This past weekend, I took my first creative writing class in years! It took me a couple of days to decide which one I wanted to sign up for, because as I scrolled through the Grub Street catalog, I realized I wanted to take all the classes. I was especially interested in the several weeks-long … More 2020 Novel-Editing Challenge: I took a worldbuilding class!

Over the winter holidays, I made a pledge to myself that I would be disciplined about editing my novel in 2020! Here’s a quick update: I’ve re-read the novel. I took a deep breath and dove in. I think it was helpful that I’d taken some time off from working on the novel. It allowed … More 2020 Novel-Editing Challenge!

I know it’s been a while since I last posted here! Life has been busy and full of thrilling ups and painful downs these past several months. But one of the things I’m excited about, going into 2020, is the chance to make my 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge into a work I can be proud of. … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge: Editing my way into 2020!

I just made it to 50,018 words and officially have a novel-length work of fiction. The problem? It’s not finished. In order for this to actually become a novel, in my mind, it should have a beginning, middle, and end. The end seems to be the hard part here. Furthermore, up until now, I’ve been … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge, Week 12

This post is a bit late due to recent travels and other events! I spent most of last week in Philadelphia and the long weekend in Brooklyn, New York. Fun and rejuvenating, but I did fall a little behind. I managed to make it to 47,562 words. I’m getting there! I’m excited for the moment … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge, Week 11

Finished my first full week of writing after returning from hiatus! There was one day when I wasn’t able to sit down and get in my 555 words, but I made up for it the following day by writing double the usual amount. Maybe in part because I had to take a hiatus, I feel … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge, Week 10

A combination of personal and professional reasons caused me to drop this project for almost exactly 2 months. Yesterday, after 2 amazing years at Education First/Go Ahead Tours, I left my job. After a month off, I’ll join the engineering team at a video software company called Wistia. What I’m most excited for about my … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge: Return from Hiatus

I finished up Week 9 at 38,587 words. I did take two days in a row off from writing this week. I could tell you it was because my partner was in town, and there was a resulting mad whirlwind of social activity, but that just feels like an excuse. I’m working on getting back … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge, Week 9

I got back into the swing of things, writing 555 words each night this week, and ended the week with 34,923 words! The process of producing those 555 words feels constipated these days. I’m working a lot more slowly, procrastinating a lot more, and seeing more drops of blood on the forehead, so to speak. … More 2019 Novel-Writing Challenge, Week 8