Week 2 Recap

Week 2: Writing Check-In
I got a late start this week because I finished up some work on a script I’ve been excited about. Both the script and my novel are about two women who share a close friendship, and I wanted to complete one before starting the next. Today (Thursday as of writing this) I wrote the first words of my novel. They are, of course, quite terrible, but we must begin somewhere. I won’t fall in love with the story until I get to know the characters a little more. As it is, I’ve already changed one’s name from Rosalie to Caroline, and I’m not completely sold on that yet.
All of this is to say, if you’re feeling scattered overwhelmed, or lost—you’re in the perfect spot. It takes about 30,000 words before I go back and read what I have so far and start to make sense of it all.

🔎 Last Week’s Recap

• Key Takeaway 1 → Setting up formatting from the start will save you tons of time in the long run.
• Key Takeaway 2 → POV is a tool, some say it’s the engine of the narrative. Choose wisely.
• Key Takeaway 3 → Give yourself the gift of time.

📚 Next Week’s Focus: Word Count & Genre Expectations
Here’s something I wish I knew before I wrote my first book—Genre Matters. I sat down and wrote a book I loved and then hired an editor to help me with it. It was from her that I learned it was a romance novel. I didn’t even read romance. I still don’t… But reading within your genre, interacting with readers and other authors, and knowing the genre expectations are all keys to the success of your book. This includes finding representation for it, landing a publishing contract, and then marketing before and after the release.
Once you know the genre of the book you’re writing, you’ll have an idea of what your total word count should be. These aren’t set in stone, only guidelines. Reedsy has a great article outlining word count here. You can also look at the latest book you’ve read. The rule is: Number of Pages x 250. So, if you’re reading a 300-page book, it’s about 75,000 words.
Need help identifying your story’s genre? Check out the articles below.

• Literary Fiction vs. Genre Fiction by Sean Glatch
• What’s Your Genre? A High-Level Overview for Writers by Jane Friedman
• What are the Different Genres of Literature: A Guide to 14 Literary Genres at Masterclass

 


🗂 Additional Resources Related to Genre
It’s far too soon to start querying agents, but it’s never too soon to think about it. Some even recommend writing the back cover copy prior to writing the novel to focus the story. Check out these randomly selected agents’ request pages and note the genres. When your manuscript is complete, this is the information you’ll look for because not every literary agent represents every genre of writing.
Agent Requests – Note the genres.

• https://maassagency.com/jennifer-goloboy/
• https://www.corvisieroagency.com/marisa-corvisiero.html
• https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/dconaway/
• https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/agents/amanda-annis/

🚀 This Week’s Challenge
Find a literary agent and follow them on social media. It can be as simple as googling, “Who is the literary agent representing [insert author’s name of the last book you read here]?” You can also generally google something like, “literary agents representing literary fiction set in Scotland” or whatever hits near your story idea.

 
I’m trying to be much more intentional with this novel. In fact, in writing to you about genre this week, it has me second guessing my story premise. Which is preferable to second guessing it 50,000 words in. I hope you’re enjoying the writing journey. It can be challenging, but I promise, it’s worth it. Enjoy writing this week.
Best,
Eliza
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