Okay I’m a big nerd and find quotes really inspiring and helpful. So if this is for you too, awesome. If not, skip 😅 “This is a game of tenacity that can’t break you if you don’t give up.” -Jennifer Nielsen

Is there a record out there for the longest time it took to write a book? Because I've written many things in my time, short stories, comics scripts, articles, reviews, narrative verse... But the novel-length thing I've been poking at has been a wip for SO LONG I'm beginning to despair. Many things have gotten in the way over the years, not the least of which have been depression and a certain toxic family member, but still. Anyone know? Someone please tell me something out there took like, 40 years to write.

For the 30k in 30 Days challenge, I have been writing a WIP I had only begun the day before. So out of wanting to meet this goal, I didn’t form any outline for it. I just went straight into pantsing the first draft. As I have been working on it, however, I’ve been noticing that this feels more like a collection of not-very-cohesive scenes instead of a story. Besides the characters and setting, I’m not seeing much of a thematic through-line or arc to this thing. Has anyone run into this before? And if so, what have you done?

It's not a competition with other writers. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaVOg_jj3S4/?igsh=NWFlbGY3MDBqc3Rw

"I don't know what The Algorithm wants." This is the most common phrase I hear from authors trying to grow on social media. I have a secret. I know what it wants. The algorithm just wants people to stay on social media. That means it wants content that grabs attention fast, keeps it for a minute, and encourages them to stay for more. How do you do that, though? You tell me, you're the author. How do you do it in a book? How do you hook them with a great first line, make their tummy tickle in the first chapter, and get them to read 'just one more'? Don't worry about what The Algorithm wants, just give your audience what they want. Tell good stories.