Write. Rewrite. Repeat.

One Writer’s Journey

Some projects linger on our to-do lists far too long. For me, starting this blog has been one of them. The irony? I was an early adopter of blogging and even built a career helping others use it as a marketing tool. I know the power of consistent writing — and now I’m finally ready to use it for my own goals.

I’ve learned there’s no perfect moment to begin. Life doesn’t hand us ideal conditions; it hands us now. And I flourish when there’s accountability and deadlines — which is why I’m jumping into this October blogging challenge.

Lessons from NaNoWriMo

In 2021, I signed up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a creative writing challenge where writers commit to drafting 50,000 words of a manuscript in November. I completed the challenge in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Those projects generated material that ranged from deeply personal (grappling with my husband’s suicide) to a coming-of-age story to a corporate thriller.

In 2021 and 2022, I proved to myself that I could write with discipline and volume. But I also discovered the limitations of “pantsing” — writing “by the seat of your pants,” without an outline. My first two efforts left me with drafts that were impossible to edit.

Embracing Structure

That lesson pushed me to embrace structure — and to discover Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, a framework for turning raw ideas into a workable story. I committed to devote October to preparing an outline to guide my November writing.

At the end of NaNoWriMo 2023, I had a solid draft of a novel. This was a significant achievement, one that I am immensely proud of. According to NaNoWriMo, only 10–15% of people who start the challenge actually complete it. That sense of accomplishment continues to fuel my writing journey.

The Hard Truth About Rewriting

What I quickly learned was that completing a draft was only the first step on a long journey to producing a novel that’s ready to publish.

“Books aren’t written—they’re rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn’t quite done it.”
— Michael Crichton

Where I Am Now

On the journey from draft to debut novel, I’ve overcome obstacles and learned about myself, both as a writer and a person. As the second November since completing the first draft of my novel rolls around, I’m more determined than ever to publishing it.

That’s where I am now: rewriting to create a novel that will engage readers from the opening paragraph.

Over the next month, I’ll be posting regularly — sharing my progress as I refine my prose, hone my craft, and expand my platform.

I’d love for you to follow along, leave a comment, and share your own experiences.