Kelly’s Pick: Book in a Month

Kelly's thoughts on Book in a Month:

I get so many proposals from people who want to do books that explore the fear and self-doubt associated with writing and creativity. And, while it’s true that there’s a certain amount of fear associated with any large undertaking, I remain absolutely unconvinced that dwelling on it or snuggling up with it is all that helpful to the creative process.

So, when people ask me what I love most about Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, I tell them the truth: It’s a light-hearted yet thorough guide to novel writing that helps you stay goal-oriented and upbeat about your writing progress.

The book shows you how to:

• Set realistic goals and monitor your progress
• Select a story topic that will continue to inspire you throughout the writing process
• Quickly outline your entire story so that you have a clear idea of how your plot and characters are going to develop before you start writing
• Draft each act of your story by focusing on specific turning points
• Keep track of the areas you want to revise without losing your momentum in the middle of your story
• Relax and have fun—you are, after all, doing something you love

You’ll also learn how to manage your time so that your writing life has room to flourish. In this excerpt, for instance, you’ll find four tips to help you make time to write, including techniques for balancing time management with self management.

The heart of Book in a Month, though, is dedicated to its exclusive 30-day novel writing system. Comprehensive instruction and detailed interactive worksheets guide you through the whole process from that first story summary to that memorable closing line.

Writing a book is hard work, and you certainly may run into a few rough patches from time to time, but the trick is to keep moving. Just remember to stay focused on your goal, on your story’s forward momentum, and you’ll get there.

Kelly Nickell is the executive editor for Writer’s Digest Books. Check out all of Kelly's Writer's Digest Picks by clicking here.