Is there no such thing as wasted time?
Is there no such thing as wasted time?
How to start or finish your novel. Plus TONS of writing resources!
*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*
Is there no such thing as wasted time?
It’s NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing month! Which means there are a bunch of writers scrambling to write at least 50,000 words of a new novel by the end of November. For the first time ever, I am one of them (in theory). My writing group decided to do Nano together, and I have a new adult psychological thriller I want to draft (again, in theory).
As soon as I created an account on the Nanowrimo website, a bunch of things happened. A death in the family. A visit from my mother-in-law. My daughters got sick. I got sick. Every day I didn’t write on my novel made me feel bad. Like it was a wasted day.
Nanowrimo doesn’t really have anything to do with it because this is how I feel most days of the year when I don’t make progress on my current writing project.
And it occurs to me that I might be a lot happier in life if I let go of the idea that every day must be “productive.” If I let go of the idea of a “wasted” day.
Like a true Type-A-First-Born-American, I feel a strong desire to be productive. Check off items from my to-do list then make another list. Finish one writing project then start on the next. I only feel I deserve to rest when I’ve “earned” it. And I rarely feel I’ve earned it.
Obviously, this causes me stress. And I end up feeling frustrated with my family and my responsibilities and anything else that stands in the way of my writing productivity.
But being a creative writer is so much more than just the writing part. There’s also the part where you gather ideas and let them steep. There’s the part where you live your life and let your brain save up experiences, mundane though they may seem, to use for later.
What I’m saying is, sitting with your sick kid while she moans “momma I need you,” may not feel like making progress on your novel (and yeah, it’s really not), but one day you might write a scene about a mom and her sick kid, and you’ll remember the sound of your daughter’s cough rattling in her chest and the feverish heat of her forehead. You’ll remember the musty smell of her hair and the way her fingers were sticky from the lemon popsicle you gave her to help her sore throat. Living life is what gives you sensory details for your writing.
So how can any of your time be wasted when literally anything in your life can one day become a part of your art?
On the other hand… there probably IS such a thing as wasting time.
Yes, in theory there’s no such thing as wasted time, especially for a creative writer. Even watching youtube videos or lying on the floor staring at the ceiling could be contributing in some way to your creative process… But if one of your life goals is to write a novel, and maybe get it published, there are certain ways of spending your time that are much more conducive to accomplishing that goal.
For example, I’d probably categorize the following as wasting time:
Mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, facebook, TikTok, etc.
Watching a movie or TV show you’ve already seen multiple times.
Obsessively checking email or social media.
Shopping online for things you honestly don’t need.
Submitting your short story to yet another literary magazine when you could be using the time to write another story.
Doing chores or other mindless tasks during the time of day when you know you have the most energy for creative writing.
Writing a blog post, substack newsletter, or social media post because you’re afraid of tackling a larger writing project.
It’s not so much about wasting time as it is making the best use of our time. No one lies on their deathbed saying, “I wish I’d scrolled through Facebook more” or “I wish I’d bought more seasonal hand towels off Etsy.” But they might regret never writing the book that was always in their heart.
Here’s the thing: sometimes we writers avoid doing the hard work of drafting or revising a big project. We put off putting words to paper because we fear rejection or failure. OR because we’re not quite sure how to push forward — it feels too daunting. We sit down to write but end up spinning our wheels, re-reading what we’ve already written without producing new words.
And that’s why we feel bad at the end of the day. It’s not about wasted time — not exactly. It’s because we didn’t take even one tiny step towards our dream. And thus it remains just as far away as it did yesterday.
Like EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE it’s a balance. (You sick of me saying that yet?) You’ve got to push yourself towards your dream and make progress on your writing project. But you also have to be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up on those days when you don’t write new words. Not every day has to be productive. But some days should be if you want to reach your goal.
After all, I did say I should let go of the idea that every day has to be productive. No, not every day. Some days we make progress on our novel and some days we don’t. The trick is knowing when to push yourself and when to let yourself rest.
How to START or FINISH your NOVEL!
There’s a reason why we writers avoid larger writing projects. Because writing a novel is freaking hard. It’s one thing to say, “I am going to write 50,000 words on my novel this November.” It’s another to actually do it.
And it’s one thing churn out 50,000 words. Quite another to write a first draft that will give you something substantial to work with, something you can mold and improve. I’m not saying your first draft won’t be a hot mess. Everyone’s first draft is a hot mess. But you want it to be a draft that is helping you figure out what this story is and what it has the potential to be. Not a bunch of stuff you wrote slap-dash for the sake of hitting your word count goals.
Because your ultimate goal is not a word count. Your ultimate goal is a good story.
Not that any of this is easy! If you’re having trouble getting started on your novel, or pushing through to the end of your novel, you are not alone. I will say it again: writing a novel is freaking hard! I should know, I used to be the queen of starting novels and never finishing them. But now, after having written NINE complete novels, I have a pretty good understanding of how to push through a manuscript, even when you feel stuck.
Which is why I have created a new online workshop called FINISH YOUR NOVEL!
Finish Your Novel Part 1 is about how to make forward progress on your manuscript no matter what challenges you’re facing. And Finish Your Novel Part 2 is about how to make deadlines and hold yourself accountable to them.
I also have a great 4-part course called Getting Started on Your Novel, which is about brainstorming, character development, plotting, world-building, and all of the other elements that go into drafting a novel.
Whether you’re doing Nanowrimo or not, these are great resources. I wanted them to be exactly what I wish I’d had back when I was in my early twenties, starting novels I couldn’t finish. They’re for paid subscribers, but I offer a free 7-day trial, so feel free (haha) to check them out. Let me know if you have questions. And good luck, no matter what your writing goals may be.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
The Writer’s Atelier has a free writing community and is hosting seven free virtual write-ins this November. If you're local to the Orlando, Florida area, they also have three in-person write-ins as well!
Black Fox Literary Magazine has free submissions until November 30. They’d love to see more YA, flash fiction, and craft essays!
Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency in 2024? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers. I found a residency on there that I just applied to, and I’m pretty excited about it!
Wild Ink Publishing has a call for submissions for several short story anthologies. Wild Ink is a small indie publisher that also publishes full-length novels, so getting a short story in one of their anthologies can be a good stepping stone to possibly publishing a book with them — see my interview with S.E. Reed. They have open submissions for:
Uncensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology. Deadline: November 30.
Clio’s Curious Dash Through Time Anthology: Poems and short stories appropriate for middle grade readers (5th-8th grade). This anthology is about historical, contemporary, and futuristic materials. We would like to give readers a timeline of stories focusing on the beginning of time, through to the most fantastical futuristic idea you can possibly imagine. Deadline: January 15.
Looking for a beta reader or critique partner? The Great Beta Reader Match-Up is now open. Register by November 30!
Check out this list of no-fee literary journals currently open to submissions
Ready Chapter 1 is offering fiction contests and agent critiques, now through November 12.
The Yale Review is now accepting pitches on a rolling basis. Seeking diverse, sharp, intelligent voices on a wide range of subjects, from literature, art, history, and politics to film, television, music, & more.
Check out this12-month Group Coaching opportunity for genre novelists.
The folks at Cheshire Novel Prize host a FREE group on their private app called Writers Space where you can talk about writing, ask for BETA readers, and connect with other writers.
Have you been working and reworking the beginning of your novel but can’t seem to push past a certain point? Then you should attend my Finish Your Novel 1-Day Workshop on Dec. 2 at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD.
Ready to submit a story? Check out this list of 40 Free Writing Contests! And of course, check out NewPages for submission calls from literary magazines and journals.
Check out the Chestnut Review for stubborn artists. Their submissions are always open and they pay $120/piece. They promise to respond in 30 days, which is HUGE in the lit mag space. Free submissions in most genres and free issues online, plus paid feedback options. They also offer workshops and international retreats. Sounds pretty amazing to me.
Check out my list of writing and publishing resources — my very favorite books, websites, and podcasts on writing, publishing, and the creative life.
Thinking about self-publishing? This detailed guide tells you all the steps you need to take: How to Self-Publish a Book: A Guide for Aspiring Authors.
For KidLit Writers:
SCBWI Members (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the in-person and virtual annual conference will be held February 9-11 in NYC (and online).
YALL Fest, the free Young Adult Book Festival in Charleston Nov 10-11 is looking awesome this year!
Check out Literary Rambles for information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 100 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts. (Updated June 2023)
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
For Querying Writers:
Check out this list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.
Here’s a query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.
Find a long list of example query letters on Quite the Query.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Every month I will chose one subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query letter and the first two pages of your manuscript, and, if you’re the winner of the month, I will send you back in-depth feedback on both. Interested in receiving a critique? Fill out the form here.
Writing Conferences & Events:
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.
YALL Fest, the free Young Adult Book Festival in Charleston Nov 10-11 is looking awesome this year!
The Hampton Roads Writers Conference will be held in Virginia Beach November 9-11.
AWP 2024 will be held in Kansas City February 7-10 2024, and early bird registration and community scholarship applications are now open!
FREE Virtual Conference from The Writer’s Workout is coming March 2024 -- sign up now to stay in the loop!
Hold the date for the Washington Writers Conference, being held in Bethesda, MD May 3-4, 2024.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
This is exactly what I needed to hear today, after a few days in a row of forgetting about Nanowrimo. Thank you.
The photo of you and your cat is precious!
I've always hated feeling unproductive. Thanks for this reminder to let that obsessive Type-A drive go sometimes!