Keeping the Romance Alive -How To Date Your Novel 😍

I confess, the idea behind this came from a writing class I took with the wonderful Michele Ferrari, and when she shared it with us, it hit me particularly hard (in a good way).

Very broadly, we probably consider our works-in-progress in one of two ways 

• As work, a project that we have committed ourselves to and are determined to see across the finish line because of that commitment

• A hobby, a creative pastime, something that we’re doing for the joy of it

Maybe it’s just me, but before Michele shared this idea, I had never thought about the fact that I was in a relationship with my novel. And like any relationship, there would be ups-and-downs. It would need to be cultivated, nurtured. I would love it, I would hate it. 

Who knew it would have to be wooed? 😘

Date night with the book

What we’re really talking about here is how to bring some fun, some magic, back into the process. At some point—at many points—it’s going to feel like a slog. You’ll wonder why on earth you wanted to do this to yourself, no matter what your end goal(s) are. 

Here are a few ideas on how to rekindle the spark. Some of them might be contradictory, and who cares, as long as they work? 

Case in point: Find your happy place OR get out of your comfort zone.

Is there a spot that as soon as you settle in, something in your brain triggers and says, “Ah, must be time to write (or edit/create/whatever)!” Take note of the details of those surroundings. Is it a cozy nook or a seat next to some huge picture windows? Do you put on some music or do you need silence (or noise-canceling headphones)? What are the conditions that put you in the right frame of mind to do your best creative work? 

You may not have noticed before but by creating that connection, you are consciously telling yourself, “Hey, time to go to book-land.” This can also help when you need to work outside of your comfort zone. Are there any ways that you can recreate at least some of the conditions to nudge your creative brain in the right direction?

Conversely, if you’re feeling stuck, out-of-sorts, or just generally frustrated when you sit down to work, try something new. Go to a coffee shop, your local library, or some other public or semi-public space where you can work undisturbed for a bit of time. Sometimes all we need is a little ‘shock’ to the system to break out of a rut and get back on track.

Make a commitment to your writing practice, whatever that looks like for you

Is there a time of day when you work best? Morning folks (bless you all), maybe cracking open the book is the first thing you do after you’ve jumped out of bed. Working parent with small humans demanding attention? Maybe finding 30 minutes at lunchtime is when you can sequester yourself and squeeze out some words. Night owls (hello friends), maybe your juices flow when everyone else has settled down for the night.

There’s no right or wrong here (as with all of this). It’s figuring out what works best for you and committing to that on as regular a basis as you can muster. 

Go into this knowing that it’s not going to work every day. Life happens. You don’t break up with someone over one mistake. Be kind to yourself and your book.

Be a supportive partner

This is true throughout the process, but especially in the early stages when you’re just figuring out what this book is going to be. If it throws you some curveballs, don’t be mad—be curious. Indulge your creative whims a little bit to see where they might take you.

Even if what you write doesn’t end up in the final product, it’s never wasted. Make sure to keep some kind of slush folder or file to store all those bits.  They may come in handy down the line as extra things you can share with readers to entice and intrigue them. And even if they don’t work for you that way, you’re always learning what your book is and isn’t. Everything counts towards that.

In a similar vein…

If you’re drafting, let yourself draft

If I had a nickel for every writer I’ve talked to who got stuck in their first draft, endlessly revising chapters and scenes, I could, well, probably not retire, but maybe take a nice vacation?

I get it, it can be scary to write forward, especially if you’re not sure where your writing is going to take you.  But if you let yourself get lost in the minutiae of ‘perfecting’ sentences and paragraphs, you will never find your way to the finish line. There will be plenty of time for line editing and refining your word choice. Safe it for the right time—a final polish edit.

There are plenty of ways to make a first draft more polished than the norm, if that is what you’re going for. (See tips from previous posts for a start!) But you’ll never have as much creative freedom as when you’re writing something for the first time. Embrace that. Tell your inner critic that you’ll talk to her when the time is right, but now ain’t it. Now it’s time to get funky.

Here are a couple more tactical tips:

Save a special scene

I’m not generally into delayed gratification but I’ve heard this strategy from a number of folks who swear by it: If there is a scene or chunk of your story that you KNOW you want to work on, that you’re excited by, earmark it for a time when you need a little bit of extra incentive to work or as a gift to yourself when you’ve done something that you were dreading.

Not only can immersing yourself in a scene that lights you up turn things around, it can give you momentum that carries through into your next writing session.

Find your magic supplies

Some people have journals with a specific type of paper and special pens that glide across the page. If you work on a computer, maybe it is a particular font that you find more pleasing to look at. (Yes, eventually you’ll have to surrender to Times New Roman but not yet!)

If there is something like this that satisfies you and makes you feel that much better about your work, go for it! Write in purple. Stick starburst post-its all over your walls with inspirational quotes or ideas. Make playlists that inspire you or get you in the zone.

How are you feeling? Are you in love again, at least a little bit? 😉

It is all too easy to get lost in the novel-writing forest, knowing that you’re putting one foot in front of the other to find your way through it but without much joy or wonder. Don’t forget to stop every now and again to look around with appreciation and recognize how far you’ve come, how much work you have done to get to whatever point you’re at.

If you have any strategies that you use to keep the romance alive, please share! As always, I will add them (with attribution!) to this post.

Cheers! ♥️

Kerry