The Proverbial Carrot

Writing a novel is hard.

Amazing revelation, right? But why it’s hard, that’s a little more complicated. For some, it’s coming up with the perfect idea. For others, getting the right words down on the page. Perhaps it’s pacing a story well or crafting characters that feel real. Maybe it’s developing a meaningful theme. Heck, naming the book is its own gargantuan struggle.

For me (in addition to some of those things listed above), it’s a feeling of accomplishment. I’m a short story gal by nature who loves the moment of finishing. Flash fiction is my favorite because I can write a draft in one sitting.

Novels, though, are an entirely different beast. For me to keep going, I need a finish line. Chapter markers are my best bet, and because I’m a very visual person, bullet journals give me that satisfying moment. I create a chapter tracker (stolen from one of a million trackers online – Pinterest is my best friend) and color in each chapter marker once I’ve completed the writing. It’s a tiny celebration but allows me to see how far I’ve come and what I need to do to complete my first and sloppy draft of the novel.
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Whatever your reward style is, make sure you celebrate along the way. There are many tiny wins on your way to that novel.

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