Category: Fiction

My Writing Routine: Balancing Creativity and Structure

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

When it comes to my writing process, I love to embrace the concept of loose structure. For me, it’s all about having a plan, but leaving enough room for inspiration to strike. Whether I’m working on my weekly schedule or crafting a new story, I need that white space to allow my creativity to flow freely.

Outlining with Flexibility

One of my favorite tools for outlining is good old-fashioned index cards and Papermate Flair pens. I outline each scene or chapter on a card, noting the location, the characters, and one or two key points. This gives me a roadmap, but it’s not set in stone. I can easily move the cards around if something new sparks my interest, take out a scene that isn’t working, or add something fresh. It’s a flexible system that lets me adapt as the story evolves.

Color-coding drafts is a little obsession of mine. I start with one color for the first draft—this time, I used pink index cards—and when I move into the second draft and make changes, I grab a new color. For my current work-in-progress, that meant blue cards for the second draft. When I move to the next round of edits, I might add yellow or green. There’s something about using different colors for different drafts that makes the process feel more organized and visually exciting.

Bringing the Outline into Scrivener

Once I’m happy with the order of my cards, I transfer everything into Scrivener, my go-to writing software for over a decade. Scrivener has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a fantastic tool for organizing scenes and keeping track of your progress. After the outline is in place, it’s time to dive into the first draft!

First Drafts and Breaks

First drafts are a whirlwind, and they usually take me anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks to complete, depending on how much time I have outside of writing (because, let’s be honest, being a mom and working doesn’t leave endless writing time). Once the first draft is finished, I always let it sit for a while before diving back in. Usually, I give it 1-2 months so I can return with fresh eyes, but my current work-in-progress sat for almost 8 months while I wrapped up another project and got it published.

When I do come back to that first draft, I read through it in Scrivener, taking notes as I go. These notes are often hilariously random, like, What was I thinking? What is with that name? or Who’s Marjorie? (Seriously, who is Marjorie?) Sometimes, it’s a more specific note like, Where did her dad go? or This chapter is missing something—but what?

Setting the Scene for a Writing Session

I have a few rituals that help me settle into a writing session. First, I make sure I have something yummy to drink—usually flavored water—and I always have a reward in mind for when I’m done. That reward could be food, but sometimes it’s just TikTok scrolling time (because, priorities).

Next, I choose my music for the session. Music helps me set the tone for what I’m writing. I also grab my tarot deck and pull a card for the day. If I’m stuck on a problem in the story, I’ll spend a few minutes journaling about how the tarot card might relate to my characters or plot. Sometimes, I just do this in my head and jot down a quick note on a post-it, then get straight to work.

Writing Sprints and Weekly Goals

I like to work in 25-minute writing sprints with a 5-minute eye break in between, and I usually aim for two sprints per session. Ideally, I write three times a week, but when I’m on a deadline, I’ll either add more writing days or extend my writing sessions to cover more ground.

What I love about this loose structure is that it gives me the freedom to adapt my writing routine to the week I’m having. If I have doctor’s appointments or meetings, I can shift things around rather than feel frustrated by interruptions. It also gives me space to think about the story when I’m not actively writing, which allows my muse to work in the background, sparking new ideas and keeping the story moving forward.

Balancing Creativity and Structure

Using this loose structure allows me to honor both the creative side of writing and the structured side of planning. The flexibility gives my characters room to tell me what they need, while the structure helps me stay on track and meet my deadlines. Plus, it ensures that I’m not just reacting to the pressures of life but incorporating them into my routine, so they work with me, not against me.

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. Writing requires creativity, but it also demands discipline. By using loose structure, I can find the sweet spot between those two forces and keep my stories—and my writing process—on track.

World-Building 101: Crafting a Unique Setting

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

World-building is one of the most exciting parts of writing for me, but it’s also a process that evolves with each story I write. My first three books were all set in real places: New York City (and New Jersey), St. Louis, and Chicago. I’m comfortable using real settings because it allows me to draw on real-life experiences and the unique vibes of these cities. But with my next book—the first in a new series—I’m diving into something different. While the story is still set in New York City, I’m adding an element of magic, with time portals and alternate realities, which has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into uncharted territory.

Brainstorming the Basics

The biggest challenge with this new world-building adventure has been figuring out how the magical elements work within a real-world setting. I started by brainstorming what these time portals and alternate realities actually mean. How do they function? Where do they lead? What are the rules of these magical spaces? Even now, as I head into the second draft, I don’t have all the answers. That’s part of the journey. My goal for the second draft is to nail down exactly how these portals work and what to call them, but for now, I’m enjoying the creative freedom of discovery.

Using Real Maps to Ground the Story

Since much of the story is still rooted in the real world, specifically New York City, I rely heavily on Google Maps to get the lay of the land. My main character, Ruby, lives in Queens, but she spends time in Brooklyn for training, and some of the action takes place in Manhattan. By using Google Maps, I can get a close look at the streets, neighborhoods, and subway routes Ruby would travel, which helps me keep the setting realistic even as I blend in the magical elements. I always keep a subway map open while I’m writing, ensuring Ruby’s journey through the city is as accurate as possible.

Filling in the White Space

I tend to be what I call a “white space first drafter,” which means that when I write the first draft, I don’t always focus on describing the setting in detail. The characters are having dialogue, doing things, but the world around them is often left blank in my mind. It’s only when I move on to the second draft that I really dive into the details of the environment.

This is where I start to ask myself all the important questions about the spaces my characters occupy. What do the rooms look like? How do they smell? What items are scattered around? For example, I think about Ruby’s bedroom—what kind of personal touches does she have? How does her room in Queens compare to her best friend’s space, or to the apartment in Manhattan? I jot down all these questions and notes as I plan my edits, and then I refer to them as I go back through each scene, ensuring the settings feel vivid and grounded.

Weaving Magic Into the World

The biggest difference in this current work-in-progress, compared to my previous books, is the use of magic and the battle against evil beings. I had to spend a lot of time journaling to figure out how magic came into play. Where did it come from? How did it travel from its original world to ours? And what about the villain—how did he gain his magical powers?

In the first draft, some of these answers were there, but they weren’t fully fleshed out or didn’t make complete sense. But that’s the beauty of the first draft—it’s a space to explore ideas, even if they’re messy. Now, as I approach the second draft, I’m honing those magical elements so that they’re clearer and more consistent. Since I plan to send this draft to my editor to begin the development process, I want the magic to feel seamless and logical, even within a fantastical world.

Bringing the World to Life

World-building isn’t just about geography or magic; it’s about atmosphere. To help me get into the right mood for different sections of my book, I turn to a few tools: Pinterest, music, and more maps. I love creating Pinterest boards filled with images that reflect the mood and tone I’m aiming for. It’s a great way to get visually inspired, especially when I’m trying to capture the essence of both New York City and the magical elements I’m weaving in.

Music also plays a big role in setting the tone. I create playlists that help me sink into different scenes—whether it’s an intense fight scene, a quiet moment of reflection, or a mysterious encounter in one of the magical portals. The music helps me connect emotionally with the scene and gives me the energy I need to bring it to life on the page.

Google Maps continues to be my trusty sidekick for looking around parts of the city that I can’t always visit in person. For example, I lived on the Upper East Side for years, but now that I’m writing from Queens, it’s not easy to just pop over there whenever I want. Using maps and street views lets me virtually “walk” around those areas, giving me a sense of the neighborhoods that my characters are moving through, without needing to leave my writing desk.

Embracing the Fun of World-Building

For me, world-building is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing. It’s a chance to immerse myself in both the familiar and the unknown, blending real-world settings with magical possibilities. While creating these worlds takes time, it’s always worth the effort when the setting starts to feel like a living, breathing part of the story. Whether I’m writing about real places like New York City or inventing entire alternate realities, my goal is to craft a world that readers can step into and explore, a world that feels as tangible as the characters who inhabit it.

World-building might seem daunting, but it’s an exciting way to stretch your imagination and deepen your story. Whether you’re setting your story in the real world, a fantasy realm, or a mix of both, the details you create will help your readers feel truly immersed in the world you’ve built.

How I Develop Characters: From Concept to Creation

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

When I sit down to write a new story, the first thing I think about is the characters. For me, they’re the heart of every story, and I like to build them up in layers, starting with a simple question and growing them into fully fleshed-out people.

Starting with a Question

Most of my stories begin with a “what if” question. What would happen if someone was born into a famous flying circus family but was terrified of heights? Or what if a teen girl woke up one day with magical powers, and her mom wasn’t surprised at all? These kinds of questions spark my curiosity and start shaping the bones of my characters.

The question not only sets the foundation for the plot, but it also helps me think about who my main character is and how their internal struggle will drive the story forward.

Using Tarot to Create Characters

Once I have my “what if,” I turn to one of my favorite tools for character development: tarot cards. Tarot has always been a creative tool for me, and I use it to dive deeper into who my characters are.

Because I write YA, I know that most of my characters will be high school or college-aged and usually girls. But when it comes to their deeper traits—like what they look like, what their interests are, and what makes them tick—I pull a card or two to guide me. The tarot helps me figure out their quirks, strengths, and weaknesses. It’s a way to get creative and let the cards guide me toward traits I might not have considered. Sometimes a card gives me a hint about their hair or eye color, while other times it gives me insight into their personality or history.

Pinterest and Casting Characters

With some basics in place, I move on to creating a visual representation of my characters. I head over to Pinterest and start putting together a mood board for the story. This is where I start to “cast” my characters.

Sometimes I’ll use images of famous people—like Harry Styles or Maya Hawke—to give me a face for my characters. Other times, I find inspiration from models or random photos of people who fit the vibe I’m looking for. Seeing them visually helps solidify the character in my mind and brings them to life in a way that goes beyond just words on the page.

Defining Their Core: Desires, Flaws, and Growth

Now that I have a solid image of my character, I start diving deeper into who they are. I ask myself a series of key questions:

  • What do they want?
  • What do they need?
  • What is their fatal flaw?

These questions are crucial because they define the character’s arc in the story. What they want is usually a surface-level goal, but what they need is often deeper and tied to their personal growth. Their fatal flaw is the thing that stands in their way, and it’s what makes them human. I also make sure to define their quirks and behavior traits, things that might not be obvious at first but make them feel real. These are the details that I hope will make readers fall in love with them, or at least feel something strong about them—whether that’s admiration, empathy, or even frustration.

Journaling as My Characters

Once I have the basics in place, I dive into my first draft, letting the characters guide me through the story. After the draft is complete, I take some time to journal as if I am the characters themselves. I write as though I’m inside their heads, allowing them to tell me what I might’ve missed, what I need to change, and how they would react in certain situations.

This exercise is especially helpful because I write in first-person POV, meaning I’m often focused solely on the main character’s internal thoughts and perspective. Journaling in the voice of my side characters helps me connect with them more deeply and craft dialogue that feels authentic to each one’s unique personality.

Refining Through Each Draft

Every draft gives me the opportunity to understand my characters better. It’s during these rounds of revision that they start to feel like real people—people with flaws, strengths, and depth. I want my readers to experience these characters as fully human: to fall in love with them, to hate them, to root for them, or to want to see them fail. My goal is always to make them relatable and multi-dimensional, not perfect, but real.

For my current work in progress, World Ablaze,’ this process has been especially important. With a cast that includes Ruby and her parents, the girls with elemental powers, and Ruby’s best friend Sophie, there are a lot of personalities to manage. But taking the time to develop each one individually, from tarot readings to journaling, ensures that they all feel fully realized by the time I’m done.

This process of developing characters has become one of my favorite parts of writing. It’s like meeting new people, getting to know them little by little, until eventually, they feel like old friends (or enemies). And I hope when readers dive into my stories, they’ll connect with these characters in the same way I do.

The Art of Editing: What I’m Focusing on in My Next Book

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Second-draft land is a weird place. After the whirlwind of writing a first draft, you might think the second draft would be easier. But, as I’ve learned, it’s anything but.

In the first draft, you’re essentially telling yourself the story—letting your imagination run wild and figuring things out as you go. But in the second draft, the real work begins. You kind of know where you’re going now, but you’ve got holes to fill, changes to make, and things to fix. This is when you look back at your first-draft self with a mix of compassion and frustration, sometimes even asking, “WTF were you thinking?”

Take my current project, for example. In the first chapter, my main character gets dumped. I originally named the guy Dylan, but then I realized—his family is from Colombia, and they moved to New York just before he was born. They wouldn’t have named him Dylan! So, back to the drawing board I went and I changed it to Diego. (Thank goodness for Find and Replace tools)

Then, in the second chapter, I had my main character, Ruby, wake up, go to school, and head to swim practice—all in the span of three sentences. That obviously wasn’t going to work, so I had to add about 300 words just to make that opening flow. Like, did she want to talk to her parents where her parents even home, how was she feeling after getting dumped, was she worried about seeing him at school? 

This book also has magical elements, and I had no idea what I was doing in the first draft. So before I even touched the second draft, I had to sit down and figure out where the original magic came from, why the villain is so angry and how he got his powers, where everyone’s been hiding (spoiler: time portals and alternate universes are involved), and why the boots they wear are so essential to their tech. It was a lot to sort out!

But second drafts are where the real magic happens. This is where you uncover those juicy details that you can drip in earlier to delight your readers, where you truly get a sense of your characters, and, for me, where I tighten up the sense of place and how everything fits together.

The journey doesn’t end here, though. I’m going to be working on this book and refining it over the next few months. If you want to follow along with my progress, join my newsletter to stay updated on all the drafts, edits, and discoveries along the way.

From Draft to Publication: My Writing Journey

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Every book starts with a single spark of inspiration. For me, it began with a simple question: What would happen if a girl was born into a famous flying family, but she was scared of heights? That idea lingered in my mind, and soon enough, Roz was born—the protagonist who would lead me on a winding, challenging, and ultimately fulfilling journey.

Draft One: The Beginning

With the idea in hand, I started drafting the story. Roz took shape, and alongside her was Louise, the daughter of a famous clown family. The story bounced back and forth between Roz’s world and Louise’s, weaving together two different lives within the circus. But as the draft grew, so did my doubts. Something wasn’t clicking, and deep down, I knew the story needed to evolve.

Draft Two: A Major Change

That’s when my editor stepped in with a suggestion that would change everything: focus more on the big three-ring circus where Roz auditions at the end of the original draft. It meant scrapping Louise’s storyline and bringing more attention to the heart of Roz’s world—the circus. This shift brought the story back to the drawing board, forcing me to rethink the direction of the narrative.

Draft Three and Four: Finding the Flow

After revising and expanding the circus setting, I finally felt like I had a more cohesive storyline. Roz was stronger, the world felt more vivid, and the supporting characters were coming into their own. But there was still something missing—especially in the ending. My editor came to the rescue once again, offering guidance on where the story could go and how to bring the narrative full circle. With those new insights, I dove back into revisions, determined to find the perfect conclusion.

Draft Five: The Final Version

After many drafts and countless hours of rewriting, I finally had a book that felt complete. The journey of this book wasn’t easy—writing rarely is. It’s about pouring your heart and soul into every word, figuring out what works, and pivoting when needed. Through all the changes, revisions, and rewrites, I held onto that initial spark—the reason why I started writing in the first place. And although Roz is no longer afraid of heights, she spoke to me through the whole process begging me to tell her story and I’m so glad she did!

Now, I’m thrilled to share that my book is available for you to read. Check it out on Amazon, where you can read it for free with Kindle Unlimited.

Dear Diary…

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Hello readers!! The following is a fun diary entry from Libby, a character featured in my latest YA novel, Etta and Gina, available now on Amazon’s kindle unlimited.  If you like this, you can join my newsletter to receive the first four chapters of Etta and Gina for free here.

Dear Diary,

I can’t believe Mom is mad at me. I didn’t do anything wrong – Gina started it!

She’s the one that can’t leave Liam here alone. He is clearly into me, not her, but she can’t take a hint. He’s so dreamy too, those eyes and his hair. I wonder what it would feel like to run my hands through it?

Stupid Gina, stupid Mom. I wonder if we’re going to get kicked out of the show? Would they do that to me? I hate to admit this, but Gina has a big role, would they do that to her? What am I going to do if I get kicked out? I was just getting close to Liam and then Gina had to go and ruin everything.

Ugh, and on top of all of that, my Dad canceled our visit again. It’s like the fourth time he’s done that too. I haven’t seen him in, what, two months now? I know he’s busy with work, and his wife just had another baby, but still…I usually see him at least every once in a while. Okay, I don’t know why I’m lying to myself. He does this all the time. I’m glad Mom’s boyfriend is nice and likes to do things with me. It will be nice having him around all the time. Mom said he’s moving in next weekend, and that he has a lot of stuff she’s not thrilled with so our basement is going to be boy central.

It’s going to be weird living with a guy. It’s been me and Mom for as long as I can remember. When did Dad move out? I think I was three, right? I don’t want to ask Mom, especially not now since she’s mad at me, but I could sneak the picture albums out of the living room and look. I know he was here for my 3rd birthday, but was he still living here? Anyways, Michael  is a good guy and I’m glad Mom is getting married again, she’s been so happy since he asked her. Except when she’s getting on my case for fighting with Gina.

Cousins are so hard sometimes, like I try to be her best friend and help her out with things like what to wear to auditions and what to sing for auditions and how to dance and how to talk to boys, but she never listens. It’s like talking to a brick wall and I’m not apologizing no matter what my mom or her mom says. I’m just not!

Well, talk later Diary, I have stupid homework to do.

Libby ❤️️

How To Make Starting A Novel Revision Less Stressful

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Starting a revision can feel very overwhelming. There are a lot of moving parts and things to think about. With any multi-step project, thinking things through and making decisions before you start can help alleviate some stress and help you start things on the right foot. 

 

Method

The first decision would be figuring out exactly how you’re going to do this revision. Are you going to print out the document and bind it in some way? Are you going to work directly on your computer, probably in the program you used to write the first draft? Or are you going to turn your manuscript into a PDF and upload it onto your iPad or other tablet and use an app, like GoodNotes, to annotate by hand? I have used all three methods and they work for different types of drafts, so think about how you like to work and decide now which method you’re going to use.

 

Type

The next decision you’ll need to make is what type of revision you’re doing. Are you going to go from Once Upon A Time all the way to Happily Ever After, revising the book in a linear fashion? Or are you going to go through the book multiple times focusing on different topics or problems? For example, you go through the whole book working on the main character’s arc and then go through again working on subplots and finally you go through and tighten up and edit descriptions.  Both of these work, it really depends on you and your book. 

Setup

The final decision I would like you to make before starting your revision is what I call the setup. How do you write best? Do you need a writing ritual where you have music, candlelight, fancy beverages and snacks? Or do you write in silence? If you used a ritual during your first draft, utilize similar things and keep notes about what works and what doesn’t work.

You should also ask yourself how you want your desk to look like, or if you even want to work at home. Maybe drafting on the couch was perfect, but now you need more focused time so you need to write from the library.  These things can all depend on how you like to work best, the draft you are on, and what’s going to help you revise your novel. 

 

Final Things To Think About

Making these three decision before you even touch your manuscript can free up a lot of brain space, a lot of worry and stress so you can sit down and get to work making your book better.   Once you have your answers, you can prepare your manuscript for the method, write up notes about the problems you need to solve, and gather all the supplies you might want to have on hand for your ritual.  Having all of this before you even sit down with that red pen is going to give you so much confidence that you’ll be raring to go!

I would love to know which method of revision you’ll be doing, so let me know in the comments below. 

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Friendship

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

It’s one of the big themes in my latest novel, Etta and Gina, and one that I loved exploring as a writer, because it’s something I’ve thought about a lot with my life on this planet.

Growing up, I had a small but mighty group of girls that were almost always together – either at school or at someone’s house for sleepovers.  Dealing with older siblings, annoying teachers, and even death – I knew I had people that were going to be there for me. 

As I moved into college, I lost touch a little bit with those grade school friends, and had to navigate new relationships that included significant others, different priorities, mental health issues, and drama. For some odd reason, there’s always drama when it comes to friendships – and that’s not just with girl friendships, I’ve seen this with guys too.

The concept of what it means to be a friend changes over the course of one’s life and over the course of the friendship itself.  We can fight, break up, make up, try again, lose touch, reconnect, and end things all together.  We can be there to hold their hands, celebrate, hold their hair back when they’re sick, and laugh so much it feels like you can’t breathe.

Every relationship looks different and that’s one of the reasons I love writing about friendship, especially in the young adult stage – when you’re dealing with not only trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in, but also how to be a friend to others. AND what you need out of others when it comes to friendship.  It’s complicated, complex, and just cool to think about.

How have you dealt with changing friendships in your life?

Can two best friends thrown onto two very different paths learn to grow together or will they fall apart?

My latest young adult novel, Etta and Gina, is now exclusively available via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited!!

Read Etta and Gina today and jump right into this entertaining look at suburban high school life.

How to stop feeling like YOU are not good enough

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

Does your inner critic say really mean things to you? And has this stopped you from writing because you’re afraid that your inner critic is telling the truth? 

 

Who or what is the inner critic exactly?

It’s that inner negative voice that tells you things like: You can’t, you shouldn’t, why bother, don’t, what are you thinking? You call yourself a writer? It feeds off of our own internal fears and amplifies them.  It can go by other names as well – the inner editor, the inner mean girl, gremlins, or even just a pain in the butt.  

These fears – fear of success, fear of failure, fear of internet trolls or bad reviews, and the fear of being found out aka imposter syndrome – can all cause that inner voice to be very very loud, feeding off our fears and making us feel like crap. And they can cause us to stop writing – even going so far as to cause writer’s block, because when we don’t feel good about our own writing, why are we going to sit down and do it?

Something I hear writers say a lot is that they don’t feel like they are good enough to write the story idea they have and I’m here to tell you that that is simply NOT TRUE – that’s just the inner critic being very loud and vocal and there are ways to stop being haunted by this voice, and work with them – even becoming friendly with them. 

 

Personifying the inner critic

The act of personifying that inner negative voice puts the inner critic outside of ourselves rather than inside ourselves. It gives you a focal image, which I’m gonna talk about in a minute, so that you can talk to them, find out a little bit more about why they’re there, why they’re talking to you in this manner, what the fear is all about, and how to work with them rather than against them. Because once we put that inner critic out here away from us, not in our own head, then we can deal with them without shame. We basically create a character and then it’s not about our voices, it’s about their voices. 

 

Tools you can use to personify the inner critic

First, grab a notebook or journal and start writing down things the inner critic says to you, how it makes you feel, and what they might look like. Be very, very gentle with yourself during this process and give yourself ample time. Don’t rush this process, really sit with it and let things come up organically as you go about your writing life. 

Once you have some stuff written down, look over what they might look like and decide how you want to personify them? I like to choose a Tarot card, but you can also use Oracle cards, Goddess cards, pictures from magazines, or even Pinterest. Choose an image that resonates with you and give them a name.  I call mine Dude, so no need to be super serious here with this step. 

Now you have someone you can talk to. Create a character worksheet – like you do with your novel’s characters – and then write them a letter asking them why they are here, what they want you to know, and why they talk to you the way they do.  Once you have your letter, allow yourself some time to write a letter from their point of view answering you. This is the start of forming a friendship, a relationship, with your inner critic. 

 

 

Need help with this?

I am co-teaching a live Zoom workshop with my friend and fellow book coach, Sage Adderley, in January all about Creating With Your Inner Critic. 


Sage will be teaching you how to process emotions, thoughts, feelings and limiting beliefs using an intentional creativity process called Cosmic Smash Booking. She’ll be taking you on a journey with the relationship you currently have with your inner critic, that voice that tells you that you are no good, why bother, you’ll never be a writer. Cosmic Smash Booking goes beyond journaling to a spiritual release of emotions so you can move through them, work with them, and move past them.


For my portion of the workshop, I’ll be teaching how to use Tarot, Oracle, or other images to personify that inner critic so you can start talking to them, building a healthy relationship with them rather than reacting to them, so you can start writing without the inner critic stopping you from the brilliant words that I know are inside you. 


Creating With Your Inner Critic will allow you to trust your own intuition so you can get unstuck and start that book that’s sitting on your heart and in your soul. 


Join us on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST for a 3-hour Live Zoom workshop – valued at $597, it’s yours for $147 until December 31st so sign up below!!

Join Creating With Your Inner Critic Workshop HERE

NaNoWriMo 2022: You Wrote 50,000 words! Or Did You?

Posted on by Jennifer Gregson

As we finish up another round of National Novel Writing Month, I’m here to answer some of your most burning (and frequently asked) questions.

 

I didn’t hit 50,000 words, now what?

 

It’s okay, you didn’t hit NaNo’s goal, but guess what? You probably created a writing habit this month, you probably wrote more this month that you might have all year.  The big question to ask yourself here is what did you learn about yourself as a writer?   And then you should celebrate what you did accomplish – seriously, I don’t care if you wrote 100 words or 49,999 you should celebrate. I know I’m proud of you, and you should feel proud of yourself too.

 

I did hit 50,000 but I’m nowhere near the end of my story, now what?

 

If you are feeling burnt out from this past month of frenzied writing, it’s okay to take a short break – maybe a week – and then come back and keep writing. If you do need that time off, make sure you schedule your next writing session so you can keep up your momentum. 

 

If you aren’t feeling burnt out, you are rocking and rolling, continue writing and finish your story.  Most books aren’t complete at 50,000 words. I write Young Adult and that’s usually my first draft goal, but my books end up being closer to 70K by the time I’m done.  It’s totally genre specific. 

I hit 50,000 and my story seems complete, now what?

 

Celebrate!  I know I’m big on celebrations, but for good reason – we need to take time to acknowledge how awesome we are, and writing 50,000 words in one month is huge so plan something that will make you feel amazing and put it on the calendar now!

 

Then, you can make revision plans.  Personally, I like to give my first draft a rest before I revisit it so if you can, take at least 2-3 weeks off (a month is even better) and then come back and read through what you wrote. 

 

Just a side note here, but I’ll be doing a whole REvision series starting in January so if you’d like to wait until then, please do.

 

As you read through your first draft, make sure you have somewhere to take notes about what changes you’d like to make, questions you might have for me, or new ideas you want to incorporate based on what happened during the writing process.

 

Those are the big three questions I get about the ending of NaNoWriMo, but I have a question for YOU – tell me in the comments below, how did you feel this month and what are your next steps? I would love to know so I can best support you with my blog posts and YouTube videos. 

 

Seriously, go celebrate yourself – buy a book or a coffee or take yourself out to dinner – you did something great this month and I’m very, very proud of you!!

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