Setting goals for your writing and the new year

As we begin a new year, a lot of people find this to be a time to set goals for themselves. For creatives, this might be the time we set goals for the works we want to produce over the next twelve months (or at least begin).  Here at LV Book Design, the goals for the upcoming year are these:

• Help more authors obtain the covers and layouts they love.
• Expand the "Upgrades" (which are also available for booking on their own) that I offer to my clients.
• Develop new products to help writers achieve their goals.

On that last note, one thing I can offer writers right now is the extensive workbook I built, filled with worksheets, timelines, charts, etc. all designed to help you flush out your ideas and keep track of your story as you write. Did "write a novel" make it onto your list of goals? If so, you might be struggling with how to even get started with your writing. Taking on big projects, especially ones that are as personal and as vulnerable as writing a book, can be daunting. Sometimes, we just need help getting the ball rolling. Inside this workbook, you'll find sheets to help you build your characters, develop your plot, scene creation help and much more. Sign up to receive your free copy TODAY!

And remember, you'll never finish if you never begin.

Best wishes and happy writing!

Challenge yourself to write this November with NaNoWriMo

You've been thinking about a book idea for a while now but just haven't sat down to write it; or maybe you are just suffering from a lack of structure/accountability and that is holding you back from getting your words onto the page. Whatever has been holding you back from writing, November is the month to get the stories out of your mind and onto the page because next month is when writers from around the world have the chance to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

NaNoWriMo has been going on, every November, since 1999. Anyone can join the challenge to write a 50,000 word novel between Nov. 1 thru Nov. 30. Last year, over 300,000 writers of all ages and walks of life joined the challenge and over 50,000 of them met their word count by then end of the month. Some works created from this project have gone on to be traditionally published, such as Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Hugh Howey’s Wool, Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder (check out the full list of NaNoWriMo's published authors here).

Each year, you can find authors mentoring the writers taking part in the challenge through "pep talks". This year's mentors include Daniel José Older, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Alexander Chee, Jenny Han and Maggie Steifvater.

If you are looking for that push, the accountability of a world-wide community, a writing challenge, and the chance to be rewarded for your hard work through out the program then you should definitely 1) check out NaNoWriMo; 2) sign-up and join the 2016 challenge; and 3) write your novel!

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Remember, when you are done with your NaNoWriMo novel and want help getting into the hands and minds of the world, come back to LV Book Design and I will work with you to create a beautiful finished product that you will love. I'll give a discount to anyone who completes the NaNoWriMo 2016 challenge and wants to take their novels to the next level.

Best wishes and happy writing!

FREE Workbook to help you write a novel in 2016

Did "write a novel" make it onto your 2016 resolutions list? If so, you might be struggling with how to even get started with your writing. Taking on big projects, especially ones that are as personal and as vulnerable as writing a book, can be daunting. Sometimes, we just need help getting the ball rolling. 

To help you get started, I built an extensive workbook, filled with worksheets, timelines, charts, etc. all designed to help you flush out your ideas and keep track of your story as you write.

Inside you'll find sheets to help you build your characters, develop your plot, scene creation help and much more. Sign up to receive your free copy TODAY!

And remember, you'll never finish if you never begin.

Best wishes and happy writing!