In the writing world, it can seem like there are two camps: Plotters and Pantsers. I’ve done both and they each have merit.    A plotter is, well, someone who plots her novel before she starts writing it. Beginning, middle and end are all known. Characters, motivations, even scenes, all known beforehand. I find it faster to write with an outline and since speed is of the essence in November, I at least start out with an outline. Pantsers write by the seat of their pants – there’s a variety of levels of “pantsness” – some people know a character or two, some know their situation, some know nothing at all. It’s an exciting way to write – every day [...]

Sukkot at our house.

  Back in the depths of time, 2001, imagine me, a young mother with three children under six, wondering if I could write a novel.  Did I really have 50,000 words in me? And if I did, could I get them all out in November?  I’d heard stories of people taking 10 years to write their novel – ten long, painful, soul-stripping years. Who was I to think I could write a novel in thirty measly days? Given my circumstances, I was a little frazzled and full of self-doubt but I didn’t want to give up this idea that made me wake up early with character sketches and kept me up late at night, thinking about plots. So I did [...]

Come write a novel with me in November!

Advice for creatives from Ira Glass

My top 3 Twitter management tools

First day of school at our house.

I love my husband!

My husband sent me this – he’s the best husband ever!

Today I’m in a funk. Editing The Waste is much harder than I thought it would be. I sit down to work, but get distracted. I really want to edit it, but my actions say otherwise. I have no idea where the resistance is coming from. I’ve re-read the entire thing, so it’s not like I’m afraid to see what I wrote (that’s happened in the past). I’ve got the time and energy to do the work. I just don’t. My brain is a mystery to me sometimes. I wonder if it would help to tell myself ‘it’s only the second draft and it’s OK to suck’ . I’m frustrated because I feel like my path to becoming a published [...]