Making 'Baby Grand,' the Novel

Writing Tip #67: Keep a text file open while you write that contains all the grammar rules you tend to forget.

Writing Tip #66: Never use “that” when referring to a person.

Writing Tip #65: Bare your soul.

Writing Tip #64: Wiping the slate clean.

Writing Tip #63: Setting (and reaching) goals.

Writing Tip #62: Never use an apostrophe to make a name plural.

Writing Tip #61: Building bridges.

Writing Tip #60: How long should your novel be? As long as it needs to be.

Writing Tip #59: All it takes is one person to believe…

Writing Tip #58: Make sure your narrator and his/her narrative voice jibe.

Writing Tip #57: Don’t think about editing. Or marketing. Just write.

Writing Tip #56: Fall back or spring ahead?

Writing Tip #55: Connect the dots.

Writing Tip #54: Apostrophe or no apostrophe?

Writing Tip #53: Kill the alarm clock?

Writing Tip #52: Build your Dream ‘House.’

Writing Tip #51: Stuck? Write something else.

Writing Tip #50: Own your process.

Writing Tip #49: Keep readers hooked, from beginning to end.

Writing Tip #48: Make metaphors. Or at least try to.

Writing Tip #47: Try something new.

Writing Tip #46: Better late than never.

Writing Tip #45: It’s okay to remind the reader of things now and then.

Writing Tip #44: Don’t forget to live life too.

Writing Tip #43: Expect the long haul.

Writing Tip #42: What’s your point of view?

Writing Tip #41: Pronoun primer.

Writing Tip #40: You don’t have to know everything.

Writing Tip #39: Plot versus character. Character wins every time.

Writing Tip #38: Don’t fret over your first line.

Writing Tip #37: Don’t freak out.

Writing Tip #36: Just make stuff up.

Writing Tip #35: There’s nothing wrong with the word “said.”

Writing Tip #34: Typos are inexcusable.

Writing Tip #33: You need to be interested in your own book in order for anyone else to be.

Writing Tip #32: Establish a reader-character connection.

Writing Tip #31: Never give up.

Writing Tip #30: Solicit feedback.

Writing Tip #29: Rejection happens.

Writing Tip #28: Create an environment conducive to writing.

Writing Tip #27: Create relatable characters.

Writing Tip #26: Grammar matters.

Writing Tip #25: You don’t need a “chunk” of time to write.

Writing Tip #24: Don’t be afraid to cut. A lot.

Writing Tip #23: Make decisions.

Writing Tip #22: Create an outline.

Writing Tip #21: Write what you know. Duh.

Writing Tip #20: Describe the ruckus.

Writing Tip #19: Vary your sentence structure.

Writing Tip #18: Read your work aloud.

Writing Tip #17: Not every novelist is an island.

Writing Tip #16: Remember, “writing” doesn’t only happen when you’re sitting at your computer.

Writing Tip #15: Keep ‘em guessing — incorrectly.

Writing Tip #14: Make like a tree and get outta here.

Writing Tip #13: Read, read, read.

Writing Tip #12: Don’t “look” before you speak.

Writing Tip #11: Even after the writing/revising is done, be on the lookout for news items that could affect your story.

Writing Tip #10: Let the characters drive their story.

Writing Tip #9: Omit unnecessary words.

Writing Tip #8: Stick your manuscript in a drawer for a while before you edit.

Writing Tip #7: Write TK for missing facts.

Writing Tip #6: Just do it.

Writing Tip #5: Write from your heart, not with your head.

Writing Tip #4: Set a daily word count.

Writing Tip #3: Honesty is not a lonely word.

Writing Tip #2: Know your ending.

Writing Tip #1: Your audience will find you.