5 Resources for First Drafts of Novels

Need help on the first draft of your novel? Here are some great resources.

Planning or Outlining: Many revision techniques found here can also be invention techniques for those first drafts. As I’m working on my first draft of a new novel, I’m finding that many of the same techniques are helpful.
For example, [...]

My Current Works in Progress

I am gearing up for a summer of hard work! My 17yo son goes on a school trip next week and then will be out for the summer, so I’ll have time to concentrate.
Here’s a list of my current Works-in-Progress.
My Current Works-in-Progress

Picturebook: Concrete Poems to go with illustrations from a friend. Usually this [...]

Meet Literary Agent Michelle Andelman

The 2008 Arkansas SCBWI Fall retreat focuses on a Writer’s Toolkit, with sessions on nonfiction, fiction and marketing.
When: September 19-21, 2008
Where: Mt. Magazine State Park, Arkansas
Meet Michelle Andelman, Literary Agent
Michelle Andelman, the east coast representative for the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, will be presenting sessions on the marketplace. Participants will have an opportunity [...]

YA Fantasy Sells Better than Adult Fantasy

Could it be true that YA fantasy is selling better than adult fantasy? Links to that story and more.

YA fantasy outselling adult fantasy!

Does being a professional writer mean you must also have teaching skills?

Janni is talking to her characters again! For some reason, this cracks me up every time. Maybe because I [...]

5 Ways to Know Your Novel is Finished

When is your novel finished and ready to send out into the world?
Your words are never set in stone until the novel goes to press. Up until then, it’s a decision only you can make, but here are some points at which others send out a mss.

When the characters start to bore you, or [...]

Starting a Novel with Voice

I’m still looking for a way into a new novel. So, here’s my plan for today: experiment with voice.
Starting with Voice
I’m reading Finding Your Writer’s Voice: A Guide to Creative Fiction by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall. While I don’t like every exercise they suggest, there are some interesting ones.
For my purposes today, [...]

Fear of Failure

Once again, I need to face the fear of failure and it’s difficult.
Fear of Failure
My schedule is free for about three months now and I need to use this time to turn out a new first draft of a novel. But I’m scared.
I’ve written five posts on the Psychology of Revision , most of [...]

400 Fun

Last week, marked the 400th posting and one-year mark for the Revision Notes blog.
To celebrate, watch for these “400″ postings this week

Best of Revision Notes: Links to the most popular postings of the last year.
400 Comments: Please Help me celebrate by collecting 400 comments by Friday!
400 Words Exactly: Writing Long sentences–here’s my [...]

400 Online Research Tools

Last week, marked the 400th posting and one-year mark for the Revision Notes blog.
To celebrate, watch for these “400″ postings this week

Best of Revision Notes: Links to the most popular postings of the last year.
400 Comments: Please Help me celebrate by collecting 400 comments by Friday!
400 Words Exactly: Writing Long sentences–here’s my [...]