You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been a little absent as of late from making some posts. I’ve got a little side project going right now - I’m writing a novel! November is National Novel Writing Month, and I’m giving it my all to produce a literary juggernaut in a month. Masterpiece or not, the fun is in the process. And you may think it’s too late to start now, but it’s not! Here’s a few tips on how you can plow through and write your first novel:

• Write like a fiend - Remember what your middle school teacher said about your first draft? You’re supposed to get all of your ideas out. If there was ever a time to learn touch-typing, this is it - you will want to type at the speed of thought. Get all of your ideas out, and then some. Don’t hold back, don’t censor, don’t even bother fixing typos. Get it out.
• Quit while you’re ahead - Don’t write to the point of exhaustion, though. When you get to the point where there’s about a page or two left to write, stop. You don’t want to pick up your draft at a blank page, or else you’ll get panicky about what you’re going to do with it next.
• When editing, be ruthless - When your first draft is done, take a breather and pat yourself on the back. Then, take out your carving knife, because you’ll need to trim the fat. Take out anything that doesn’t add to the story, and think economically. Don’t say “as of the current moment” when you can simply say “now”.