How do you know when to quit a WIP?
Novel feedback, the easiest words to write, and TONS of writing news and resources!
*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*
The only feedback you should take seriously
Last year around this time, I started writing an adult psychological suspense novel. I finished it in the spring and with great excitement thrust it into the hands of my agent and my number-one beta reader. They both told me essentially the same thing: it was a good first draft, but it needed a major revision. The plot twists were too obvious. The villain too cartoonish. I needed to go bigger, darker, sexier.
And I knew, deep down, they were right.
I always tell my writing students that the feedback to take to heart is what resonates with you: what you already knew, deep down, you just didn’t want to admit it because you didn’t want to have to kill your darlings or spend six months on a huge revision.
Yes, they were right. I needed to go bigger and twistier. I needed more suspects and more complex plot points. But I wasn’t sure what the bigger, more labyrinthian plot should be. I brainstormed, but it was less of a storm and more of a weak drizzle. I couldn’t figure out what should happen. I put the novel away for the entire summer and went back to it this fall. Still, ai see the problems with it, but I don’t know how to fix them.
So, I’ve started a new novel. Another adult psychological suspense. A part of me feels crazy. I wrote a whole novel and now it’s just gathering dust while I start a new one. But this new novel I’m writing, I think it’s being informed by the other one. Maybe I had to write that one and put it away in order arrive at this this new and better idea.
Or maybe that’s just what I’m telling myself so I have the gumption to keep going, keep writing. I’ll have to trust that this is all a part of the creative process.
The easiest words to write
I was recently listening to an older episode of
in which the host, Caroline O’Donoghue, talks about the process of writing her most recent novel, The Rachel Incident. She says the novel was borne out of another novel she had to abandon.Oh, hey, sounds familiar.
She really wanted to finish this other novel (it sounds like maybe she was even under contract for it), but it just wasn’t happening. She eventually had to admit it wasn’t happening and start on something new. In the podcast she says she feels like The Rachel Incident was informed by the abandoned novel. There are even characters in The Rachel Incident who were reshaped versions of characters in the novel-that-never-was.
Sometimes, you have to write something that doesn’t pan out in order to write something that does.
In the podcast O’Donoghue (or maybe it was her guest, writer Dolly Alderton) also talks about how the first 10,000 words of a novel are the easiest to write because you’re still flush with excitement over your new idea. Once you get past 10K, that’s when it starts to be less of a creative flow and more of a daily grind. In my case, that’s when I have to figure out at least a few details about the plot. (Is it obvious yet that plotting is the hardest thing for me?)
I worry I’m still in the honeymoon phase with this new novel. But I’ve written close to 13,000 words now, and I’m still excited, so hopefully that’s a good sign. The two main characters are, in fact, reshaped versions of the two main characters in my abandoned novel. So, frustrating as it may feel to put an entire novel in the drawer, maybe it’s all a part of the muse’s plan.
Spooky Season Books
It’s October! Time for horror movies and creepy reads. I always recommend Jennifer McMahon’s gorgeously creepy paranormal suspense novels, but let me recommend two more spooky books I read recently that also happen to be extremely thought-provoking, bringing up questions of real-life scary stuff like cultural appropriation and the uncanny valley:
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi: The suspenseful and haunting story of a woman who attends a mysterious and highly-elite language institute called The Centre. I devoured this eerie novel in two days flat.
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer. This suspenseful and provocative speculative fiction novel has been called a Frankenstein for the digital age. It’s told from the perspective of a female robot whose sophisticated AI technology makes you wonder where to draw the line between human and machine. I got goosebumps for sure.
Join me at Escape the Plot Forest 2024!
Join me at the Escape the Plot Forest Online Conference* from October 19 - 23 for five days of presentations, workshops, and interviews designed to help you untangle your plot problems (hey, just what I need!) and share your storytelling vision.
You can watch the entire event for free live, or, if you’d prefer flexibility (or have to, you know, go to work and whatnot), you can upgrade to a discounted pass to get replay access plus exclusive bonuses.
What you’ll get just by registering (free):
An instant training pack with tips to help you write your novel's opening chapters + prompts to get your creativity flowing.
A welcome pack with highlights from past summits and a free summit workbook to help you prepare.
An invite to our pop-up community forum where you can meet your fellow participants and ask questions.
A link to our secret treasure hunt where you can win prizes and discounts.
This conference is so supportive and welcoming, and it looks like a great line-up this year with sessions about:
Killing your darlings
Designing a dramatic scene
Planning a compelling first chapter
Adding romance to your novel
Creating a potent mid-point
And much more...
I will be giving a talk on Oct. 21 called Fabulous First Page: How to write a first page that grabs the attention of readers and agents. Come register here for free*!
*Affiliate link
Writing News & Resources:
For All Writers:
From Good Story Company free online Story Snobs Pitch Contest on Oct. 30.
CRAFT 2024 Flash Prose Prize with $3,600 in awards. Open until Oct. 27.
I really love the latest episode of This Mama is Lit, a podcast from Literary Mama featuring interviews with writer-moms. This episode is with Ona Gritz, who talks about investigating family secrets and writing about the tragic death of her older sister.
Check out the free event replays of various workshops at Manuscript Academy.
NYC Midnight’s 250-Word Microfiction Challenge starts Nov. 8.
The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.
Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.
Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.
Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.
NewPages has tons of submission calls from literary magazines and journals.
For KidLit Writers:
The Girl Power Hour Virtual Conference is Oct. 11 and only $30! Enjoy live, practical presentations by kidlit experts to guide you on both craft and the business of kidlit, with an opportunity for Q&A in every session!
The Story Mastermind Novel & Picture Book application is open until Oct. 15 with workshops beginning in January. In just five months, you could have a complete, polished draft of your novel OR a complete portfolio of picture book manuscripts—and a plan to submit and launch it. Apply by October 15th!
YALLFest, the Book Festival for writers and readers of Young Adult will be held Nov. 15-16 in Charleston, SC. Keynote speakers have finally been announced!
A list of places that publish stories for children from The Write Life.
Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.
Submit your children’s book to these publishers: no agent required!
Here’s an incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
Check out SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for events, conferences, critique partners and more. (Picture book through YA.)
For Querying Writers:
The query template that led to four agent offers from
.Interesting post from
on the pros and cons of having an agent who is also an author.Reminder that query reviews are available through the Book Pipeline Workshop. Only $75 per review until end of year.
From Good Story Company:
Free online Writing an Irresistible Query Workshop on Oct. 10
Free online Story Snobs Pitch Contest on Oct. 30
Submit your query and first five pages to Revise & Resub’s 10 Queries event on Oct. 11!
Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.
Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters (many of them thrillers).
Pitch contests on Twitter(“X”) seem to be coming back. These events can feel like a bunch of authors screaming into the void, but it doesn’t hurt to try. After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. So read my article:13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events then mark your calendar for these upcoming pitch parties:
#PitDark on Oct 24 on Twitter for books with darker vibes and themes including mystery, horror, thriller, paranormal, etc.
I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query and first two pages, and, if I chose your submission, I will send you feedback on both. Fill out the form here.
Writing Conferences & Events:
Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away? The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm north of Baltimore is open year-round. The only requirement for this peaceful retreat is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.
Escape the Plot Forest Online Conference from October 19 - 23 is five days of presentations, workshops, and interviews designed to help you untangle your plot problems. I will be giving a talk on first pages on Oct. 21!
The Maryland Writers’ Association Conference is happening Oct. 19-20 in Baltimore. I will be there on Oct. 19!
Rooted & Written 2024 Conference, Oct. 27-Nov 2 is a free in-person conference featuring Bay Area Writers of Color.
Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
YALLFest, the Book Festival for writers and readers of Young Adult will be held Nov. 15-16 in Charleston, SC.
TSNOTYAW’s Deep Dive Virtual Conference will be held February 1-2. Early bird registration opens November 29.
The San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival is happening February 12-16 in beautiful/historic San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I’ve spent a lot of time in San Miguel, and it’s a great place to visit.
Are you an author who's had a book published in the last two years? The Annapolis Book Festival is now accepting submissions for our 2025 Festival, which will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. For online conferences, attend from anywhere in the world! Check out the upcoming conferences:
Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
I love hearing about your process. It’s always hard to put down a manuscript. But it’s not words or time wasted. I always think of it like playing an instrument. You have to put in the time doing scales and practicing in order to perform well. All the words we write that never get read is just practice.