What I Learned from Not Writing a Book

As many of you know, I spent the month of November participating in Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month.

It feels like November 1st was yesterday. I still remember huddling up in my room and typing the first few words of my novel.

But then something happened.

I lost interest.

Losing interest is typical when writing a long piece. I continued to move forward, writing detailed scenes and long patches of dialogue. I was up on the word count I was doing well.

Until I woke up one morning and realized that my resistance to writing the novel didn't have to do with procrastination or writer's block.

My resistance had everything to do with passion.

I didn't like what I was writing. Although the concept excited me, as I started the piece every word felt like a struggle. I felt like I was lying to my readers. My characters lacked strength and my writing lacked soul.

I know now that I have to write what sets my soul on fire. Unfortunately, that novel was not it. But I am convinced that I am a better, more organized writer because of it. In the future, my aim is to truly write words that will inspire you, my readers, to live lives that you love.

I hope you are spending your time today doing something that sets your soul on fire.

Write Better: E-Mails

What's in it for me?

You have to know why you are writing the e-mail in the first place. What are you offering? How is your e-mail going to help this other person? What are you trying to get out of it and, in return, what are you willing to give to them? Every e-mail must have a purpose. Take a little time to think about what you want and how your e-mail is going to further that goal.

Look over here!

The subject of an e-mail is everything. Don't use anything generic. Instead, think of it as a book or blog title. You want something eye-catching. You want your reader to immediately click on your e-mail - you want them to read more. Avoid subject lines that sound like spam. If I don't know the person, and the subject e-mail sounds weird, there is a good chance I'll delete the e-mail without opening it.

I'm not reading that.

There is nothing worse than a long e-mail. I know many people who delete long e-mails that show up in their inbox without even reading them. Know what you're going to say, and keep it simple. Get to the point!

Did you spell that right?

Spelling or grammar mistakes in an e-mail can make you look unprofessional. Make sure you read over your e-mail before you send it. There is nothing worse than sending a mass e-mail out to your coworkers before realizing you spelled someone's name wrong. Not good.

What's your number?

Is an e-mail really the best way to get your point across? Sometimes it helps to talk to that person face to face, especially if it's a personal issue. Other times a quick phone call can answer your question instead of sending another e-mail to an already-full inbox. If you're saying thank you after an interview or after receiving a gift, consider handwriting a thank you note instead.


Are you good at sending e-mails? What are some things you need more help with? What are some things you're good at? Let me know in the comments below!

Need some more writing tips? Check out this post.

I'm Writing a Book

You heard me.

Right now I am sitting in a library, snuggled up inside one of the study rooms. Computer in front of me, notebook and pen to my right, music playing through my earphones.

This month I am participating in Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month. I will be writing 50,000 words in the month of November.

Am I insane? Possibly.
Am I excited? Definitely.

I've stuck with one idea and now I get to see it come to life. I love seeing my characters jump off the page.

I'm keeping my idea under wraps for now, but just know that it's a little bit of science fiction, a little bit of romance and a little bit of rebellion.

It's not too late to participate in Nanowrimo! Check out the website if you're interested, and look up 'Jacklyn Lee' if you want to be writing buddies or check out my progress.

Happy writing, everyone!

Write What You Love

When you don't know what to write, write what you love.

When you write what you love, everything else will fall into place.

Write Better: Thank You Notes

I love thank you notes. A text message or e-mail is fine, but getting a letter in the mail telling you how awesome you are? Sign me up!

A thank you note is one of the best ways to express your thanks to a friend or family member in a special, unique way. If you've never written a thank you note before, now is the time!

Who do you want to thank today?

Maybe you want to thank a family member for sending you that awesome birthday gift or you want to express some gratitude to a friend 'just because.' Thinking about who you are sending your note to is the first step. Stop for a moment and scribble down a 'gratitude list' of people who deserve your thanks. Choose one, two or three people from the list. Choose them all! You can never tell someone 'thank you' enough.

Speak from the Heart

Don't just sign your name to a random card you pick up at the store - no one likes a generic thank you note. Why are you thanking this person? What do they mean to you? Write it down, and don't be afraid to be sappy, especially if it's for someone older. My Grandma loves getting thank you notes. The sappier the better!

Get in the Habit

I am so thankful that my Mom sat me down and made me write thank you notes after my birthdays and after Christmas. When I was younger it felt unbearable, having to sit there and meticulously write personalized thank you notes to all of these people. Now I love it. I still remind myself to send the little notes out. I love doing it, and my friends and family love receiving them. Get in the habit of writing thank you notes. Expressing gratitude is good for you and good for them. It's a win-win situation.

Need help?

Here is a template you can use to write a thank you note. Remember to fill in the blanks with some heartfelt, sappy, personalized words!

Dear [awesome person],

You are [awesome/great/amazing/the bee's knees/the cat's meow].

Thank you so much for [sending me that gift/doing that thing for me/being awesome]!

I absolutely love [that you helped me with that thing/that gift you sent me] because [it made my life so much easier/I love hot pink jewelry/it reminds me of you].

I am [so grateful/so blessed] to have you as a [friend/parent/grandparent/brother/sister].

I [love you/appreciate you] so much, and I [can't wait to see you again/can't wait for you to visit].

Thank you again! You are [awesome/the best/my favorite person in the world].

[Love, XOXO, Hugs and Kisses, All my love]

[Your Name Here]


See? Writing a thank you note doesn't have to be stressful. Have you ever written a thank you note? Have you received one? Let's chat in the comments below!

Write More Awesomely: 10 Tips to Become a Better Writer

Writing, whether it be for a new blog post, your job or an essay for class, can be hard - but it doesn't have to be! Check out the tips below that are sure to make you a better writer (or your money back!)

Practice Makes Perfect

This is true for any skill. The more you do something, the better you become at it. Writing is like a muscle. It's important to keep using it and stretching it out. Try to write every morning when you wake up or every night before you go to bed, or both! The more you write, the easier it will become.

Give it a KISS

In school, all of my teachers used KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid. If you can say it in 10 words, don't stretch it out to two pages. Let your words be to the point!

What Happens Next?

One of the best pieces of writing advice I received came from one of my coworkers. She told me that after each sentence of a story, the reader needs to be asking "What happens next?" You want to catch your reader's eye and take them on a journey with you.

When in Doubt, Read

Reading makes you a better writer. Whenever I'm having writers block, I pick up a book or read through some of my favorite blogs. I always find inspiration to keep going when I'm stuck, or get new ideas on what to write about.

Revise, Revise, Revise, Revise

This is one thing I have never been good at. I am one of those people who writes something down and calls it a day, but recently I've learned how important revising is. After you write something, try taking a short break then going back to it. Read it through again and see if it still works. Usually I'll find some silly mistakes I didn't see the first time through.

Read it Out Loud

This is another tip when it comes to reviewing your work. When you're going over what you wrote a second time, read it out loud. This is not only another good way to catch any mistakes, but it can help you when writing your first draft, too. Sometimes if I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll start brainstorming out loud and usually I'll find the perfect word or sentence!

Show, Don't Tell

I'm sure we've all heard this tip a million times, but that's because it is so important. You want your reader to stay captivated, and the best way to do that is to paint them a picture. Think about what feeling you want to evoke in your readers and create a compelling story that will have their minds racing.

Don't Be Them, Be You!

Never try to copy the style of another writer. Instead, keep practicing and find your own voice. Finding your voice as a writer can take a long time and is an ongoing process. The more you write, the more your voice as a writer will develop.

Who's That?

Who are you writing for? If you're writing something for your best friend, it might look a little different than what you would write down for an academic essay. Before you start every piece you write, ask yourself who you are writing it for. Every piece you write has an audience, and it is important to keep them in mind with every piece you write. What does your audience want? How do you want them to feel? What do you want them to take away from your piece?

Know When to Walk Away

Sometimes as writers we can be perfectionists. This can cause us to keep working on a piece until our eyes cross. You need to know when to put down the pen or walk away from the computer. Sometimes you have to tell yourself that the story, article or essay is perfect as it is. Know when to hit submit and walk away.

Do you have any writing tips to share? Add yours in the comments below!