Why It’s Okay to Fail

Why It’s Okay to Fail

It’s only been ten days since NaNoWriMo finished and I ought to be celebrating. And I am, but in a different way, and not for the reasons you’d think. For the first time in eight years, I did not complete my word count goal. I failed NaNoWriMo.

Being the perfectionist and goal-oriented person that I am, I found myself to be surprisingly okay with November’s outcome. So I’d only written 20,000 words. So what? It’s okay. Do you want to know why? I’ll let you in on a little secret.

The Downside of Your Good Taste

The Downside of Your Good Taste

You have good taste. It’s why you got into this whole “writing” in the first place—you’re aware of good writing when you read it. Of course, this has both an upside and a downside.

The upside: you know good writing when you read it, so you know what you want your writing to be.

The downside: you know good writing when you read it, so you know your writing has a long way to go.

One Reason to Write a Book in a Month

One Reason to Write a Book in a Month

Today is the first of November. For many writers, that means one thing: National Novel Writing Month has begun.

One thing’s for sure: writing 50,000 words in 30 days takes a lot—a lot of dedication, of imagination, of perseverance. It’s important to know why you’re writing at all. Focusing on that reason for starting will help you power through when the writing gets hard and you’re tempted to quit.

There are hundreds of reasons to write a book in just thirty days. Today, though, I’ll focus on just one.

Why You Should Cultivate Daily Writing Habits

Why You Should Cultivate Daily Writing Habits

NaNoWriMo is a fun thing lots of writers do each year. In order to write 50,000 words in just 30 days, they write thousands of words every single day. Whether you’re writing a novel in a month or not, though, writing every day is actually a really valuable habit to develop.

Don’t believe me? Then check out these quotes from authors and bloggers, which will inspire you next month and beyond!

Top 8 Foods and Drinks for Writers

Top 8 Foods and Drinks for Writers

For successful writers, there are three main components you need to really write: productivity, creativity, and inspiration. Without any one of these three, you’ll find writing difficult, but when they come together, you will find your writing will be better and maybe even a bit easier.

The things you eat and drink can have a significant effect on your writing. If you’re lacking productivity, creativity, or inspiration, pick one of these writing-enhancing foods and drinks for a boost.

How to Write Upside Down

How to Write Upside Down

At some point, your life as a writer will turn upside down.

The problems may come from health issues, from financial strain, from emotional stress, from relationship trouble, from any and every corner. It may come from the 500th rejection from an agent, from an unwelcome review or critique, or from plain old writer’s block.

Wherever it comes from, whatever turns your writing life upside down, I want you to be ready.