The Novel Writing Podcast

In general, we shouldn't "self-edit" while writing the first draft. But listen to this episode where I clear up some of the confusion about what actually counts as self-editing, and exceptions that keep you on-track with your plot and outline. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take...

The first draft is supposed to be garbage. THE FIRST DRAFT IS SUPPOSED TO BE GARBAGE. Don't let perfect get in the way of your first draft. Just. Write. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales...

We don't just HAVE time to write. We have to MAKE time to write. Listen for 4 ways you can MAKE time for writing. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read Colleen's...

When you have high expectations, you have a longer and harder fall when reality interferes. Honesty about your priorities matters. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read Col...

Sometimes writing is just plain hard. But that doesn't have to STOP you from writing.  Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy ser...

No one likes to hear that their baby (first / second / nth draft) needs improvement. Learn how we at Tally Ink encourage our authors how to accept critique without being scarred. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curio...

Giving your opinion isn't hard, but giving critique CAN BE. If you're struggling with giving good critique, listen in. Professional Premium starts on the first day of each quarter (January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, October 1st).  Find out more information at https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/professional-premium Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access...

Your mindset when coming up with story vs. your mindset while writing it are two different headspaces. Learn the difference here. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read Coll...

Use 4thewords to break writer's block by gamifying your writing... beating monsters with your word count. Sign up for 4thewords here: https://4thewords.com/ Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of s...

The first draft's only job is to exist. Stop trying to make it do more than that. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read Colleen's clean YA portal fantasy series (...

Professional Premium is where 60-day challengers come when they want the next level of accountability and support with writing, even beyond the end of the first draft. Join us in Premium: https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/professional-premium Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 60 VIDEO: VICTORY & What To Do Next. Celebrating is a skill! Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Re...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 59 VIDEO: Powering Through to the End. Don't compare yourself to other authors—compare yourself to PAST you. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct wit...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 58 VIDEO: Satisfying Endings. Don't yoink satisfaction from your readers by pulling a "gotcha" with the ending. Naomi Novik's Scholomance series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/282152-the-scholomance Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 57 VIDEO: Active Descriptions. AKA, when you have a choice between showing and telling, err on the side of showing. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct w...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 56 VIDEO: Commas, Commas, Commas! The Oxford Comma is not optional. I DARE YOU TO FIGHT ME ON THIS. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 55 VIDEO: Authentic Coincidence. COINCIDENCE??? I THINK NOT. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sales) - Affiliate Link Read C...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 54 VIDEO: Creating Book Titles. The title you love might not be the title the READERS love. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 53 VIDEO: Writing Tense and POV. Whatever you do, please don't choose to write in 2nd person. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 52 VIDEO: Story Timelines. Do yourself a favor and keep things straight when you start. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100% of sal...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 51 VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words. There, Their, They're, It's, Its, Affect, Effect, Bologna, Baloney. Check out Loic Suberville on Instagram: @loic.suberville https://www.instagram.com/loic.suberville Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Co...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 50 VIDEO: Sagging Middle Syndrome. Not having it sag on the first draft would be a ruddy miracle. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 1...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 49 VIDEO: Writing Toxic Relationships. Insert Britney Spears "TOXIC" reference here. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curios (keep 100%...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 48 VIDEO: Portraying Affection. Real life is the best place to find examples that actually work in fiction. Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell your eBooks direct with Curi...

This is the companion episode to The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge DAY 47 VIDEO: Using Fewer Words. Or, how to annoy Colleen's mom by saying "less" when you actually mean "fewer". Send us Fan Mail What to do next… Read transcripts & access interview recordings on Substack Apply for Author Coaching with Colleen Take the 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge for FREE   Sell yo...