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  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
    • The 90-Day Memoir®
    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
    • The Rewrite Master Class
    • The 30-Day Outline
    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
    • Class Calendar
  • writing resources
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • editing services
    • books
    • videos
    • audio
    • writing challenge
    • envision
    • write on thursdays
    • other free resources
  • retreats
    • Tuscany Retreat
    • Solo Retreats
  • blog
    • How to Outline a Book
    • How to Write a Memoir
    • How to Write a Novel
    • How to Write a Screenplay
    • Story Structure
    • Character Development
    • The Writing Process
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    • Book Editing
    • How to Publish a Book
    • Writers on Writing
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Blog, First-Time Novelist, General, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How to Publish a Book

Master the path to publication. Learn how to polish your manuscript, query literary agents, handle rejection, and weigh the pros of self-publishing.

Alan WattApril 7, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Free, Novel / Fiction, Resources

A Guide to Pen Names

Create a powerful tool to protect your personhood and work with a pen name, but establish it intentionally and early in your career in order to use this device of authorship cleverly.

Alan WattMarch 27, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Inspiration, Novel / Fiction

Follow the Dog: On Persistence and Self-Trust

Tess Callahan details her journey through authorship and publishing her manuscripts--the difficulty of not feeling enough as a writer and ultimately getting the break she owed herself.

Tess CallahanMarch 25, 2026
First-Time Novelist, General, Inspiration

4 Tips for Writing a Novel

Monica Lourens shares tips on how to write a novel and find one's individual strength to finish their work.

Monica Bergers LourensMarch 22, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction, Resources

How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?

"How long does it take to write a book" is a question of daily schedule. A solid outline and forward movement allows any writer to finish on time.

Alan WattMarch 20, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Resources

The Pantser Method: Writing Without an Outline

Learn how to hone your strengths as a "pantser." Discovery-based writers often succeed with creative freedom and spontaneity, but successful narratives still require an underlying structure of character transformation to avoid losing direction.

Alan WattMarch 19, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Screenwriting

Morning Pages: A Daily Habit to Boost Creativity

“Morning pages” is the term coined by Julia Cameron in her work The Artist’s Way used to describe the habit of sitting […]

Alan WattFebruary 6, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Memoir, Novel / Fiction

How to Start Writing a Book: The No-Fluff Starter Guide

Welcome! And congratulations! If you’re reading this, you are about to begin a creative journey that can bring satisfaction and a deepening […]

Alan WattFebruary 3, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

What is a Novella? Key Characteristics Explained

Some of literature’s greatest stories aren’t in novel form at all, but a different kind of prose. Rich characters like George Milton […]

Alan WattJanuary 27, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

“How Many Words in a Novel?”

How many words long should your novel be? The short answer is . . . as long as it needs to be. […]

Alan WattJanuary 16, 2026
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

Novels vs Books — What’s the Difference?

The words “book” and “novel” are sometimes used interchangeably. But they actually mean different things. In this article, I’ll describe the differences […]

Alan WattDecember 25, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

The Essential Guide to Novel Structure for Writers

A novel’s story structure is an essential aspect to creating a compelling narrative. While the beginnings of a story emerge from the […]

Alan WattDecember 20, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

What is a Novel? Definition, History, and Key Characteristics

We use the word novel casually, as if it simply means “a long story,” but a novel is defined by more than […]

Alan WattDecember 19, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Novel / Fiction

Novel Genres: Top 9 Fiction Categories

When talking about your writing project with a friend, one of their first questions will likely be “What is the genre?” To […]

Alan WattDecember 14, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Rewriting, Screenwriting

Rhetorical Devices: The Art of Arguing

In the modern world where the town square is a digital place and the zeitgeist is a worldwide phenomenon, we don’t practice […]

Alan WattDecember 3, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Rewriting, Screenwriting

Literary Devices: A Writer’s Palette

Literary devices are the various techniques writers employ to create stylistic effects, convey deeper meaning, evoke emotion, and enhance the overall impact […]

Alan WattDecember 2, 2025
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Inspiration, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Screenwriting

Never Give Up

I was a half decent 800-meter runner in high school, not great, but I ran with a lot of heart, and sometimes […]

Alan WattAugust 20, 2024
Blog, First-Time Novelist, Memoir, Novel / Fiction, Outline, Screenwriting

The Value of an Outline

What’s the point of an outline? Whether consciously or not, every writer is in search of a process. A lot of writers […]

Alan WattJune 23, 2024
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Workshops

  • the 90-day novel®
  • the 90-day memoir®
  • the 90-day screenplay™
  • story day
  • rewrite master class
  • 30-day outline
  • siren tales: a women’s writing workshop
  • Tuscany writing retreat
  • envision: creative goal setting
  • writing challenge
  • solo/couples retreat
  • the 90-day novel®
  • the 90-day memoir®
  • the 90-day screenplay™
  • story day
  • rewrite master class
  • 30-day outline
  • siren tales: a women’s writing workshop
  • Tuscany writing retreat
  • envision: creative goal setting
  • writing challenge
  • solo/couples retreat

Creativity is your birthright. Your sole purpose is to build a body of work.

The written signature of Alan Watt, writing teacher

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alanwatt.com
  • writing classes
    • The 90-Day Novel®
    • The 90-Day Memoir®
    • The 90-Day Screenplay™
    • The Rewrite Master Class
    • The 30-Day Outline
    • Siren Tales: A Women’s Writing Workshop
    • Story Day
    • Class Calendar
  • writing resources
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • editing services
    • books
    • videos
    • audio
    • writing challenge
    • envision
    • write on thursdays
    • other free resources
  • retreats
    • Tuscany Retreat
    • Solo Retreats
  • blog
    • How to Outline a Book
    • How to Write a Memoir
    • How to Write a Novel
    • How to Write a Screenplay
    • Story Structure
    • Character Development
    • The Writing Process
    • Writing Techniques
    • Writing Resources & Tools
    • Book Editing
    • How to Publish a Book
    • Writers on Writing
  • meet Alan
  • contact
  • log In
  • log out
  • Join Free
  • ⠀