So, you are a writer and you are writing a novel, BUT you just can’t find the time to finish it. Are you procrastinating? Are you spending more time thinking about writing that novel, than you are writing it? Are you stuck at Chapter Three and you don’t know what should happen next? Are you wondering what could you possibly do, to make your fingers fly across the keyboard at lightening speeds to finish telling your story? What could you do that will inspire you and motivate you into finally completing your novel? Do you want to know the quickest way to rev up your word count and finish that novel? I have four answers for you:
- Use the BIC Method… Bum In Chair. The more often you place your butt in the chair in front of your laptop, and actually type more words into your manuscript, the faster you will finish that novel, provided you disconnect from the time-sucking internet first!
- Join thousands of other writers and authors and sign up for November’s International NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and keep pace with all your writer buddies across the world, by checking in with them on the NaNo website page, the NaNo Facebook Group or the NaNo Twitter Group. It’s still not too late, as it is only November 9th. There is plenty of time left.
- Sign up for a writing conference… and don’t just sign up to attend the conference, but sign up for a PitchFest that takes place during the conference. If you are still working on your novel, I suggest you finish it, and edit it about fifty times before you attend the conference. Make your novel ready for someone to read it. Make your novel ready for someone to want it, and not just want it, but they must really, really want it. You need to be able to intrigue someone into requesting the full manuscript from you. Why? Because your novel sounds like the ultimate novel they want to read and the perfect novel they think they can sell to publishers. (Ding! Ding! This is what you want, right?)
- Do ALL the above.
What is NaNoWriMo?
During the month of November, writers from around the world, come together, virtually and write at least 50,000 words towards their own novels. Some finish a novel, which might be called a novella, and some use the challenge to make them sit down, to begin a routine or habit of writing every day in hopes of typing at least 1667 words per day, which will give you a total of 50,000 words at the end of the month (November 30th). Sounds easy enough. Well, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You have to work around your busy life, working to pay the bills, doing chores, feeding kids, driving kids to sporting events, etc. It’s quite a challenge. I’ve been participating in NaNoWriMo for seven years, and have only made it to the 50K mark a few times.
If you would like to read more information on the challenge, go to this website: NaNoWriMo
What exactly is a PitchFest?
A PitchFest is where you can pitch your novel (hopefully, it’s a finished novel by the time you pitch) to some of the best literary agents, publishers, editors and producers in the writing and publishing business. I signed up to attend next year’s ThrillerFest and they have a full day dedicated to pitching to over 50 agents, publishers, editors, and producers attending the event in New York. There are plenty of success stories, of people finding their perfect matchup (it’s like eHarmony or Match.com, only it’s for writers and agents, not lovers). Over the years, PitchFest at ThrillerFest has become the world’s largest gathering of top literary agents, publishers, editors, and producers looking for the next bestseller AND, that could be your novel! All you have to do is pitch your manuscript to as many agents as you have the time and energy to meet. I suggest researching them first, to find out who will represent your kind of novel. No point in wasting their time or yours.
Are the people you are pitching to the real deal?
Every agent, publisher, editor, and producer who attends is actively seeking thriller manuscripts, and many are looking for other things in addition: mystery, romance, suspense, non-fiction, paranormal/supernatural, and many other genres. Always review the bios of the attendees to find out what each person is looking for and what they’re not looking for.
Really, what’s the worst thing to happen to you if you participate in PitchFest?
- You might pee your pants due to your heightened amounts of fear (pack extra pants in the suitcase). This happens to most introverts, who find it hard to be in a room with so many people… and to the people who have no idea what their novel is about, once the person starts asking extra questions, after you finish saying your elevator pitch. Be prepared with answers. Know your novel inside and out.
- Worst case scenario: If there is no one remotely interested in your manuscript (which is incredibly rare, considering there are 50 different people to meet and impress), going through the process of pitching is still a great experience, which will turn out quite valuable for you in the long run. Your nerves will have subsided, you will have made valuable contacts for future manuscripts, and possibly you may receive feedback on your presentations, not to mention, every experience is a learning experience. It will give you inspiration to edit some more and strengthen your novel to try the pitching adventure again.
I have chosen to attend ThrillerFest because I’m trying to write a Thriller/Suspense novel, but if you write in another genre, guaranteed, there is a conference out there for you to attend. Use Google to help you narrow the search down. Or ask other writer friends. There are lots of ways to challenge yourself and make those fears disappear. Just do it. Write a novel and show somebody… a somebody who can actually make some magic happen for you.
Good luck on finishing, pitching and selling that novel as the next BESTSELLER. For more information about ThrillerFest, go HERE.
