a month, depending on what you opt for. Outside of this time, it’s down to the client to make what has been discussed work for them. I spend a good few hours a week working on my actions points and planning for my coaching sessions. I like to mix it up, too, like climbing a hill on the treadmill while catching up on a pre-recorded Zoom meeting. Whatever it is, I make sure that I take responsibility for that positive change in my life outside of my coaching sessions.  Coaching gives me the action points to work from, but the action comes from me.

5) Investing in yourself is about much more than money. 

When you give yourself the opportunity of time, education, and accountability, investing in yourself becomes about more than money. It becomes about believing in yourself and setting you up for success. I made a private video at the start of this year, at the suggestion of my coach. It was just me, talking about where I currently was in my business, life, and expectations. Well, the other day, I finally looked back on it ten months later. It was amazing to see the growth of those months. I know that coaching helped me get there, and I am so grateful for that reminder of how far I have come.

So, have you ever been coached, and if so, what did you learn? I would love to know, so share it with me today! 

Categories
Craft

How to Create Tension in Your Writing

Tension in your writing

There is nothing better than reading a book that you just can’t put down. The pages are filled with intrigue, tension, and you absolutely have to find out what happens next. Creating tension in your writing is important because you want your reader to be engaged, involved, and excited to keep turning those pages.

So, how can we create tension in writing? Let’s dig in.

Conflict 

This is the act of creating a problem for your characters. It can be broken down into two categories:

Internal conflict

Your character shouldn’t be given what they want just because they demand it. Internal conflict looks like a character battling with their thought process, desires, or a fundamental part of who they are. It might be that they are haunted by a memory and cannot move past it. The internal conflict might drive your character forward on their journey or try and hinder their progress. However it is formed, internal conflict can change our actions, the way we look at a situation, and can create a tension that leaps from the page.

External conflict 

Your poor character, not only do they have all these internal battles, but now they have an external one too! External conflict is exactly that, something that the character needs to overcome in the real world. Perhaps they are being hunted down by the local werewolf, for example, and every day it gets a bit closer…

Cliffhangers

Often offered at the end of a chapter, cliffhangers are a great way to build tension on the page. It could be that you surprise the reader with a piece of information they didn’t know, reveal something shocking, or even stop the action halfway through so that the reader has to read on to get the goods!

Turn the tension dial up and down

If your novel is pure tension through and through, it can be a stressful read, and not in a good way. In some cases, it can desensitise your reader to the tension, meaning they are no longer on the edge of their seats. Instead, turn it up and down as though on a dial. The calmer moments will provide a type of respite for your reader and give those times of tension a bit of extra pizzaz!

Time

A time limit is an extremely useful tool as a writer. It doesn’t have to be a literal clock ticking either, but a deadline on the horizon can really give your reader a taste of that tension your characters are experiencing.

What are your tips for creating tension in your writing? Please share them with me today! 

Want a hand with building tension? Get in touch. 

If you found this useful and want to read something similar, check out the following craft blog posts:

5 Things to Avoid When Writing Dialogue 
Which Story Outline Method is Best For You?
5 Books on Writing That Will Improve Your Craft

Categories
Craft

When Should You Put a Work in Progress Aside for a New Idea?

Work in progress

Your work in progress is waiting for completion, but you want to move on. When should you give in to this feeling? Oh, it’s a difficult question. Many writers, myself included, have a long list of great novel ideas that have come to us throughout the years, and sometimes that list is more than attractive. But how do we know if it’s time to put one project aside for another, or we are just experiencing ‘The Dip’?

As an aside, ‘The Dip’ is that murky middle ground. Writing a novel is not easy, and it can get challenging when you reach the middle section. This is after the initial excitement about the work and before the sight of the ending, and it is a place where many writers struggle.

The Dip makes a writer want to throw in the towel and move on to a new, more exciting project. But, if that feeling is given in to each time we experience it, we would all end up with a pile of half-written novels.

So when do you know it’s time to move on and put your work in progress aside? 

I recently had experience with this. Last year I was 20,000 words into a novel that had taken months of research to plot, and I decided to put it aside to work on something else. The new story flew out of me, and before I knew it, I was typing ‘The End’ on The Birth of Ida. Now I am 40,000 words into the companion novel The Dedworth Shame. Here’s what I considered before moving on, and what I would recommend you consider too if you’re feeling unsure about your current project!

Am I enjoying writing this? 

We’ve all heard that saying, ‘No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.’ (Robert Frost). Well, the fact is that I was just not enjoying writing my novel. It wasn’t that I was in The Dip, because I didn’t have that gut feeling that what I was writing would be worth it in the end. And, if I wasn’t enjoying writing the work, I was pretty sure that a reader probably wouldn’t enjoy reading it. If you’re slogging away, every paragraph is an uphill battle, and you’re not enjoying writing, ask yourself why this is.

  • Is it the story you are telling?
  • Are you passionate about it?
  • Is it something that you would pick up and read yourself?

The Birth of Ida was such a pleasure to write, and that was a huge lightbulb moment for me. I was driven to finish the novel because it was a story I knew I wanted to tell. There’s a difference between pushing your way through a novel that isn’t working for you and finding a story that flows out of you and working through the tricky bits.

Why do I want to move on? 

This is a fundamental question. Here are a few potential answers:

Difficulty:
If you want to move on because you are finding a current chapter challenging to write, it’s best to seek help. It might be that your current skill level doesn’t quite meet the concept that you have thought of. That’s okay – it just tells you that it’s time to jump into some craft education before you continue. It’s a great thing when our work helps us grow as writers.

If you’re not sure what you need more craft education in, it’s time to download The Time to Write workbook. Within that workbook, you will find a page and task dedicated to exactly that!

Scale:
If you want to move on because the scale of your vision is simply too big, that’s something that can be fixed in a re-write. It might be time to take a step back, look at the plot, and simplify your story to one that you feel you can tell at the moment.

Time:
You can’t find the time to finish your work. Well, this is a tricky one. If you aren’t prioritising your work in progress but feel that you would a new project, that says a lot for the enjoyment you are getting out of it. I would recommend that you take some time to journal on these feelings and investigate what’s stopping you. This dilemma is perfect for 1:1 coaching, and together, we could work out the next best step for you.

Length of effort:
You’ve been writing the same novel for a very, very long time, and it’s still not getting anywhere. If this is the case, then yes, you have my permission to put it to one side and try to write something fresh and new. They say that a change is as good as a break – and I think that’s true. It’s not to say that you will never pick up your WIP again, just that you need to fall in love with writing again. That’s okay. It’s all a process.

Conclusion:

Overall, my advice for this tricky area is to trust your gut instinct. You know better than I what stage you are in with your current work in progress. Be wary of Shiny New Idea syndrome – we all reach a stage in our current novel where a new idea seems like it would be ‘the one’. Instead, spend some time investigating your feelings and working out why you would like to move on. Be patient and honest with yourself.

You’ve got this writer. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Want to read something similar? Check these out!

Reasons Not To Write Every Day
5 Tips to Help You Finish Writing Your Novel
7 Ways to Get Rid of Writer’s Block

Categories
Productivity

How To Set Effective Writing Goals

Effective Writing Goals

Do you ever feel that you set goals but struggle to move them beyond the act of writing them down? If so, this is the blog post for you.

Setting effective writing goals is the key to moving forward in our writing lives and achieving those literary dreams. So, let’s break it down together.

Specifically define success. 

What is the goal? If you want to write a novel, ask yourself what the endpoint is. If it’s to publish the work and promote it, the goal doesn’t just end at writing the novel. Being specific about what success will mean for you is key.

Understand the actions involved. 

Yes, we can write down ‘Write a novel’, or ‘Publish’, but that doesn’t really tell us what is involved in the act, and so can mean that success will be harder to reach. To set an effective writing goal, break down the actions that are involved in the task.

  • How will you achieve your set goals?
  • What is involved in writing a novel?
  • What will you need to learn to publish?
  • Will you hire an editor?

There are lots of questions to consider. If you need a hand with this bit, don’t be afraid to get in touch and ask for help!

Set a Timeline. 

Once you know what is involved in your writing goal, you can set a realistic timeline for the process. Be generous and realistic. If you need help with planning your writing week, check this post out here!

Remind yourself. 

It’s time to set up that writing habit. Look at your calendar and slot in those actions, setting reminders to help you remember to do the work. If you struggle with finding the time, The Time to Write Workbook can take you through the process. It’s an investment in yourself for the price of a cup of coffee!

Get to work.

Once those effective writing goals are set, the only thing left to do is take action. Getting to work on your goals can be made much easier by setting rewards for each task and keeping that final stage in mind.

If you’re looking for some further help, why not take a look at my Novel Writing Masterclass – It’s Time to Write Your Novel. This course takes you from idea to publication and will make setting those goals so much easier.

What writing goals do you have? Let me know – I would love to help you achieve them!

Found this blog post useful? Share it with another writer.

Want to read something similar? Check these out:

The Time Blocking Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel
Tips and Tricks for Dealing With Procrastination 
Ten Tips For Planning Your Writing Week

Categories
Coaching Craft

Writing Coach Vs Editor: What’s the Difference?

Writing coach editor

Should you hire a Writing Coach or a Developmental editor? What is each for, and how do you know how to move forward?

I have noticed that this question is bringing people to my website organically, so I wanted to answer it clearly so that people have that answer.

What is a Writing Coach?

A writing coach, also known as an Author Coach or Book Coach, is a trained coach who helps you through any writing issues. I have helped writers find the time in their busy schedules to write, create a writing routine that works for them, develop their novel ideas, and much more.

What is a Developmental Edit?

A Developmental Edit is an edit that focuses on the story. It is concerned with narrative, consistency, characterisation, dialogue – basically everything but the copy edit! When I provide a Developmental Edit to an author, it consists of my going through the work at least twice, and providing the client with an Editor’s Report and in-text comments and corrections, as well as an hour-long discussion/coaching session afterwards to discuss the work.

What is the difference between a Writing Coach and a Developmental Editor?

The difference is the focus. For example, I am both a Writing Coach and an Editor who offers Developmental Editing. When I am hired to coach, I have a series of sessions with the writer, and we work toward their goals through a series of jointly agreed action points. When I am hired to provide a Developmental Edit, I focus on the draft of a novel and write up an Editor’s Report, instead of live sessions with the author.

What stage should I be in to hire a Writing Coach?

You can be in any stage to hire a Writing Coach, from idea to fifth edit! As a coach, I can focus on whatever you would like to focus on. Sometimes that’s at the very start of a novel and is all about your idea, and how you would like the book to be written. At other times it’s after publication, and you want to work on marketing. As a writing coach, we can work together on any writing goal, however varied.

What stage should I be in to hire a Developmental Editor? 

To hire a Developmental Editor, you need to have a novel pretty much written. It could be that you hire someone to edit at a date a few months into the future, with the understanding that you will have completed the novel by then. However, the most important thing to know is that you will be required to hand over a manuscript to the editor on the agreed-upon date, so get writing!

What are the pros of hiring a Writing Coach?

As a writing coach, I can help you achieve your literary dreams. By holding space for you, identifying action points, and asking the questions that drive you to dig deep, you will leave a session with more clarity and purpose. Ultimately, coaching can help you succeed in your goals.

What are the pros of hiring a Developmental Editor? 

A Developmental Edit can give you expert advice on your novel. It will leave you with a roadmap of how to move forward, what needs improving, and how you can make your story the best it can possibly be.

Can I hire someone to do both?

Yes! In fact, I offer a great deal for someone who is looking for a coach AND an editor. This consists of six months of weekly coaching AND a full Developmental Edit when you are ready. If you want to know more about it, click here to find out – https://www.rachelgrosvenorauthor.com/coaching/

So, now you know the difference between hiring someone to be a Writing Coach or a Developmental Editor, and what is best for you.

As a Certified Professional Coach, trained by an ICF company and with an ILM Level 2, you can trust that my coaching skills are tried and tested. As a writer with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing, and over six years of lecturing in adult education and at universities, I’m a professional writer specialising in helping others find their way forward. 

Any questions? Feel free to get in touch.

Want to read something similar? Check these out!

What is a Writing Coach?
4 Ways to Edit Your Own Writing

Categories
Productivity

How to Get Back Into Writing After a Break

Get back into writing

Sometimes we need a holiday, and our writing breaks are planned, and at other times they creep up on us, and we realise that it’s been weeks, or maybe even months, since we last wrote. When that happens, how can we get back into writing after taking a break? Here are five ways. Oh, actually, I’m feeling kind. Have ten!

1) Be kind to yourself. 

It’s okay to take a break from your novel. Seriously – it is. You might have heard about writers who write 1000 words a day with ease and three novels a year, but all that does not matter. Being a prolific writer is how you define it. I try and write 4,000 words a week, but in the last few months, I have had a lot of editing to do as well, so I have split my time between two projects. This means that I’ve been writing more like 2,000 words a week. That’s okay. Whatever your situation, the fact that you are reading this means that you are ready to get back into writing, and that’s great. Be kind to yourself; a writer doesn’t have to write all the time to be a writer.

2) Mindmap. 

Get all of those ideas down on paper – whether they are reasonable, excellent, or you’re not so sure. Just the act of allowing yourself to think through ideas for your work in progress will create new inspiration, ideas, and inspire you to take action.

3) Writing exercises.

One of my favourites. I love to partake in writing exercises to get myself in the writing mood! I teach one of my favourite ways of coming up with novel ideas in my Novel Writing Masterclass, so if you’re a fan of exercises too and want a hand going from idea to publication, go ahead and take a peek!

4) Real-life research. 

From cooking the meals your characters enjoy to saddling up and experiencing their way of travel, there are many ways to enjoy real-life research. You could even sit down to create a map (I love Inkarnate for this). Doing things that relate to your novel but are not writing can help get those creative juices flowing.

5) Re-organise that routine. 

Writing routines change, and that’s okay! It might feel a bit dusty and stilted if you are coming back to an old routine after a break away from writing. Spend some time refreshing that writing routine and working out how you want it to be moving forward. If you want a hand with this, take this fun quiz on my website!

6) Chat to other writers. 

Get involved in the writing community. Whether you join a local writing group, a private Facebook group, or the fabulous writing community on Instagram, there are many wonderful places to find other writers. Within them, you will get accountability, warm conversation, and like-mindedness that’s hard to beat. Plus, there will be others who would like to get back into writing too, so you can share your thoughts with them.

7) Read, read, read.

Remind yourself of your writing passion by picking up those books again and digging in! The more you read, the easier it will be to write. Why? Because through reading we get more entertainment. We get an education on what it is to write, on tropes, grammar, and so much more. Most important of all, we get inspiration.

8) Write your favourite book. 

Well, no, not the exact same book. But, there’s a lot to be said for writing fan fiction if you want to get back into writing. If your creative faucet feels stuck, then slip into a world that you already know, with characters you already love.

9) Re-ignite your passion with a course. 

Writing courses are fantastic for getting us back into the writing spirit. If you are looking for a course to try, give It’s Time to Write Your Novel a go! It’s a 40 class course for only $99 and will take you from procrastination to print.

10) Create an experience. 

We don’t just have to be typing to write. You can create an experience based on your book too. From creating a collage on Pinterest to building a beautiful playlist that transports you straight into your world, there are many ways to develop an experience that will deliver you directly to your novel.

Do you have any to add? If so, I would love to hear them!

Found this useful? Please share it with another writer.

Looking for something similar to read? Check the following out.

3 Things I Did to Level Up My Writing Game
The Reset Week: Investigate Your Writing Process
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Writing Routine

Categories
Productivity

How To Get Prepared For NaNoWriMo (Preptober)

Preptober Nanowrimo

November is National Novel Writing Month, a time when people across the world come together (albeit virtually) to stare into their computers and write 50,000 words in one month. So, when October rolls around, it’s time to get prepared. Preptober is a term that the writing community has given to this preparation period! So, how do you take full advantage of Preptober and get ready for NaNoWriMo? Let’s dig in.

Investigate Your Time 

Why do people manage to write more when partaking in NaNoWriMo than on a regular month? The answer is this: They prioritise their writing. Now, it’s much easier to prioritise writing your novel when there is an end in sight (that end being December in this case). However, there is a way to keep that word count growing after November, and it helps for finding the time to write those 50,000 words too. That is the magic of Investigating Your Time. To do this, I would recommend downloading your copy of The Time to Write Workbook. With this workbook, you can learn how to break your week down, create a writing routine that works for you, understand writing areas that you would like to brush up on before November, and set goals. All of this for the price of a cup of coffee? That’s a win-win. 

Create Your NaNoWriMo Survival Kit

Ah yes, the NaNoWriMo survival kit! They will all be a little different, but if you are looking for something to keep you going during those long writing hours, here is what I recommend:

1) A fresh notebook. Ah, the smell of the fresh notebook, there’s nothing like those clean pages just waiting to be filled!

2) Journal. Separate from the notebook, I like to keep a journal to work through any difficulties I am having with the process or personal things that might be keeping me from writing.

3) Caffeine. Because, well…obviously.

4) Candles. It’s all about that mood-setting! 

Confirm Your Goals

The common goal for many NaNoWriMo writers is to hit 50,000 words in one month, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be your goal, or even, your only goal. Set your goals ahead of time, break them down and understand how you will achieve them within those four weeks. The Time to Write Workbook can really help with this, too.

Sign Up on the NaNoWriMo website

When you sign up on the official website, there is a lot to get involved with. From forums to stickers, it is well worth joining in on there and finding your local NaNoWriMo group too. Sharing the experience can make it fun.

Whether Plotting or Pantsing, Get Your Idea Ready

Time is precious, especially when you are trying to write 50,000 words in one month. Save yourself some time in advance by thinking about the writing that you are going to do. If you are not a plotter, you don’t have to turn into one suddenly, but it can help to get a rough outline of your idea down on paper.

Create Your Cover

One of my favourite things to do is to create a mock-up of a book cover on Canva. There’s even space on the NaNoWriMo website for you to share, so have a little fun and visualise that complete and final product.

Find Your Incentives 

It’s time to find out what works for you in terms of incentives and rewards. The more you celebrate those words being written, the more likely you are to sit down next time – rewards are a big part of creating a writing habit, and a habit is precisely what is needed for NaNoWriMo! For me, I’ll be rewarding myself with Dairy Milk, cups of tea, and chapters of a good book.

Download Your Free Trackers!

Yep – if you are looking for a freebie to help you with NaNoWriMo, there’s one right here that I have created for you. Download your tracker/checklist today so that you can print it off and cross out those written words! I have made two, as I know some people like to move forward based on word count and others based on days of writing.

Click here to download a tracker based on writing days.

Click here to download a tracker based on word count.

You’ve got this writer. 

I cannot wait to hear all about your NaNoWriMo project! Get in touch today to tell me what you are writing about. And, if you know of another writer who is also taking part, send this to them so that they can take full advantage of Preptober too.

Looking for a similar read? Check out the following:

3 Things I Did To Level Up My Writing Game
The Time Blocking Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel
Tips and Tricks for Dealing With Procrastination 

Categories
Publishing

3 Things Needed For A Fantastic Book Proposal

Book proposal

Are you getting ready to write a fantastic book proposal? It might be that you are looking to query, submitting to Pitch Wars, or perhaps struggling to write your blurb or pitch. Whichever it is, it can be hard to see our novels clearly when we are so close to them. In fact, I believe that this is why writers often find writing a blurb, pitch or query so tricky: we know the entire story, and it’s hard to whittle down all that information.

So, when it comes to writing a book proposal or whittling down those words to a pithy elevator pitch…what should we include?

1: A description that makes the listener/reader sit up and take notice. 

This is your opportunity to really get your story across. So, think about the following:

What is your main character’s problem, the conflict that they are dealing with?
What is their drive to overcome this?
Who or what is standing in their way?
Why does it matter? 

Getting across these elements to the listener will make them want to know more. You do not need to tell them the spoilers; keep those for the synopsis. Whet their appetites by telling them just enough to make them want to read the work.

2: The Vital Information.

What is the vital information? Your genre and word count. You can add these into your pitch to preempt the post pitch questions, proving to the listener that you have come prepared and understand what you have written. The listener may go on to ask you something along the lines of ‘Where would this book fit in a bookshop?’
This question is designed to help them understand how much you know about your genre, so prepare the answer ahead of time.

3: Why you, and why now?

These are two excellent questions to think about ahead of time, and preparing an answer will help you get across the urgency of their requesting to see the entire manuscript. To go deeper into these two short questions:

Why is this book relevant for this person?
Why is now the right time to publish?
What stage is the manuscript in?
Why have you written the novel? 

So, now you know. Include these three things for a fantastic book proposal!

A few weeks ago, a great writer hired me to help her ahead of some agent meetings. After a coaching session, a synopsis to pitch re-write and edit, and some research – she delivered two successful pitches and had manuscript requests from both. If you are looking for some help in the same area, get in touch today. Together, we can tighten up your pitch!

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