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Adventures in Starting a Pitch Contest (Plus Other Things)
Hi, it's me again, making promises to post more regularly and then noping out for three whole months. This time, I think I'll actually be...

Nicole M. Tota
Jun 19, 20234 min read
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Characters Behaving Badly: A Study in What to do When Your Characters Just Don't Wanna
I've been debating for almost an entire week about what I want to post about, whether I actually want to post or not, and what I could...

Nicole M. Tota
Jan 20, 20238 min read
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The Power of Narrators: A Literal Perspective Shift
Hey hey, it's me again. So, I was hoping to enter into my "unbothered, moisturized, flourishing" era, but instead I think I'm entering my...

Nicole M. Tota
Jan 9, 20235 min read
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The Art of a Good Query, and a Journey Through Cringe-Land
Hey fam! So, you know how last week I said "please be kind to yourself if you can't produce work?" Well, it turns out I can't really take...

Nicole M. Tota
Dec 28, 202210 min read
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To Prologue or Not to Prologue...Among Other Questions
Hey fam, just a quick life check-in around the holidays and a reminder to please be kind to yourself if you can't produce the amount of...

Nicole M. Tota
Dec 21, 20229 min read
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Do I Need to Edit...or Revise? Notes on the Process
Buckle up, folks: this one's going to be a bit of a ramble. But first, some updates. I am exactly where I was last week, which means I...

Nicole M. Tota
Dec 13, 20228 min read
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How to Know This Draft is The One
Okay, I'm going to start off with just a brief little aside: It's been a hell of a week and my creative energies are not where I thought...

Nicole M. Tota
Dec 5, 20225 min read
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My Hamster Wheel (Notes on Getting Back on Track)
Alright, y'all. Real talk here: I have been on the struggle bus. I've been having difficulty balancing my mental health with my...

Nicole M. Tota
Nov 28, 20224 min read
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Trash to Treasure: A First Chapter Journey
Hot take, right out the gate, because I'm feeling a little spicy today. I think every writer in the history of creation can benefit from...

Nicole M. Tota
Nov 21, 202212 min read
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Worldbuilding: A Comparison of Strategies
Since I last posted, I've done absolutely nada on Manuscript 3 (the sapphic dystopian romance I was hoping to do for NaNoWriMo), and...

Nicole M. Tota
Nov 14, 20226 min read
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An Unofficial Guide to Finding Your Voice
This is going to be a post about voice, I promise. But first, absolutely none of it will make sense without some... Updates: Manuscript 1...

Nicole M. Tota
Nov 7, 20228 min read
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Why I've Created a Writing Twitter
Originally, I ended this to be a ramble about how I've decided to do NaNoWriMo this year, because I am slowly going stir-crazy during my...

Nicole M. Tota
Nov 2, 20224 min read
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How Not to Write a Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Here's the thing: I've just finished Draft 4 revisions at this point and I'm waiting for the dust to settle before I pick it back up for...

Nicole M. Tota
Oct 24, 20224 min read
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Bless the Beta Readers: Why Having a Second Set of Eyes is Essential
Picture this: it's August 2021, I'm reaching the end of a brutal summer working in the archives--no AC!--and I've just completed my first...

Nicole M. Tota
Oct 19, 20226 min read
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How (Not) to Finish Your Manuscript
Small caveat before you read any further: I am a firm believer that no manuscript is ever done. I say this as someone who has now...

Nicole M. Tota
Sep 27, 20225 min read
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