Each month I take a moment to pause and share a few things I’ve found to be helpful and fun along the journey as a busy writer.
I hope you find them to be enlightening and encouraging!
Article Roundup: NaNoWriMo Prep
Coming up next month in November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. I’m super excited!! Thousands of people around the world will all be scribbling away, writing drafts of novels, working on various projects and yet united in ambitious writing goals.
I love NaNoWriMo for numerous reasons, but really it’s all about encouraging us to write whether we “win” or not. Yay for writing!
For anyone planning on participating in NaNoWriMo (or anyone interested in writing advice particularly geared toward first drafts) here are some great blog posts and resources for you. My Steps To Success series is also designed to walk us through the novel writing process, so definitely feel free to check that out too.
Enjoy, and good luck writing next month and always!
How To Survive NaNoWriMo Without Losing Your Mind– NaNoWriMo
- A great introduction to what it means to do NaNoWriMo and how to do it well. I loved reading about the author’s experience with NaNoWriMo as well as his emphasis on participating in a healthy way.
NaNoWriMo Advice: 30 Tips for Writing a Book in 30 Days– Writer’s Digest
- This is a collection of advice from many different writers and it was great to read their experiences and combined wisdom here. Encouraging and informative!
The Hailstorm Approach: Prep for Nanowrimo in Seven Days (or Less)– SurlyMuse
- This is a super quick list to help us prep our novels if we’ve decided to do NaNoWriMo at the last minute or just had no time to prepare. A great jump towards having material and direction for your story quickly.
14 Tips On How To Survive NaNoWriMo– The Odyssey
- Good tips mixed with humor, this is an enjoyable list to help us succeed in our writing.
Book Spotlight: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn was recommended to me numerous times by different people. For some reason it still took me years to get around to reading it. I think I was intimidated because it was part of a series and I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to a large reading project. Most likely I was also a bit apprehensive, doubtful this book could live up to all of the praises I’d been hearing.
I shouldn’t have doubted. Once I finally started reading I didn’t want to put this book down.
Mistborn is pure fantasy, adventure, and brilliance, spun together by the masterful Brandon Sanderson. Chock full of magic, rebellion, and intrigue, the entire book comes together powerfully.
The characters are real, relatable, and intriguing, as we journey through the story with them. The world and magic system are a rich and solid, weaving the story together and showing us writers an example to follow when creating our own worlds. And the plot and themes that Sanderson gives us keep us interested and invested.
When I reached the end of the book I realized my fears at the beginning were unfounded- this book indeed could stand alone without the rest of the series. Yet I already knew I would have to find the sequel as well as put the rest of Sanderson’s books on my “to read” list.
This is a must read for any fantasy lovers and I’d encourage others to give it a shot as well! I was certainly not disappointed.
Recipe of the Month: Aloo Gobi
Anyone out there like Indian food? Looking to try something new? Don’t let the the unfamiliar name of this dish scare you! (Aloo Gobi translates to simply mean “potato” and “cauliflower.”)
This really is a straightforward and simple recipe and it makes a great Indian dish to enjoy. The recipe makes a decent amount so it’s perfect for sharing with friends!
Self Care Homework: Write to a Friend
Take a moment to write to a family member or a friend this week. I’d encourage finding a stamp and writing an actual letter or card, but email will do. Either way, take the time to connect with someone you care about! Just say hi and that you were thinking of them. These little things can be so meaningful! And these relationships are important.
Writing Prompt: Change of Perspective
Write from the perspective of a pet, animal, or insect. What other animals or creatures do they interact with? What do they do and what are their thoughts?
Cuteness Quota: An Adorable Antelope <3
Quote:
“Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.” —Annie Dillard
Happy writing to you all! I hope your month has been fabulous and full of joy.
I’m always looking for feedback and ways to make this site helpful to you, so if you have any writing questions you’d like me to tackle next or topics to focus on, please let me know below in the comments! I’d love to hear from you 🙂
