Update... WIP

Hey, it's me, Magi. My mom is busy writing her new book, so I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be in the new book. This is the second time she's written me into one of her novels. I'm so excited!

She decided to take me along on her travels to a magical land. Because I go everywhere with her anyway. But I really like this new world she's dragged me into.

She won't let me say too much about the story yet, but I can tell you that it's about the magic of words, and coffee!

Writers Need Coffee

It's true. Writers do need coffee. It's a known fact.

I've got some exciting news... 

I'm starting a new series for writers...

Can't say too much about it at the moment because it's just starting to brew, but I can tell you it will involve coffee and writing—the two things that Mocha Latte (of Novel Quest) loves. She'll be in the first book and she's going on a magical, novel-writing adventure.

I thought it would be fun to begin this series in Camp NaNoWriMo. I'll be updating and offering insights into my journey throughout the month.

New Year, New Novel

 If you're a writer, I'll bet one of your New Year's Resolutions is to write a novel. Me, too. 

This is a wonderful goal, a beautiful dream, but the reality might not match up, at least in the beginning. It takes a lot of time and effort to write a novel. Not trying to discourage you, just saying that every writer, no matter how many books you've written, whether they're bestsellers or flops, all start out the same way. With the first word, and your perseverance to push through the crappy first draft.

It happens to all of us. When I begin a new book (and I've written a lot of books), and I'm sitting at my computer looking at a blank page, all the scribbled notes I have, and all the thoughts I have in my head about the novel, seem to evaporate and I'm looking at a blank screen. I can see the finished novel in my mind, and I know it will eventually find its way onto paper, BUT I tend to trip myself up when first beginning a new book. 

There's a phrase for this and it's called First Word Phobia. I experience this Every. Single. Time. The only way to get through it is to just put your butt in the chair and type words. Any words. Maybe just notes to yourself about the novel you're writing. Just to get something down on paper. Once you've got a few pages, first word phobia disappears, like magic. Because your muse takes over. Your characters start whispering to you. The words start to grow, tripping over each other to get written on the page.

You can do this. I can do this. You can write a new novel in the new year. Go for it! Do it!

The Truth About Writer's Block

You knew it would happen, didn't you? You were expecting it, waiting for it, wondering why it was taking so long to show up. And now it's here. You're a writer and you're blocked. You have writer's block.

Can I tell you something? Writer's block doesn't exist. Someone made it up to torture writers. You were expecting it to happen to you because you've heard other people complaining about it and maybe you've read books about writer's block—written by writers—and they should know what they're talking about.

And worse, maybe those writers said how hard it is to write a novel, that it's a struggle, and that you have to slog through the inevitable drudgery of writing and fight for every word that comes crawling to you.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. None of it is true, and you know that not one word of it is true. Writing isn't a chore, or drudgery, or something you have to grit your teeth and struggle through the best you can.

Real writers don't get writer's block. Writing is pure joy. It's the most awesome thing in the world. Being a writer is magical. Writing brings you happiness and you love being a writer. You know I'm telling you the truth. You're not blocked anymore. You never were. And those writers who have talked about writer's block only said those things to make you suffer.

You know the truth. You're writing a novel you're totally in love with. You're creating worlds and playing inside your imagination. You're writing words that are absolutely amazing, words that bring you joy and happiness simply because you're writing them, because you're writing a novel. You're awesome. You're a writer!! Excerpted from 30-Day Novel.