Craft Talk: how to write a book

are you ready for it?

Hello pumpkins!

Pumpkins and leaves and fall colds, oh my! Today is rainy and a bit chilly, but the country roads are dropping leaves in shades of sap green, ochre yellow, raw umber and burnt sienna (some of my favorite water colors…)

The October beauty is astounding. Are you seeing it? My father, who loves poetry (and has a bad fall cold), sent me this poem:

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Did you know? Elizabeth Barrett Browning (famed 19th century poet) struggled with chronic illness for most of her life and was often bedridden. She had to adjust to her circumstances to maintain a highly productive writing schedule, writing early in the morning before her symptoms became too severe and she was back in bed.

I’m inspired by those who figure out how to get the work done despite less-than-ideal circumstances - and I have yet to meet anyone without them.

You may have heard this stat: “81% of people feel they have a book in them - and that they should write it.” (New York Times Gift Link)

But writing a book is hard. Most people probably want to have written a book rather than actually writing it. Because - it’s hard.

“Without attempting to overdo the drama of the difficulty of writing, to be in the middle of composing a book is almost always to feel oneself in a state of confusion, doubt and mental imprisonment, with an accompanying intense wish that one worked instead at bricklaying.” -writer Joseph Epstein

True story. Not that I’ve ever been a bricklayer. You get the sentiment.

I think October is the perfect month to commit to a novel because what’s right around the corner? National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

I’ve started nearly all of my novels in November because I need inner and outer accountability and an organized challenge with a start and end date.

The daily goal is simple: 1,667 words per day.

There are 30 days in November, so by November 30th, you will have 50,000 words.

That’s a novel.

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“What if I don’t know how?”

Nobody starts knowing how.

Here are four people who have helped me IMMENSELY, and can help you, too:

1. Jessica Brody’s Save The Cat Writes a Novel is one of my essentials. I read and reread often. It’s one of the most enlightening, practical how-to writing books out there, with story examples ranging from Harry Potter to Gone Girl to Jane Austen.

2. KM Weilland’s Helping Writers Become Authors has been another essential. KM has a website and podcast I listen to ALL OF THE TIME. I’ve written the below story structure out, painted it, and printed it so many times I should have it memorized (and I pretty much do!) It’s a permanent fixture in my study.

   

3. Jennifer Lauck
   is a new teacher to me. She’s an international bestselling author and creative writing teacher, and has created a series of (FREE) mini-writing classes. Check out the first one Mini-Class #1: Plant Seeds of Greatness & Nurture Your Ideas into Blooming Concepts. (The series is free! I can’t believe it’s free bc it’s so good).

4. Julia, Accountability Buddy. You need an accountability buddy. And her name might not be Julia, but he or she needs to have a name. Trust me. You are doing something new and audacious and you need to announce that to the world - or at least to one person! That one person that you’re going to text or email or check in with everyday to say I GOT MY WORD COUNT! Huge dopamine hit.

   

   Dear Heart, I GOT MY WORD COUNT!!! Dear Brain, CONGRATULATIONS! Dopamine delivered!

   Trust me on this.

   It’s super important. By the middle of November, when you’re already exhausted just thinking about the Thanksgiving menu, hosting, and traveling and oh - you’ve reached the murky middle of your story and your brain starts to say things that are super unhelpful…you’re going to need that buddy to remind your brain that you are in charge of your own self-talk: BRAIN, WE GOT THIS.

   And if you need extra help facing your creative writing fears (or need to help your students with theirs), it’s

   Kelcey Ervick
   to the rescue with this delightful message on mindset! (I LOVE HER WORK).

   Plus, it’s way more fun to have a buddy. This year I have four new NaNo accountability buddies: Cope (daughter), Kaden (son-in-law), and Megan (friend!) We are all going to write a book in November and isn’t that so so fun???

Today’s mantra: I am a writer.

Because that is true. You are. It’s essential to tell the truth - esp to yourself.

“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

A haiku:

October writing

Characters and plot and pace

Build them they will come

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Are you in?

If not now, when?

Amy <3

p.s. I was struck with inspiration the other day whilst running through rain and yellow ochre leaves. What if instead of NaNoWriMo, we could do NaNoREADMo. RIGHT!? Turns out, others have had this idea, including

Austin Kleon

though it looks like momentum has waned. You could do THAT! Esp since kids are reading less than ever before! The Atlantic reports:The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books

To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.

By Rose Horowitch

😳

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Thanks for making this for us

Caroline Chambers

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The Last Part:

AM GRATEFUL: for the rain and gorgeous mums on my porch

AM TAKING: I’m on my second day of taking creatine per Dr. Mary Claire Haver. I also rotate between taking a multi-vitamin w/D&K, tumeric (joints), collagen + biotin (hair & nails). I could also use a brain boost vitamin - Magnesium L-Threonate?

AM THINKING: about something new. What if I sent a “box of book goodies” to one paid subscriber every month? I have so many fun ideas to put in this box (an autographed book, favorite writing book, book stickers, candle, treats, beauty…?!) Would this generate more paying subscribers? What else would subscribers pay for? Writing classes? Interviews with agents, editors, and authors? Tell me your ideas.

AM WEARING: fall is my favorite wardrobe season because I can wear my blundstone boots and new soft muji sweater with an old and oversized thrifted LL Bean barn coat for extra New Hampshire vibe layer.

AM Reading: We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han, the third installment of The Summer I Turned Pretty series. It’s true, I’m forever 15! Also, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

What are you reading?

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My Books:

The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair is part-mystery, part understanding of the human heart 💖

Ten Thousand Tries is Golden’s quest to save his dad and the soccer team ⚽

The McNifficents is one summer with six rambunctious kids and their miniature-schnauzer nanny 🐕 New Hampshire’s 2024 Great Reads for Kids selection!