​Happy New Years Eve! Who has fun plans tonight? It is almost time to begin writing and now, when you're all hopped up on new years spirit and resolutions are flying out of everyone's mouths, now is the time!

I don't know anyone who has hammered out a novel with a chisel and a stone, boulder, or quarry as I imagine you would need for a novel, but we should be open to new (and old) writing mediums.

While a computer seems to be the obvious choice when writing a novel, it has its disadvantages. I will admit this is how all my previous NaNoWriMo novels have been written because of the speed and ease. I type faster than I write by hand. However, I spent many hours on the computer on NaNoWriMo's website and Facebook and any other number of sites and only a fraction of my time actually writing. If I'd been writing all those hours I'll bet I could've written 200,000 words instead of 50,000. I had a roommate in college who wrote 100,000 words in the first week of NaNoWriMo! It's amazing what you can do with few distractions and no social life. 

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays! I hope everybody is enjoying a lovely weekend with their loved ones. I know I am. This is a great oppportunity to let them know what your plans are for 2017. 

Also if you want more support, encouragment, or just a place to chill with other writers, check out our facebook group: Masterpieces in Progress

Once you've committed to writing a book you need an idea, some story that needs to be told. I have heard from some writer friends that they have troubles coming up with story ideas. If you struggle too, maybe you will find a tip here that will help generate ideas. Luckily I usually have a plethora of ideas. Although this comes with it's own set of problems. Like which ideas is the one I should write next? Which story has the most potential or inspires me the most? This post will cover how to gather ideas so you're never at a loss and a loose guide on choosing a story you'll want to stick with. 

Like many others, I believed the stigma that self-publishing was second rate. That it was for books that traditional publishers wouldn't publish. I believed that it was not as good as being published traditionally because isn't that the goal of most every writer? For someone to read your book and validate your hard work and lovable characters?

But if that is the goal then self-publishing can fulfill that goal and put you more in control of your dream of being a published author. I'm coming to terms with the fact that self-publishing does not mean failure. You can be very successful as a self-published author, but you will only be as successful as you want to be. I have decided that 2017 is the year I stop holding back. The year I finally publish something.

In 2017 I want to: