Introducing the “Now What?” Months

You just spent November trying to write 50,000 words of your novel—there was toil, there was gain that came with pain. You’ve amassed the raw material: the dough that will soon lead to a fully-baked novel. But now what?

Usually, we close National Novel Writing Month by throwing up the “I Wrote a Novel, Now What?” page with some helpful tips on the process of turning your big batch of story into delicious, novel-y goodness. But we’ve loved writing with you so much that we couldn’t bear to part this new year.

We’re launching our first ever “Now What?” months, full of editing, revision and publishing advice from authors, agents, and editors. We’ll even hear from Wrimos like you, who’ve gone on to turn their raw NaNo manuscripts into painstakingly-shaped, well-frosted novels.

Where can I find these tips?

You’re looking at your main work station. Need to bookmark a page? This is the perfect place to dog ear. We’ll be updating this page with links to:

• Articles full of tips and advice on our blog.
• Pep talks sent out via NaNoMail from OLL folk Ari Asercion and Chris Baty, plus authors Marissa Meyer, Rachael Herron and more!
• Webinars and Twitter chats focused on revision and publishing.
  • February 12 – The New Leaf Literacy Agency will show up in full-force on Twitter to share their expertise!
  • February 18 – Hugh Howey and Sarra Cannon will join us for a webinar about how to self-publish successfully!
• Resources about launching or keeping up with a writer’s group year-round.
• Our still-thriving forums, especially our Life After NaNoWriMo, and Novel Draft Aftercare communities.

The “Now What?” months so far:

• Pep Talk from Rachael Herron, Author of Wishes & Stitches
• Pep Talk from Ari Asercion, NaNoWriMo Staff
• Pep Talk from Marissa Meyer, Author of Scarlet, Book Two of the Lunar Chronicles.
• Pep Talk from Nora Zelevansky, Author of Semi-Charmed Life.
• Pep Talk from Chris Baty, Founder of National Novel Writing Month.

• A Revision Plan — Grant Faulkner, NaNoWriMo Executive Director
• 5 Things All NaNo Winners Should Take to Heart — Adam Wilson, Editor at Gallery and Pocket Books
• Revision Advice from Young Writers — Wrimos in the Young Writers Program
• On Mining Good Beta Readers — James Scott Bell, Author and Writing Coach
• 4 Ways to Launch a Writing Group — Sarah Mackey, NaNoWriMo Director of Community Engagement
• On Writing and Revising Literary Fiction with NaNo — Lydia Netzer, Author of Shine, Shine, Shine
• The 3rd Annual NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, and a Guide to Pitching Your Novel — Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, the Book Doctors.
• 6 Self-Publishing Tips to Get 100,000 Readers — Sarra Cannon, Author of the Peachville High Demons series.
• Why You Should Let Others Read Your Novel — Kim Votry, Author of My Own Magic
• How NaNoWriMo Trained Me to Be a Professional Author — Hugh Howey, Author of the Wool series.
• Straight Talk from the Literary Agents at New Leaf — The New Leaf Literary Agency
• Self-Publishing vs. Publishing: How to Choose Your Path — Lynn Viehl, Author of the Lords of the Darkyn series.
• Occupy Steve: How to Flesh Out Your Characters — Elizabeth Lyon, Author of Manuscript Makeover.
• Deductive Editing: Revising Like a Master Detective — Susan Bell, Author of The Artful Edit.
• So You Want to Be a Good Beta Reader — Lise Quintana, Editor-in-Chief at Lunch Ticket.

Why should I bother with the “Now What?” months?

Great question! We’d love to welcome you to our first annual “Now What?” bash if:

• You wrote a first draft of your novel in November that you’re proud of and you’ve been working on it ever since.
• You have a novel you’ve been editing for a while now, and could use a good kick in the pants.
• You hope to one day edit and revise your novel and pursue publishing.
• You dream of seeing your book on bookstore shelves, catching a peek of your cover on a fellow commuter’s e-reader, or getting your name on our Published Wrimos page, or in our Mighty Catalyst Bookstore.
• You want to marvel at the hard work and success stories of passionate readers and writers, young and old.

In November, you poured yourself into an epic challenge to write a novel in 30 days. This January and February, we’re challenging you to embrace the writing lifestyle year-round. We hope you’ll join us!