If this series worked like I hope it did, you now have a complete and detailed outline sitting next to you, ready to guide you through writing your novel. Before you start, keep this in mind: your outline is not a legally binding document and you are in no way obligated to do what it tells you to do. Your creativity is a force of nature and no matter how strong your outline is, it will never be able to overpower the strength of your story.
Hold it loosely, keep it mind, use it to help you remember the little things you thought of through the planning process, let it help you make your narrative arc make sense. But don’t be afraid to leave the paved road for a bit if your story pulls you that way. Follow along and see where it takes you. If it’s a dead end, you can always come back to the outline.
Whether you are planning on writing a novel in a month or thinking about taking a little more time, take a break today. Set your work aside and let your brain take a deep breath. Tomorrow you can jump back into your story. For now relax and have a cup of your favourite hot beverage. You planned and peopled a whole world this month. Reward yourself.
The fact that I managed to complete this series proves that I have it in me to write every day for a month (something that is going to prove a boon to me when I start NaNoWriMo tomorrow. Come find me and let’s write together!
Every October, hundreds of bloggers gather at The Nesting Place to write for 31 days straight on a variety of different topics, teaching and encouraging and offering tips and tricks to make life easier.