The Roadmap
A week from today we run; here's where we're going.
Hey, Runners!
So, you’ve got this idea for a novel—this brilliant, beautiful idea that’s bursting with potential. But there’s a problem. It’s still just an idea, and you’re not sure how to get from that initial spark to a fully written first draft. Trust me, I get it. The journey from idea to finished manuscript can feel like crossing a desert with nothing but a vague map and a few supplies.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
We run from Sept 9—June 13! Subscribe today to be one of the runners and get your novel, or other long-form fiction project, written this year!
You don’t need to know everything now
I know, I know—everywhere you look, there’s another “expert” telling you the one true way to write a novel. Plot it all out first! No—pants it and let the story lead! Write every day without fail! Or, only write when you’re feeling it!
The truth? There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Writing a novel is deeply personal, and the process that works for one person might be a disaster for another.
The secret isn’t in finding the perfect method. It’s in finding your method. You don’t need to know everything about novel-writing—you just need a roadmap that fits the way you work.
And that’s where my process-first approach comes in.
Today’s Comments Assignment:
What’s one part of your writing process that you’re struggling with right now? Whether it’s getting started, staying motivated, or figuring out what happens next—share it in the comments, and let’s see if we can tackle it together.
Going it alone is a masochist’s game
Here’s something to keep in mind: even the best process can’t make a novel happen if you don’t have the mental and emotional energy to write it.
Writing is hard enough without going it alone, which is why I’m a huge believer in the power of a community-based guided writing challenge. Imagine having a community of writers who are all working toward the same goal, facing the same struggles, and celebrating the same victories. Imagine having a guide who’s been there before, walking alongside you and sharing what works and what doesn’t.
That’s what The Running of the WIPs is all about. It’s a guided challenge that gives you a clear roadmap to follow, but with enough flexibility to make it your own. It’s about setting realistic goals, building sustainable habits, and most importantly, enjoying the process.
Because writing a novel should be fun—even when it’s hard.
I've spent the last more than a decade and a half spending all of my creative energy writing lectures and lesson plans, and just letting all of my creative ideas germinate and grow in my head without having the time or sometimes energy to get them written down, other than the list of ideas I have to work on. Sometimes I add something new to each of these worlds, or characters, or plots, but they mostly live in my head. I'm out of practice writing fiction. I'm a little nervous about producing my shitty first draft because I've gotten really good at history lectures, and I've continued to read all kinds of writing (so my taste is well-developed).
Beginning without dragging along the negative voices of my previous publishing experience. Or, maybe more accurately, beginning and hearing the right voices that want me to and know I can succeed.