It’s been a rough year, for all of us. And as October came to a close, I decided that I needed a project that I could actually control.

November is National Novel Writing Month. All across the country, writers set out to write the first draft of a novel during the thirty days of November. If you’re thinking about trying it, here are a few tips.

Years ago I was putting a dish in the oven. The pan tilted. I tried to save it. And I ended up hitting my hand against the inside of the 450 degree oven. In that moment of shock and burning pain what came out of my mouth in front of all three of my children?

Writers will sometimes refer to themselves as pantsers or planners. They are talking about how they plot. Do they write by the seat of their pants and see what happens? Or do they plan out every detail before they start a draft?

I chose the movie Elf because it makes me laugh. But during this viewing I noticed that it also teaches some excellent lessons on writing.

I love a story that makes me laugh, not at someone, but at the ridiculousness of the situation, or at a perfectly timed comment. And when I’m in the right mood, I love a story that makes me cry.

I like my comfort zone. It has cozy furniture and a nice view out the window. If I had my way, it would never change. But occasionally, life kicks out a wall and forces me to add a room. This month it’s been in the form of a website.

I have applied a number of Cleaver’s recommendations, but what I come back to again and again, is what he calls The Big Five, the five elements that every successful story, and scene, need. They are: