Megan Norris Jones
My writing background is in journalism, and every good journalist learns how to write under deadline. You have a story due. You report it. You write it. You turn it in. You repeat. Because your editor is counting on you. And because it really is going to be published with your name on it, so it had better be good.
But even though I know how to write on deadline, I have difficulty moving my fiction forward at the same efficient pace of my nonfiction because (1) there is no editor waiting on it, and (2) I have no assurance it will ever be published anyway.
So how can I simulate the efficiency-producing deadlines of journalism in my fiction writing? Through a combination of written deadlines and external accountability. Continue reading
The WriteOwls wish you a Happy New Year. As we begin 2018, we encourage you to reflect on the writing life you had in 2017. Celebrate your accomplishments, and assess where you fell short of your writing goals. Spend today setting new goals for the upcoming year. Do you want to create a more efficient writing routine or simply get into the habit of writing every day? Check back in with us for tips and encouragement during our upcoming Write by Midnight series. Whether your goal is specific – I will write 1,000 words every day – or broad – I will outline a new novel this year, we invite you to share your aspirations with us here. What do you hope to accomplish in your writing life in 2018?