You Finished NaNoWriMo (or Another Writing Challenge), Now What? 7 Things to Do Next

NaNoWriMo is one of the most well-known writing challenges, and a very simple one: write 50,000 words of a novel within the month of November. If you took the challenge and passed, congratulations! If you took it and didn’t, congratulations still! It’s not easy to write, and any step towards your novel’s completion should still be celebrated. And if you did another challenge in November or another month, that’s awesome too!

No matter what, a writing challenge is rarely the end of your novel’s journey. In fact, in most cases, it’s just the beginning. If you participated in NaNoWriMo or another writing challenge and you’re wondering what to do next, here are 7 steps that you might take, in roughly the order that makes the most sense. Not all of them may apply to you, but chances are at least a few will.

(A quick note: This blog is not affiliated with NaNoWriMo, nor with any other organizations promoting writing challenges. We also do not condone the alleged actions of some of NaNoWriMo’s board members. We’re simply lovers of words and of writing, and understand that a challenge like this one can be very motivating for a writer, whether or not they participate in an official capacity. If you’re looking for writing challenges that aren’t NaNo affiliated, check out this great post by Greta Ham.)

If you want personalized advice on what to do next, the best way to do that is with a manuscript critique or evaluation. Click here for more information about our services and click here to book a free consultation.

1.    Keep writing!

Even if you hit the 50k word count, chances are your novel isn’t done yet, so keep going! You don’t need to keep hitting the same daily word count goals you did during the challenge, but now you’ve got a great momentum going, so take advantage of it, even if you have to slow down and take a step back. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect in the first draft; that’s what revision is for.

2.    Read in your genre

Hitting 50k words in one month is no joke, and if you focused on that in November, chances are you didn’t have much time to read, so now is a great time to get back into that. Always read widely, but when you’re working on a novel, try to find recently published books in your genre. Why?

·       Comps for your Novel

Agents and publishers want to know where your novel will fit on the physical and virtual shelves, and they want to know that you’re already aware of what’s being published in the current market. When you pitch your book to them, you should have a couple of titles in mind of novels that are comparable to yours in terms of the audience that will read them. They don’t need to have similar plots or other elements, but look for books that “feel” like yours. Once you’ve read a few, you’ll get an idea of where your book would fit. Focus on books that were published in the last couple of years, were published by a publishing house and not self-published, and which sold well but weren’t runaway bestsellers. If it sounds like it’s hard to find good comps, it is! But that’s why you need to read widely, and you’ll only need about two for your pitches.

·       Improve your skills in your genre

You never want to imitate another writer’s style, but the more you write novels in your genre, the more you’ll pick up on elements like structure, dialog, pacing, and more. For this, you can read books that were published independently, books with lower sales numbers, and ones that were published more than a few years ago.

3.    Revise, revise, revise

No novel is ever done after the first draft. Once yours is done, put it aside for a little while. Maybe a few weeks, or even more. Putting distance between yourself and your latest draft gives you a better chance of catching what needs to be changed when you head into revisions. Spend that time working on something new, reading fiction and books about craft (bonus if it has information about revision!), and then get to work.

The act of revision looks different for every writer. Some need to rewrite from scratch. Some need to print their manuscript out, rather than editing on the computer. You may need to read your manuscript through entirely, making notes as you go, before you figure out what it needs in order to be successful.

It may take more than one revision or draft before your novel is ready for an audience, but at the same time, be aware that no draft is ever going to be perfect, even the ones that get accepted by agents and publishing houses. A good sign that you’re ready for the next step is when you find yourself spinning your wheels with revisions; things like mostly changing small words, moving phrases around and then back again, or having difficulty figuring out what should be changed next. Do your best to make your draft as great as you can, but don’t let perfect be the enemy of good!

4.    Get page critiques and beta reads

Once your eyes have been on your manuscript for long enough, it’s time to start getting some outside opinions. A good place to start is a manuscript critique. If you already have a community of writers you’re a part of, you likely already know that you can ask if anyone is willing to read over your pages and give your thoughts. If they have works of their own that need review, it’s a kindness to offer the same for them as well. At this stage, you’re looking for general impressions, anything big that stands out to a casual reader, and mistakes that you might not have caught as the author.

If you don’t have a writing community you can call upon, it doesn’t hurt to ask on social media for volunteers! But keep in mind that readers can have busy schedules, and the quality of reads you’ll get from people you don’t know can vary. If you’re willing to splurge, it can be a good idea to pay for a critique or beta read, to have a better guarantee that the feedback will be useful. It’s usually cheaper than a full developmental edit, and can be a great investment in your revision process.

Remember that here at Tapestry Writing Support, we offer expert manuscript critiques, starting with the first 10 pages for only $40.

5.    Hire an editor

Before sending your novel out into the world, you may want additional peace of mind that it’s as ready and polished as possible. A full developmental edit can help with that. You’ll get detailed information about what is and isn’t working with your novel, things that agents or acquiring editors would expect to see, giving you lots of fodder for at least one more productive revision.

After all that, it’s also a good idea to proofread your manuscript for errors and clarity. One final type of edit that many writers have done is a proofreading or copyediting pass. Although you can definitely proofread yourself, a pair of eyes that aren’t your own can spot small mistakes that might be holding your manuscript back, especially since you’ve been looking at it for so long. To help you get an idea of your editing needs for your next draft, Tapestry Writing Support offers free consultations and first pages analysis.

6.    Figure out next steps

Once you have a polished manuscript that’s been made as ready as possible, it’s time to decide how you’d like to get it out to the world! There’s no one right answer to this, but the two main paths are traditional publishing through a publishing house, or self-publishing. There are pros and cons to both, though keep in mind that neither will be an easy path no matter how you slice it.

Traditional Publishing

With this route, you’re aiming to have your book selected for publication by a publishing house. Going this route means you cede much control over to a publisher, along with much of the book’s profit, but it also can mean a much shorter to do list for you as the writer.

Usually, this path will involve getting a literary agent, though some houses accept submissions directly. Even in that scenario, an agent can still be a valuable negotiator on your behalf. Whether you search for an agent or go directly to a publisher, you’ll want to write a query letter, a short letter pitching your book for submission. Be prepared for a lot of rejections, but tenacity, and a willingness to further revise both your pitch and your novel, or even to start something new, are all key.

Self-Publishing

If you self-published, you’ll be the sole person in charge of all elements of your novel and its release. Self-publishing is easier than ever thanks to modern technology and the availability of new tools, resources, and easier access to freelancers such as editors and book cover artists. It can get expensive, but it’s also much cheaper than it used to be.It can be harder to get noticed as a self-published writer, but there are no guarantees with either route. The best thing you can do is to make your novel as polished and professional-looking as possible, and market it as much as you can.

Keep in mind, a career as a writer is hard under the best of circumstances. If you can make a living doing it, that’s awesome, but chances are you’ll still need other sources of income. Still, if you enjoy writing, you’ll find it’s difficult to stop!

7.    Start your next project!

If NaNo is your first time writing a novel, hopefully it won’t be your last! First novels are usually not the ones that authors end up publishing first. If you find yourself stuck, or with downtime while you wait for edits or replies from agents, don’t be afraid to bust out a new project.

NaNoWriMo and other writing challenges are a great way to get your words on the page. But as you can see, there’s still plenty to do once the timer stops. You might not need to do everything on this list, and you might not need to do them in the order listed here. But no matter what you do next, I encourage you not to stop writing. Take advantage of the momentum and keep your project moving forward.

And if you want personalized guidance on what to do next, Tapestry Writing Support is here to help. Sign up for a free consult or get your first 10 pages critiqued and analyzed. Your writing goals are important, and we want to help you get there!

7 Great Gifts for Writers, Recommended By a Writer (Besides Amazon Gift Cards)

Are you shopping for an important person in your life who’s also a writer? Do you want a more creative and interesting gift idea than another Amazon gift card? Here are seven ideas for gifts the writer in your life will almost certainly love. These range from cheap to big splurges, and I’ve included both physical gifts and ones that are more experience-based. As a writer myself for twenty years, and someone who has known many, many other writers as well, I can tell you that these are all gifts that just about any of us wordsmiths would appreciate.

Spoiler alert: One idea is editing services for the writer in your life who's ready to get their manuscript polished. Tapestry Writing Services offers a range of manuscript support! But read on if you want some additional ideas.

1.    Craft Books

If you’re looking to get away from generic gift cards, but still know the writer in your life would appreciate a book, one of the best kinds is a craft book. It can be tricky to know which one your writer friend or loved one has already read or owns, but here are a few they might love, courtesy of fellow writer Anastasia Gustafson.

For prose/fiction writers:

·        The Three AM Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises by Brian Kiteley

·        Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose

·        Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

·        Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative by Jane Alison

·        The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing by Alice LaPlante

For poetry writers:

·        Poetry: A Writer’s Guide and Anthology by Amorak Huey and W. Todd Kaneko

·        The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms edited by Mark Strand and Evan Boland

·        The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach by Robin Behn 

·        A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver 

·        Ordinary Genius by Kim Addonizio

2.    Smart Typewriter

With Google Docs and other open-source word processing programs becoming readily available, it’s no longer necessary for writers to invest in expensive software to write if they don’t want to. But as you probably know, writing on a computer can come with complications, most notably, distractions! While it can be good to have the internet handy in case the writer needs to look something up, it can also derail a productive writing session.

Enter smart typewriters, snazzy-looking throwbacks that allow the writer to write in peace without the need for paper OR a computer nearby. These machines are a splurge for sure, but your writer friend will be able to do their work distraction-free with the peace of mind that it will be saved to the cloud for their editing needs later.

My favorite is the Free Write. After many years of use, ours is still going strong!

3.    Notebooks and Pens

If your writer loved one is looking to go even more analog, you can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned set of notebooks and pens. Even in an age of smartphones, many writers like having something physical handy to write down ideas and notes in a pinch.

Notebooks:

·        For a medium-sized notebook: Apica notebooks by Atlas Stationers

·        For a more travel-friendly notebook: Decomposition pocket-sized notebooks

Pens:

·        For a solid, basic all-around pen: Uniball Jetstream

·        For something more funky: Rifle Paper Company

·        For writers who need lots of backups: Papermate multipacks

4.    Website Memberships

There are a ton of tools out there for writers who want to be published in their fields, and one of the nicest gifts you can give a writer shows your support for their journey.

For novelists, the path to publication often goes through literary agents, and hands down the best website for a writer at the querying stage is QueryTracker. QueryTracker is a giant database of pretty much every literary agent in the business, with comprehensive information about what categories each agent represents, their submission requirements, and whether or not they are currently open to queries. Writers can easily keep track of who they intend to query, who they’ve sent queries to, and how long they’ve been waiting. The website even has its own query manager that many agents use, making it even easier for writers to keep track of submissions.

Some of the QueryTracker tools are available for free, but the premium experience is invaluable for a writer in the query trenches, and only $25 a year.

For poetry and short story writers, another great tool is Duotrope, a database of markets for shorter form works (they cover longer form too, but they’re one of the best for shorts!). They include literary magazines, websites, contests, anthologies, and more. Their premium subscription is $50 for the year.

5.    Conference Passes

Writing conferences are a great way for a writer to learn more about the craft of writing and the complexities of publishing, connect with fellow authors, and possibly get their work in front of an agent or acquiring editor (NOTE: outside of specific circumstances such as conferences, a legit agent or publishing house representative will NEVER charge you to consider your work). These conferences can be extremely expensive to attend, and even more so if the writer would like to experience add-ons such as pitch sessions. If the writer in your life would like to attend a conference, consider helping contribute to those costs, either with a pass or one of the available add-ons.

This will require some coordination with your writer friend, of course, but trust me when I say, they will be thrilled to receive the support. A local conference is obviously easier to access than a large national one, and Poets & Writers has an extensive list of upcoming conferences taking place all over for various types of writers, or you can Google writing conferences in your area.

6.    Editing Services

This is another gift that will require communication with the writer in your life, as the perfect editor for a writer will depend on many factors, including the stage of their manuscript, the genre or category they write in, and the style of editing and communication they’re looking for. But it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have a particular editor in mind that they’d like to work with!

A full manuscript edit can get quite expensive, and many may have wait lists as well, but if your writer knows the editor they want, and you’re able to contribute to those costs, you will absolutely make their year. As a bonus, by supporting a freelance editor, you'll be supporting a small business!

And remember here at Tapestry Writing Services, we offer manuscript support and editing for every stage of the writing process. If you or a writer in your life needs assistance, we offer free consultations!

7.    Time Alone

Here’s one that’s even more offbeat than a website membership or conference passes. Ask yourself, what can you do to give your writer loved one time to do what they love to do: write. This could mean offering to babysit or clean, a gift card to their favorite coffee shop so they can get out of the house for a bit, or even a weekend stay in a picturesque, quiet place. If you can help contribute to the writer’s ability to simply write, you’ll be on their Nice List for a long time.

Every writer is different, but almost all writers will appreciate at least a few items on this list! What other ideas do you have for great writer gifts? Let us know in the comments. And if you’re a writer, send this to a friend if you’d like to drop some hints!

8 Types of Manuscript Support (and How to Tell Which One You Need Right Now)

You have a manuscript, or at least you have a story you’re somewhere in the process of writing. Maybe you’re outlining, drafting, or you have several versions under your belt already. You know that you’re ready to get some kind of help with it. But what kind of support do you need?

A lot of writers might answer this question with, “I’m not sure,” but even if that’s the case, you likely have at least some idea what you want your next steps to be, and your ultimate goals. You might also not need just one thing; editing and manuscript review projects often involve overlap between different techniques.

This post provides a brief guide to common types of manuscript support available for authors. They can range in cost, availability, and in what stage of writing they’re best utilized for. If you’re pursuing a traditional publishing route, some of these support types may be included and covered by your publishing contract, but some of them you’ll be expected to have done before you approach an agent or publisher. Keep in mind also that it’s a good idea to ensure your manuscript is as close to publishable as possible before sending out queries or cover letters.

Many of these support types are offered here at Tapestry Writing Support, so if you know you’re ready to get assistance, book a complimentary consultation with us to get started.

Book Now

So, how to tell which type of support or editing is right for you? A lot of it has to do with the stage of both your manuscript and yourself as a writer. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all guide, but consider the following factors when seeking out support.

If you’re just starting out as a writer, or just getting started with your manuscript...

Book Coaching

Book coaching is an ongoing support arrangement that can take many forms. Your coach might check in with you regularly, and may offer support for any aspect of the writing process, from brainstorming through drafting through publishing. They may provide edits or critiques, or they may simply help with questions and concerns as they arise. For writers ready to publish, they may assist with queries and cover letters, or help with formatting and marketing for self-publishing. If you’re a writer who struggles to stay on task and knows you would benefit from having someone in your corner, a book coach can be a great option.

Critique Group or Workshop

Workshops are small groups of writers who regularly exchange pages for everyone in the group to review and provide feedback on. For writers new to getting their work critiqued, a workshop can be a great first step. It’s also one of the scariest options for newer writers! So, why do I recommend it? Because in a critique group or workshop setting, you won’t just receive several critiques on your manuscript, you’ll be expected to provide them to the other members as well. And learning how to provide helpful and constructive criticism can be just as valuable and informative as receiving it. Through pointing out the weaknesses and strengths of another’s writing, you’ll be better able to spot those issues in your own work. Plus, you’ll be in a supportive environment with fellow writers, which is excellent for building motivation and confidence.Finding the right critique group can be tricky, though, especially for adults with busy schedules. MFA and other similar writing programs usually include workshops as a heavy part of their curriculum, but outside of that, your local library may offer resources for finding local writers if you want to start a group of your own. Some organizations also arrange writing workshops for free or for a small fee.

If your manuscript is mostly or completely done with at least one draft, and you’re not sure where to go from here…

Beta Reading

An ideal beta reader is someone who is a regular reader of the genre or category you’re writing in. They will read your completed work and provide insight to positive and negative aspects of your manuscripts that stand out to them. Beta reading often comes as part of a page exchange between two writers, but there are also paid beta reading services available.

Sensitivity Reader

If your manuscript involves characters from marginalized communities, or sensitive concepts with which you’re not incredibly familiar, a sensitivity reader may be a good idea. These are readers who are members of these communities or who are familiar with the concepts your story explores, and who can speak to the authenticity of those aspects. Keep in mind, however, that no member of any community is a monolith, and what reads as authentic for one may not read the same for another. This is why it’s good to get a wide variety of opinions on any manuscript.

Editorial Assessment or Manuscript Critique

This is also known as a manuscript evaluation. This is a good option if you’re not sure what you need or want, or if your manuscript is partially done and you want to know if it’s going in the right direction. An initial assessment will help you shape the next steps in your writing process. Think of this type of assistance as going to a “book doctor;” you’ll get a diagnosis of the current health of your manuscript, and what you need to do to improve it.

If you’re ready to start your publishing journey, or if you already have a publishing contract or agent…

Developmental Editing

A developmental edit focuses on big picture issues such as plot, pacing, character development, and dialog. It’s typically extensive and assumes that there may be extensive revisions necessary in order to get the manuscript ready for publishing, and that the author is willing to take the feedback seriously and incorporate it.

Proofreading

This is one of the last stages of manuscript review. At this point, your work is polished, likely has had several drafts and reviews, and just needs to be checked for minor grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Most other types of edits won’t include proofreading, but you should strive to submit manuscripts with as few errors as possible in order to not distract your editor.

Copyediting

A step up from proofreading, though some proofreading techniques may be employed if necessary. Copyedits focus on clarity and readability. A good copyeditor will work to preserve your narrative voice in their suggestions, while still finding points that could be made more accessible for your readers.

Which type of manuscript support do you need?

Even if you’re not sure what your manuscript needs, it’s a good idea to sit down with an editor for an initial consult or evaluation. An experienced editor will be able to take a look at your sample pages, and through reading them and asking you a few questions about your goals, can tell you what you likely need, and whether they’d be a good fit.

At Tapestry Writing Support, we’re equipped to support authors at multiple stages of their writing journey, and experienced with many of the editing techniques mentioned above. A complimentary consult can help determine if we’re the right fit for your story.

Book Your Consult or Evaluation Now