This Sideways student talks about how she’s getting the hang of The Sentence:

This is my second time starting HTTS because I got busy with another project the first time and quit my old one. Now I’m starting over with three new ideas.

I just finished the fourth draft of the Sentence for my third idea, which is a MG urban fantasy. I love it the most out of all three ideas, and I think I’ve finally gotten the Sentence right.

My Muse is already thinking about ideas for a contemporary story set in a high school, a fantasy, a mystery, etc. I’m not going to change the idea, but I finally can deconstruct my Sentence!

Come and share the good vibes, offer congrats, maybe pick up a pointer.

A student of How to Revise Your Novel has this to say about Week 12’s lesson “Commit to your Characters.”

YES! I’ve finished it!

Holly suggested taking all the time it needed to get the characters right. So I did – all 26 days of it.
Consequently, I’ve got to know the characters much better. I love ‘em all. That sounds trite and small and what I feel is neither of those things. A huge warmth and also astonishment that they have come out of my head!

I just hope that when I get writing again, I can do justice to these characters and this book which is taking on a form which makes me gasp. It bears little resemblance to the original muddle and actually has a plot now.

This course is awesome. Thanks for sharing, Holly! ☺

Come and throw confetti (glitter is okay, too).

PS: How’s your novel progressing?

Sometimes the Aha! comes instantly, but often it smolders a bit before it ignites.

I was beginning to lose interest already, and my The Sentence for the piece made me yawn. Today, while driving and letting my mind wander (in a safe and responsible way…clearly), my Muse hit me over the head, while, interestingly, Resistance by Muse popped up on my playlist. Suddenly, I’m writing a web furiously in the parking lot at work, reinvigorated, extremely excited.

I suppose I’m just excited because Lessons 1-4 suddenly clicked for me in the most invigorating of ways. Thanks!

Come and join the huzzahs!

This writer cruised through the development of her idea into an outline.  Excitement and happiness reigned.

Until she had written about 7,000 words.  Then it all crashed and burned.  That voice–that awful voice that rushes up from the pit of despair to warn the writer that the work is no good.  In fact, the Voice of Failure whispers, your story sucks.

Sadness and fear grab the throne of emotion.  Writing stops.  Writer crumples.

Is there a cure?  Or at least a work-around?  Log in and find out.  Totally commercial free!