3 Ways to Write a Novel With a Full-Time Job

by Lewis / November 17, 2020 / Inspiration, NaNoWriMo

Writing a novel with a busy schedule can feel impossible…

We’re now a few weeks into NaNoWriMo, meaning a lot of people are struggling to incorporate writing into their daily lives. After all, combine our normally hectic routines with the holiday season, and November quickly becomes a busy month… However, it’s not just November that’s the problem—between your job, family, and friends, finding even thirty minutes to write each day can be daunting.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a daily writer to finish a novel. In fact, you might be surprised by just how much writing time you can squeeze into a full-time job. Best of all, there are many ways to fit writing into your normal routine—meaning no matter what your schedule looks like, there’s an option for you!

How to Write a Bestseller During NaNoWriMo

by Lewis / November 10, 2020 / NaNoWriMo

You can accomplish a lot in a month…

And, with National Novel Writing Month upon us, a lot of writers are doing just that! Whether they’re writing their first draft or focusing on only a few chapters, November is the month when writers gather together and get to work. However, many of those writers don’t fully realize what their NaNoWriMo draft could eventually become. Maybe even a bestseller?

As hard as it may be to believe, many NaNoWriMo drafts have gone on to become bestselling novels. Best of all, there are a few common traits these bestsellers share—and that you can use to write a bestselling novel of your own!

Why You Should Write a Skeleton Draft

by Lewis / October 27, 2020 / NaNoWriMo, Outlining

Halloween is only a few days away, and I have skeletons on my mind.

No, I don’t mean spooky skeletons—though my neighbor’s Halloween decorations do make those hard to ignore. Instead, I’m thinking about skeleton drafts, and how they can make planning and writing a novel so much easier.

You see, I’m taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge come November, and one of the main writing tools I plan to use is a skeleton draft. But what exactly are skeleton drafts, and—more importantly—should you write a skeleton draft of your own?

How I Use Scrivener to Plan My Novels

by Lewis / October 20, 2020 / Other, Outlining

When it comes to writing software, Scrivener is the name of the game.

Not only is Scrivener built with novelists in mind, but it solves just about every issue writers have with less specialized programs like Word—and nowhere is that more obvious than when planning a novel. From organizing miscellaneous notes to writing draft outlines and idea dumps, a Scrivener file is the perfect place to outline a novel.

Of course, to really make Scrivener work, you need a system. So, with Preptober in full swing and NaNoWriMo not far behind, now seemed like the perfect time to walk you through you my personal Scrivener outline—as well as share some tips on how to build one of your own!

How to Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing

by Lewis / October 6, 2020 / Inspiration, NaNoWriMo

NaNo is almost here, and I’ve set a big goal this year.

You see, I’ve been working on my sword and sorcery novel—The Child Hunters—for almost a full year, but this November is when I finally plan to finish it. I’m equal parts excited and nervous, but fortunately, NaNoWriMo seemed like the perfect excuse to focus on my fiction and let my other work take a temporary backseat.

The question is, why has this taken so long?