Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten tons of awesome first chapters from The Novel Smithy’s readers, including some that surprised me. You all submitted everything from dark urban fantasy to childhood stories of adventure, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your entries.
Of course, some entries stood above the rest. So, today I’m excited to announce the winners of the 2019 First Chapters Writing Contest!
Yet, writing is also hard. Creating a novel requires a tremendous amount of focus, planning, persistence, and creativity, so it’s no wonder that writers at every stage of their journey are always looking for tips and tricks to make it easier.
Unfortunately, one “trick” in particular tends to stand out—that writers need to feel emotional pain to maximize their creativity. However, not only is this a myth, but the truth is exactly the opposite. At the end of the day, a healthy mind equals a happy, productive writer.
December is the season of giving, meaning everyone is on the lookout for great gift options—and that’s no less true when you’re trying to find the perfect gifts for writers. Of course, you may be itching to get something for yourself too (don’t worry, I won’t judge).
Fortunately, these ten gifts will work just as well as both personal stocking stuffers or surprises for your critique partner. So, no matter how many fellow writers are on your gift-giving list this year, these writing gifts will surely delight them all!
With NaNoWriMo officially over and the holiday season just beyond the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll do with your newly minted NaNoWriMo draft.
Unfortunately, many writers lose steam at this point, shoving their drafts in a drawer to collect dust. However, I have a better idea, and your first draft doesn’t even have to be complete to join in the fun. Why not enter a writing contest? Specifically, the second annual First Chapters Writing Contest!
…and while that might mean candy canes and snow to some people, to writers it means National Novel Writing Month is officially over. It’s an amazing feeling to reach the other side of this writing challenge, and whether you’ve completed your first draft or only written a few scenes, I hope you’re proud of the story you started this month.
However, that’s the catch—NaNoWriMo is just the start. If you want to keep your momentum going, you’ll need a plan for what comes next, which raises the question: What should you do with your novel after NaNoWriMo?