• writing a novel

    5 Things To Focus on Before Writing A Novel

    - By 

    Before you even begin the journey of crafting your novel, it’s imperative to lay a solid foundation through some prep work. Setting the stage for your writing endeavor involves delving into essential prewriting tasks that will not only enhance your creative process but also foster a sense of purpose and direction along the way. Today, I’m sharing a list of five tasks to help you prepare for your novel writing project. 1. Deadlines Are Very Important A deadline will push you to your limits and keep you writing even when you’re not motivated to write. Establish an estimated total word…

  • row of books with ebook reader on top; writing the beginning of a book

    The Best First Lines of Fiction

    - By 

    By your side is a ratty notebook, bruised black and blue with the smeared ink of furiously scribbled ideas that came to you at midnight, dotted with translucence from the epiphany you had about your villain, while still wet from a shower.  You’ve finally decided to write the story that has been stirring around in your heart and mind—now what do you start typing on that blank page facing you? How do you introduce readers to the crazy, beautiful world in your head?  Starting a novel is tricky, but those first few lines are vital to your book. The characters, setting,…