Nour Zikra's Blog, page 4

Should You Do NaNoWriMo Or Is It a Bad Idea?

For those who do not know, NaNoWriMo stands for National November Writing Month. This event urges all writers to write 50,000 words or finish their novels in just 30 days. Why November? Who knows, but this month has been the month for writers to get their acts together and start working. The only question is, is NaNoWriMo a good idea or will it only give you an awful first draft?

As an author, I personally do not follow all of NaNoWriMo’s rules. In fact, I think it is insane to write 50,000 words just for the sake of having 50,000 words down. Because, you know what, those 50,000 words are most likely going to be nonsense and you will have to delete them from your manuscript after November.

However, I still believe in the general purpose of NaNoWriMo, which is to get writers writing. In other words, you do not need to put 50,000 words on paper just for the sake of meeting a deadline. Yet you should write and write persistently. To become an advanced writer, writing daily even if just for half an hour is a must. Words might be hard to put down on paper, but that is totally okay. What is important is that you sit and work toward your goal.

NaNoWriMo regularly pushes writers to meet that 50,000-word deadline. Though no good story should ever be rushed. So take your time, plan out your story, create well-rounded characters, picture your setting, and get writing. Write in November during NaNoWriMo. But write in December and January too and every month of the year. Write daily and vigorously. You might not have a finished first draft in November. It could take three months of six months or two years to finish your novel. What matters is that you get writing.

So, is NaNoWriMo a bad idea? Not at all. However, write with purpose. Do not just put random words on paper for the sake of meeting a word count rule. That would be a waste of time and effort.

If you have found this blog helpful, be sure to share it and check out my other blog posts on writing, stories, and everything books. You can also find me on social media!

When to Use a Comma vs. a Semicolon

A comma and a semicolon are siblings, but they are not twins. In other words, they are NOT interchangeable. In fact, you should only use a semicolon when you have two independent clauses (sentences) without a conjunction (and, but, if, etc.).

You should use a comma when separating words in the same sentence.

Example: Ben ate an apple, a banana, and a peach. CORRECT

You should also use a comma when you have two independent clauses (sentences) connected by a conjunction (and, but, if, etc.).

Example: Sherry went to the store, and she bought celery sticks. CORRECT

If you separate the two independent clauses, you get two sentences: 1) Sherry went to the store. 2) She bought celery sticks.

However, you should never put a comma if you do NOT have two independent clauses.

Example: Sherry went to the store, she bought celery sticks. INCORRECT

If you do not have a conjunction (and, but, if, etc.) and you do not have two independent clauses, do NOT put a comma.

Example: Sherry went to the store and bought celery sticks. CORRECT

This is one sentence because “bought celery sticks” is not an independent clause and therefore is not a sentence on its own. If you were to divide this sentence into two, it would not make sense and it would be incorrect.

Example: 1) Sherry went to the store. 2) Bought celery sticks. INCORRECT

Another instance to use a comma is when there is a natural pause in speech.

Example: She thought to herself, when will I ever go there? CORRECT

Example: She thought to herself when will I ever go there? INCORRECT

Example: Whatever it takes, I will make it. CORRECT

Example: Whatever it takes I will make it. INCORRECT

As for semicolons, they can be used in the place of conjunctions (and, but, if, etc.) when you have two independent clauses (sentences). So, if you are tired of saying “and” and want to change the pace of your sentences, you could insert a semicolon.

Example: Sherry went to the store; she bought celery sticks. CORRECT

As you can see, the semicolon simply replaces the comma and the word “and” in this sentence while still indicating that this sentence is actually two sentences in one. If you replace the semicolon with a comma, it no longer indicates that there are two independent clauses, which is wrong, as shown above.

Bonus semicolon example: Sherry likes tomatoes; however, she does not like potatoes. CORRECT

If you take this sentence and separate the independent clauses, you get this: “Sherry likes tomatoes. However, she does not like potatoes.” Which is also correct.

If you’ve found this blog helpful, be sure to check out my other blogs and follow me on social media, as I will be regularly posting helpful tips on writing.

Short Horror Story: The Boy I Drove Home

I drive down Wickery Street everyday when I get off work. Not a lot of people take this street because of its worn-down pavements (you can thank the snow for that). But I love the view from here. There’s something about the blossoming flowers growing on trees in shades of red, pink, and white that looks out of this world.

            So everyday at six-thirty in the evening, you can find my old Ford sedan inching over the rickety ground through this lonely street.

            You see, there’s nothing unusual about this place…other than the yellow crime tape wrapped around the entrance to a forest where a kid’s corpse was found ten years ago. I was twenty then. How young, how naïve I was.

            But yesterday, I saw a little boy, maybe eleven years old, standing by his lonesome at the edge of Wickery Street by the entrance to that forest. He noticed me as soon as my Ford’s tires started grinding against the rough ground.

            Keep in mind that the sky had already turned dark with only a hint of blue in the distance. Also keep in mind that I have terrific eyesight. So, imagine my shock when I saw this boy in the near dark just watching me.

            Obviously, I stopped, rolled down my window, and said, “Are you alright, kiddo?”

            The boy smiled. It was a boyish smile, but it made the hairs on my back stand up. Why? you ask. Well, you see, his eyes were pitch black and did not reflect emotion. While his smile was human, the rest of him was…how do I put it? Dead.

            “I got lost,” he said. “I need to get back home.”

            Blinking a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining his soulless eyes was pointless. Of course his eyes were pitch black! I’m not blind, after all. Far from it. Like I said, my eyesight is fantastic.

I found myself speaking again. “How did you get here? Where are your parents?”

            The boy moved closer, his dark eyes lingering at the empty backseat of my car. “A man brought me here.”

            “A man?”

            The boy nodded. “Give me a ride back home.” It was a demand, not a question.

            “A ride where?”

            “To my house.”

            “Oh. Why don’t we call your parents first?” I didn’t want to have my face plastered all over the news for allegedly kidnapping a boy.

            “Well, my parents are both at work. The man who brought me dropped me off a few blocks away from home.”

            “Oh, I see now! You live nearby.”

            He nodded.

            “Okay, then. Come on in.” I unlocked the car and let him inside. “Where should I go from here?”

            He pointed for me to drive straight before giving me further directions. By the end of his navigation, my car was parked in front of a deserted building.

            “This isn’t a house,” I said.

            “Yeah, but we live here.”

            “In this building?”

            “Yeah.”

            There was a sign at the building’s window that read “Evacuate Immediately.”

            “Are you sure this is where you live?”

            “Yeah. Here, come take a peek from the window. You can see our living room.”

            What the heck, I thought. I’d just take a peek, clear my doubts, and get going. That was the plan. But the next thing I know, I had my face against the window and the kid smacked me in the back. I felt something cold seep through me, and when I looked down my shoulder, there was a knife jammed inside me.

            “What have you done?” I screamed.

            “He…he said I need to kill someone to live.”

            “What? Who said that?”

            “The man.” The boy took two steps away from me. “Now I’ll live and you’ll die, and you’ll have to find a ride and get a replacement to live again.”

            “What are you saying, kiddo?”

            He just left, and I never saw him again.

            So here we are now. Back on Wickery Street. And look at my shock when I saw you! You were driving your red Chevy just like I used to drive my Ford. Can you believe it? Yes, I swear I am dead. Do you not see my pitch-black eyes? Yes, they are real; you do not need to blink like that. Anyway, will you give me a ride?

 

If you liked my short story, please be sure to like it and share it with the world! You can also find me on social media for some more cool posts and stories!

In a Parallel Universe, I was Killed: A Short Story

In a parallel universe, one with another Nour who looks like me but has a slightly different life, I was probably murdered or sold as a slave last week. Luckily, I do not live in that universe and I am fine.

Why do I believe that such a thing occurred to my other parallel universe-self? Because my intelligent brain shut off for a split second and I did something ridiculously stupid last week. I typically follow my gut and stay aware of my surroundings, but this time I didn’t do any of that. Here’s what happened: I followed a stranger down a back-alley type of place.

Before you scream at your computer screen (or cell phone) and call me bad names, I want you to read a short story of what really went down. I am still alive today, after all. So clearly nothing bad happened. Thankfully. But I still believe my parallel universe-self has been harmed. So sorry, Nour #2.

Without further ado, enjoy this short true story:

For whatever reason, my two friends and I thought it was a good idea to walk down a popular street in Orlando during one of the most humid nights that month. We walked the length of the street, then turned around and headed back in the direction of where we parked the car. Nothing was unusual. In fact, it was a dull Thursday night. Half the people walking the street were older couples.

My brain went into cruise control and my thoughts drifted as we walked mostly in silence. Then a young woman, heading our way, slowed down and smiled.

“Hey, ladies,” she said, pulling a red lollipop out of her mouth. “How’s it going?”

I was the first of my friends to slow down. “Hi. We’re good. How are you?”

“I’m doing great. What are you up to?”

“Just walking.”

“Oh, cool. Well, if you’re interested, there’s an art show down there.” She pointed across a dimly lit building. “There’s a band, you can get drinks, and you can even paint and win some art. I have three tickets and can get you in if you’d like.”

I mimicked her tone. “Oh, cool.” In truth, I didn’t feel like being social with strangers or getting drinks or painting or dancing. The humidity of the night was getting to me. Home was where I wanted to be. But I looked at my friends. “What do you think? Do you want to go?” I hoped they’d say no. I was, in fact, hoping they would so I wouldn’t have to say no myself.

“Sure,” one of my friends said, looking not so much interested but more so saying yes because I’d asked the question and she didn’t want to say no.

I realized then my mistake. I shouldn’t have asked my friends. I should have just said NO.

So, there we were, following this stranger beside a dimly lit building.

“Are you one of the artists?” I asked.

“No.” She sucked on her lollipop as she walked and talked. “But I do direct this event. We actually do this every weekend, and next month we’re doing a Halloween-themed event with alcohol blood bags and a human sacrifice.”

“Oh, okay.”

The word “human sacrifice” rang in my head, but my gut instincts decided to stay silent.

We kept walking until we neared the back of a building, also dimly lit and empty. I slowed down, realizing that perhaps following a stranger at night wasn’t the wisest choice. I heard my friends whisper behind me that we might get mugged. I was sure the lady up ahead couldn’t hear them since she was far ahead of where I stood and they were far behind me.

She pulled open a metal door, making the empty lot creak with noise. “Right through here.”

“Um . . .” I was hesitant to move.

“Nour,” my friend whispered.

I looked back and nodded, knowing full well what she was thinking.

Inching slowly toward the door, I peeked in while maintaining distance. There was a small hallway with a hanging faint white light which led to another door. This was a scene straight out of a movie.

“I know it looks scary,” the lady said, “but I promise it’s not.”

The door down the hallway opened a smidge, and I glimpsed actual artwork hanging on the walls and positioned on tables. My mind calmed down and I walked in with my friends following. Right behind the second door sat a woman collecting tickets. Funny enough, she held a sleeping baby squirrel in her hand. As soon as I saw the adorable animal, my worries went out the door and I was petting the squirrel’s head.

My friends and I did not get murdered that night. We did not get robbed. We did not get abducted. We simply sauntered through a small art show (which had been closing) and feigned interest. Then, we slipped out the door and hurried back to our car.

However, while I was lucky, I am still certain a Nour in another parallel universe was not as lucky.

Moral of the story: Don’t follow strangers, even if they look harmless. I made a stupid decision and luckily did not get hurt. Yet that is not always the case. A simple mistake like this can change a person’s life. I will not be following strangers again (even to art shows with baby squirrels).

The End.

 

What did you think of my little adventure and story? Let me know in the comments below!

Can Evil or Immoral Characters Be Protagonists?

Can evil or immoral characters be protagonists? The answer is absolutely! After all, what exactly is a protagonist if not the hero of one’s own story. If you think about it, people, good or bad, all think they are the heroes of their own tale. Everything they do is for a cause.

Stop and think of Walter White from Breaking Bad. Is Walter a bad man? Many of us would agree that he is indeed immoral. He constantly makes wicked choices to earn money. However, he does these wicked choices for a reason: He needs to save money for his cancer treatment and to support his family even after he is gone. His motives are for a good cause, but that does not make him a good man. Walter is the protagonist of his own story. We, the viewers, do not want him to get caught. We want him to keep cooking meth, keep saving money, and keep dodging the cops and anyone out to kill him. He is the perfect example of an immoral character who just happens to be a protagonist.

Let’s face it, we love immoral protagonists. They make us see the darkness that is buried in all of us. Are we not all capable of breaking the rules for a good cause?

“The ends justify the means.” —Niccolo Machiavelli

Years ago, in a psychology class I had to take, we discussed when a bad action is justified. For instance, we came up with several scenarios. One of them was a poor kid stealing medication from a drug store to save his dying mother who cannot afford to pay for the medication. Is the kid’s action justified? Although it is immoral, many students agreed that they would do the same if they were in a similar circumstance. Likewise, evil or immoral characters force us to think of ourselves in scenarios that bring out a little darkness in us. And that is exactly why we love these twisted protagonists!

What do you think of immoral characters as protagonists? Let us know in the comments below!

A Book Review: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Let me start my book review off by mentioning that Lord of Shadows (the second in the Dark Artifices trilogy) is one of my favorite books. In fact, a lot of Cassandra Clare’s books, including Lady Midnight (the first book in the same trilogy), make it to my list of favorite books. If you are not familiar with these two books, you might recognize their predecessors City of Bones, City of Ashes, and the list goes on. . . So, without further ado, here is what I thought of this thrilling novel:

My expectations were high going into this book, and I was not let down. For that, I give this book five stars. Lord of Shadows follows the story of shadowhunters Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn and Julian’s siblings on their journey to end the Cold Peace, fight the evil coming their way, and, for Emma and Julian, figure out how to deal with their forbidden love for each other. Emma and Julian are parabatai, which is a bond more powerful than marriage. Their bond even makes them stronger shadowhunters, but it also forbids them from falling in love. If love takes place, it could consume and destroy not only them but the people around them.

For most of the book, Emma tries to lead Julian into thinking she does not love him, and that just makes for major conflicts. This is what us writers like to call “the slow burn” because it entices reader. After all, we love the things we cannot have, and the longer Emma and Julian stay apart the more we want them together.

Of course, this book delves into other matters too, such as Mark Blackthorn’s conflicts with his love interests (yes, plural) and his issues with the faerie realm (of which half of his genetics come from). Add lots of action and fight scenes and a couple of deaths, and you’ve got any lover of fantasy hooked.

In all honestly though, I found myself heartbroken at the end of the book. I won’t spoil anything, so you’ll just have to read the book yourself to learn what happens. But I am not in the best emotional state right now thanks to Ms. Clare. Like everyone else, I’ll just have to wait for the next book to come.

Favorite Quotes from the Novel

“‘Break my heart,’ he said. ‘Break it in pieces. I give you permission.’”

“As if you have discovered a beach you have been visiting all your life is made not of sand but of diamonds, and they blind you with their beauty.”

“Diamonds might be blinding in their beauty, but they were also the hardest and sharpest gems in the world. They could cut you or grind you down, smash and slice you apart. Malcolm, deranged with love, had not thought of that. But Julian could think of nothing else.”

 

Have you read or planning on reading Lord of Shadows? If you need to vent about the heartbreaking scenes of this novel, I’m right there with you. Leave me a message in the comments below or contact me from my website or on social media. I would love to discuss this amazing book with you!

Author Q&A: “What’s Your Next Step, Nour?”

There comes a time in every writer’s journey where people stop and ask them what their next step will be now that they have finished their novel. Along those lines, I am proud to say that I’ve completed my second novel. But before you start asking me when the publication date will be (which, by the way, I don’t have the answer to), you should know a few things.

What’s Your Next Step, Nour?

As of right now, I have several beta readers reading my book and giving me feedback. After that, I will be doing these things, in order:

1. Revising, revising, revising. There is nothing worse than a book with flaws. This is where my patience gets tested, but that’s okay, I’m a pro at this.

2. Reading my book one last time and having a trusted reader give me yet another feedback.

3. Submitting a query letter to literary agents and waiting and praying that my book gets picked up.

As you can see, nowhere on that list is a publishing date for my novel. Because I simply don’t know when my book will get published. If, God willing, an agent sees how spectacular my book is, good things will come. But it’s all in good time.

Thank you for being patient with me on my journey as an author. I promise it’ll be worthwhile!

Organize Your Life and End Writer’s Block for Good

Writer’s block is a writer’s nightmare. However, you don’t have to live with it. In fact, you can kick it in the gut and tell it to leave you for good. How? By organizing your life, silly! I know it sounds crazy to think that getting rid of writer’s block is that simply, but it is. Bear with me here so I can fully explain.

The “No Time” Excuse is A Total Lie You Tell Yourself

I used to make this excuse a lot, even while in the midst of writing my novel. I would wake up late and go to sleep late and tell myself I was being a writer. Then, I would sit down to write at six in the evening, feel tired because I just wanted to rest from everything else I did that day, and end up only writing a page or less. My excuse, “I just don’t have time to write.” The truth is, I did have time, but I didn’t organize it the way I should have.

Instead, I now do this:

8:30 a.m. Wake up, get ready, eat breakfast.

9:30 a.m. Write for two hours.

11:30 a.m. Do other work and eat lunch somewhere in there.

5:30 p.m./6:00 p.m. Eat dinner, then write some more.

8:00 p.m. Rest, watch TV, do something fun.

12:00 a.m. Go to bed.

Obviously, I now give myself enough time to do everything. Plus, because I wake up early, I get to do what matters to me first thing because I have enough time to do everything else after. So, I end up writing for a minimum of two hours and feel rewarded. This prevents staring at an empty page feeling sorry for myself because I’m too tired to think or write about anything.

Prioritize Your Writing

Another thing I learned from organizing my time was prioritizing my writing. Sure, I really wanted to watch my favorite show on Netflix, but that wasn’t productive. Thus, I told myself to write first and watch my show later. I now watch TV only at night (around 8) and do my writing first thing in the morning.

If you have a busy schedule that prevents you from writing early in the day, consider writing first thing when you get home. You might be tired, but you should always put your priority for writing first. Eat dinner, take a 20-minute nap, then wake up and write for at least two hours.

Stop Telling Yourself You Have No Idea What to Write About

You’re a writer, for story’s sake. This is your job! No one can tell you what to write about; only you can. Find anything to write about and write it. If you’re still feeling stuck, tell yourself you’re being too critical and just pick a random subject and start writing.

Have you ever transferred schools or moved from one city to another? That’s a great story right there. Create a character who struggles with a new move.

Have you ever witnessed a tragedy? Share it with the world!

Have you ever had a broken heart? Tell people about it through your character.

The stories are endless. You don’t have to have a perfect idea. Start somewhere, stop delaying, and write your novel!

 

End writer’s block once and for all by organizing your life and getting your priorities straight. You’ll notice a difference immediately if you try!

Looking for something new to read? Check out my book Dance with the Devil. You can read the first few chapters right here:

A Book Review: Why Writers Need “Master Lists for Writers”

Recently, I stumbled upon another author’s blog. Bryn Donovan is a romance writer, and I did not know about her until a few weeks ago when I found myself stuck with words during my own novel-writing session. For those who don’t know, I have been working on my second novel and I just hit page 200, so losing words this far into the game was not something I wanted to deal with. I wanted to keep writing. So, after researching how to illustrate a specific emotional description, I came across Donovan’s blog. And from her blog, I was led to her book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More.

Why This Book Is Helpful

Not all writers struggle in the same areas. For that reason, this reference book might not be for everyone. For me, however, it was exactly what I needed to continue writing without disrupting my creative flow.

For some of us writers, writing is the most difficult job in the world, not because we do not know how to write but because we are too critical of each word we put on paper. Thomas Mann summed this up in his quote: “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” So, it is not a surprise that words can just vanish from our heads at the exact moment we need them most. I often find myself searching for a word that is on the tip of my tongue without being able to recall that word. I end up having to find that word through its synonyms. And usually, its synonyms are slightly off from the specific image I want to portray, which drives me mad until I discover the word.

Donovan’s book focuses on moments like these, breaking down different words, descriptions, phrases, and more into categories so that writers can quickly jump to the right section, find the word they need (or something similar), and go back to writing.

Of course, the lists in this book are by no means complete (this is not an encyclopedia for writers). In fact, Donovan mentions early on that these lists are meant to help writers find what they are looking for if they are stuck in thought, but those lists might also help the writer come up with a better word for his/her book or lead the writer to research further for other words.

The way I have used this book so far goes something like this: I am writing and get stuck rummaging through my head for the right word, I jump to Master Lists for Writers and find the list that most fits what I am looking for (like the list “50 Actions that Show Animosity” or the list “Physical Descriptions”), and I glance quickly through the list. Most of the time, I find exactly what my brain forgot in that moment, and if that’s not the case, I do an Internet search using a synonym until I find the right word.

What This Book is Missing

While I think this book is great, I do wish it included more lists, such as “Architectural Descriptions.” The more lists the quicker writing becomes. Still, it is impossible to fill a book with never-ending lists, which is why I am fine with the quantity of lists found in this book. Though this book has its limit, it is certainly jam-packed with great descriptions, phrases, and even ideas for the story you are writing.

Why I’m Recommending This Book for Writers Like Me

In my opinion, this book is fantastic for that quick remembrance process, especially if you do not want to waste time reading page after page of Internet sites describing what you are looking for. If you are the type of writer who does not randomly have writer’s block for specific words, then this book isn’t for you. Though, if you are like me in this sense, then this book can make your life a whole lot easier and help you continue writing.

Be sure to check out Donovan’s blog by clicking here. You can also find Donovan’s book Master Lists for Writers below:

Looking for something new to read? Check out my book Dance with the Devil. You can read the first few chapters right here:

5 Things You Should Do at the End of NaNoWriMo

In just 13 more days, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) will come to an end. Can you believe we have already gone through half a month of writing? At this point, you should be halfway done with your novel. If you have written around 25,000 words so far then give yourself a pat on the back because you have done a great job! Even if you did not reach this word count but you still sat down and wrote every day (or more often than before), be sure to congratulate yourself. Now is the time to start thinking of your plans once November ends. What will you do with the 50,000 words you wrote? If you think your work is done, you are far from correct. Here are 5 things you should do at the end of this writing month:

Take a Few Weeks’ Break from Your Novel

It is important to take a break from your novel after NaNoWriMo ends or you’ll be too close to the story and writing to see the flaws. Even the greatest, most successful writers do this. In Stephen King’s book On Writing, King advised all writers to take a break once they are done writing their novel. The longer you wait, the better. However, I think it is perfectly fine to look at your novel after a one month break.

Read Over Your Novel

You cannot start diving into your novel right away, editing the written words and adding plot and destroying characters. You should read your story from beginning to end to remind yourself what went wrong and see where things do not work. You might find that your plot lacks clarity, or that one of your characters seems suspicious for no reason whatsoever. You might even realize that your suspicious character could have a bigger, more devious role to the overall plot. Thus, reading your story is crucial.

Tip: Take notes while reading and highlight important areas.

Revise Your Novel

Now that you know where your story lacks depth, you can go back and revise. Give your characters a strong backstory (what makes them who they are?). Fix the bad grammar, the confusing lines, and the unnatural dialogue. Add a setting if you did not do so during NaNoWriMo. Setting is a great way to center the reader and make him/her feel like they are part of that world. Setting should include the following:

Time period (present day, 18th century, future, etc.)
Location
Time of year (is it cold, hot, both?)
Details of the setting that relate particularly to that time (for instance, if the story takes place in November, you would describe the pumpkins decorating homes)
Smells that go with this setting (pumpkin spice lattes, cinnamon toast, candy canes)

This is also the perfect time to make sure you have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Think back to middle school and high school when the teacher drilled the story arc to the class. Your novel needs to have a set-up (Act I), an inciting incident or trigger, a rising action, a crisis (Act II), a climax, falling action, and resolution (Act III).

Let A Trusted Friend Read Your Novel

Once you are done with your first revision, give your story to a trusted friend you know can read and critique without bias. You want someone to be able to tell you where things are off and where things are great. A good reader is someone who:

Likes to read
Is strong with the English language
Knows the difference between “they’re,” “there,” and “their”
Can honestly tell you the weaknesses of your story
Can encourage you by pointing out your story’s strength
Does not tell you to quit writing simply because your story is flawed or not perfect for publication
Does not condemn your writing in its entirety
Is not afraid to tell you to change major scenes in your story when they do not work

Have your friend take notes for you and highlight important areas.

Revise Again and Again

Once you get feedback from your friend, revise your story based on that feedback. Keep in mind that you do not have to follow every advice your friend gives you. If you see a different path for your story than your friend does, revise based on that path and make sure it is clear and coherent. Your friend will stand by your revision and even respect you for doing what you think is best in the end. However, if multiple readers tell you that something is not working, do not try to convince them that it does. Remember, unlike with your friends, you cannot sit with a publisher and convince them to like your story. So, take some advice to heart and throw other advice out the door if you know it is not for you and your final story.

After revising again and again and again and you feel like you have done the best you could do, send your novel to a publisher. No novel can be completely perfect in the eyes of its writer, but you and you alone know when it is time to stop revising and send your work out into the world.

 

Good luck with the rest of NaNoWriMo!

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the preview of my novel Dance with the Devil right here: