NaNoWriMo can be a tough time for authors who compete. The dedication necessary can be stressful for veteran authors and newbies alike. Over the last few years, we’ve written many a blog post about writing and NaNoWriMo.

But consider this the master post.

If you’re having trouble staying motivated, read…

6 Reasons to Do NaNoWriMo

Whenever you start to wonder why you decided to embark on this overwhelming journey, this blog post highlights six reasons why NaNoWriMo is a worthy endeavor. It’ll remind you of all that you get out of participating, refocusing you on your goal.

How to Stay Encouraged During NaNoWriMo

At the halfway point, it’s easy to get discouraged. These tips should help reinvigorate you on your journey to a 50,000+ word novel.

If you’re looking to host a write-in, read…

Hosting a Successful Write-in

Some people are solitary writers. Others find that writing in a group keeps them accountable. If you’re part of the latter group, then having a write-in is a great way to socialize while writing. This post functions as a to-do list, listing everything you need to host a write-in.

If you’ve got writer’s block, read…

Overcoming Writer’s Block

There are two main types of writer’s block: a lack of inspiration and being too in your own head. This guide should help you identify which type you have and suggests three techniques for overcoming each. 

NaNoWriMo Prep: Plot Bunnies

This blog post is literally just a list of 43 plot bunnies: plot twists or ideas that can get your ideas multiplying like bunnies.

Writing Prompt Dart Board

This post includes two printable dartboards, one blank and one filled in. The idea is that you print out the dartboard (and fill it in if you did the blank one), and whenever you get stuck, you throw a dart at the board. Whatever it lands on is what you have to do.

Writing as an Improv Exercise

This post introduces you to the rules of improv, then shows how they can apply to your writing. It’s an especially helpful technique when you’ve written yourself into a corner and you’re working on a deadline.

10 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block

These ten suggestions for beating writer’s block are designed to get you out of your head and back to writing.

If you need writing advice, read…

How to Write Dialogue

Covering topics such as mimicking voice, dialogue tag use, and more, this post is a great starting point when your dialogue just isn’t working.

How to Write a Strong Female Character

Not every Strong Female Character has to be a warrior or superhero. A woman can be strong just by virtue of being well-written and complex. This post highlights six ways to make her three-dimensional.

How to Write a (Feminist) Villain

Female villains tend to fall into certain stereotypes. This post outlines some of the most common ones, explains why they’re flat, and shows how to breathe new life into them or subvert them.

Writing a Parent-Child Relationship

Have you ever noticed how stories with a young protagonist tend to have one or both parents out of the picture? This may partially be because parent-child relationships are difficult to write. This post is our remedy.

World-Building

If your world still needs development, this guide illustrates the nine elements you need to flesh it out. While this can be very important for genres like sci-fi and fantasy, this guide also demonstrates how this technique can be used for realistic fiction.

Building Suspense in Thrillers

For the budding thriller writer, building suspense can be an elusive goal. These tips are intended to help you get on the right path.

How to Successfully Incorporate Technology into your Story

Modern technology can solve many of the communication issues that good stories often hinge on. Instead of ignoring technology, here are some suggestions to believably create the chaos necessary, using technology in our modern world.

7 Ways to Make Your Characters Likeable

Not every character needs to be likeable—but if you want them to be, this is a great place to start.

If you need resources, read…

NaNoWriMo Resources

Couldn’t find what you need on our blog? This post has links to all sorts of external resources.

There’s an App for That!

This post shares the best apps for writers, no matter what your writerly needs may be.