Send to Kindleby Precarious Yates
You did it—you finished NaNoWriMo, you awesome writer, you!
You wrote that novel that boiled inside your bones for years, or weeks, or hours. You squeezed in 1,667 words a day around your work, your kids, previous commitments, Thanksgiving dinner.
Now what?
First of all, CELEBRATE! Enjoy your favorite food or cake, go ahead and make your favorite tea in the fine china.
Next, leave the book alone for a few days. I like to give it two weeks, so I can read the book with fresh eyes. During this time, indulge in other creative outlets—painting, cooking, knitting, scrapbooking, music.
Don’t stop writing, though. Journal, work on a different project, write letters. You’ve developed an amazing discipline through NaNoWriMo. That’s what I appreciate most about doing it, whether I write 50k or 5k words. This new discipline can launch your career.
Read. Read a lot. You just depleted a well. Fill it up again. Maybe swap with a fellow NaNoWriMo winner.
When you pick up your manuscript again, resurrect that editor you buried 30 days ago. Editing doesn’t have to be drudgery. It’s not just about commas. During editing, you take the rough sculpture you carved with words and polish it into a stunning masterpiece. Have fun, enjoy the process, and smile at how much more amazing you just made this book.
Lastly, find readers who will give honest feedback. But make sure you find those who will encourage as often or more often than they critique. You don’t have to incorporate everything that every reader says, but if two or more say the same thing, pay attention to that.
Once you do all these things, you will be ready to present this book to the world.
And the world will be a better place for all this awesome creativity released!
God bless you on your writing journey!
About the Author:
Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their big dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.
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