Welcome to A Novel Approach. If this is your first issue, I encourage you to check out my back issues for more tips on how to write a novel. It's my fondest hope that I can help other writers do the best they can do.

If you have any specific aspects about novel writing you'd like me to address in future issues, please feel free to contact me and let me know what those are. Thank you for your interest, and here's to better writing!

Write a Novel in 30 Days - NaNoWriMo is Coming Fast

Even though we're in the middle of building a house and trying to get enough of it done to move in. If that's not too much on our plates to give this a whirl, you don't have any excuse either.

Not sure what this writing frenzy is? I have a page about National Novel Writing Month on my website. And the founders, of course, have plenty of information on their site, too.

Check out their website with these two links:

What is NaNoWriMo?
How does NaNoWriMo work?

Then join us from November 1st through November 30th.

Come Write a Novel With Us

If you want support while you're doing this crazy writing, there are hundreds of local groups who check in with each other as the month progresses. I was pleased and very surprised to find a group in the Durango, Colorado area, since it's kind of a "middle-of-nowhere" sort of place we've moved to.

But the excitement is contagious, so I urge you to jump aboard with your local group. You can find out if there's a group near you by checking out this page on the website, which lists NaNoWriMo municipal liaisons as well as what to to do become one (if there isn't a group near you).

Not up for making your own group, and there isn't one near you? My daughter, Jessi, and I are going to make weekly updates on my website (see "Write a Novel in 30 Days" link at bottom of newsletter) to let you know how we're doing. You can chime in too, with the form on that page, and I'll post your name and word count alongside ours. Come be insane for a month with us!

I Wrote a Novel, But Now What?

Worried you'll be abandoned after the fact? Don't be. NaNoWriMo has information on what to do after the frantic month of spewing words onto paper or screen. They have forums, where you can stay in touch with other writers, advice about editing, publishing, rewriting and joining in on another writing frenzy.

And if you didn't finish?

Don't let it stop you from continuing that novel you started. Or starting another. Anyone who has the guts to try this wacky writing schedule deserves three cheers for trying. There's always next year.

And, upon a scan through the website, there are other months with other challenges you can try (as well as other write a novel in a month challenges). Scripts, poetry, blogs. They basically are encouraging you to just write.

So, from Durango, I encourage you to do the same. Check out my page where you can let us know you're jumping in with us. Then I'll try not to go off the deep end as I frantically finish a house while I write in a frenzy.

Piece of cake. I did write a first draft in two weeks once, right? Wish me luck. I wish you luck and look forward to checking in with you to see how it's going.

Check in with us on Write a Novel in 30 Days.

Then get ready, get set, write!

See you November 1st!

Here's a roundabout tip from master horror writer, Stephen King. Take it to heart, if you want to join the ranks of the great writers.

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. ~ Stephen King