The 5 Things Every Novel Draft Needs Before You Revise Anything
Before you revise a single scene, check these five things. A simple pre-revision checklist that helps beginner writers know exactly where to start.
How to Read Your Own Draft Without Losing Your Mind
Ready to open your draft for the first time? Before you do, read this. Here’s how to approach your first revision read without spiraling, and what to actually pay attention to.
The Revision Mindset: Why Your First Draft Wasn’t Supposed to Be Perfect
Finished your first draft? Before you open it again, read this. Learn why revision feels harder than writing — and the mindset shift that makes all the difference.
Let It Cool: Preparing for Revision Season
You finished your draft. Or maybe you stopped writing because life got busy again and writing had to wait. Either way, the story is done, in a document that feels…
The Power of an Imperfect Ending
There is a moment near the end of writing a novel when the finish line comes into view. You can almost see it. The last chapter waits just ahead, the…
When the Ending Feels Far Away: How to Write Toward a Landing
You are past the halfway mark. You have real chapters. Real scenes. Your characters feel alive! Take a moment! Let’s celebrate. This is a big deal. You are no longer…
Master the Messy Middle with Story Structure Prompts
This post includes a few affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you. Your support helps me keep…
From Outline to “The End”: Practical Strategies for Completing Your Novel Draft
You had an idea. You took the time to shape it into a high-level outline. You answered the big draft questions about character, tension, and direction. And then something happened.…
How to Deal With the Unexpected: Writing Through a Nashville Ice Storm
As I’m writing this, Nashville is recovering from a winter storm that has brought the city to almost a standstill. It sounds like the last time it was this bad…
What to Write When You Sit Down
You finally sit down to write. You’ve made the time, opened your notebook or document, and told yourself this is the moment you’ll begin. And yet, once you’re there, everything…