Maybe you know how to write a short story or essay. Maybe you could do that in your sleep.

But a novel is a different beast.

Having written and published three novels myself, I'm going to break down the full process of writing a novel into seven steps.

Let me guess, you're here watching because you don't want your dialogue to sound like a third grade play? "Hello there, sir. To whom shall I address this letter?"

I'm going to give you FIVE TIPS for writing dialogue that sounds like people actually talk!

Writing my first novel, When You Read This, my agent gave me the feedback that she loved it, but everyone sounded like me. Whoops. So how did I write like other people talk? I wanted to be realistic, but I also needed to capture different character voices in my prose.

Dear Mary,

Do you have suggestions for dealing with the struggle that the idea in your head is so much better than the way it comes out on paper?

When this question came up in our weekly group coaching call, there were a lot of nods. I think this is a struggle that many writers relate to—the disappointment of the words on paper failing to live up to our novel idea.

I certainly relate to it. Every book I've written has been better in my head, and of course it has—reality can't compete with an imaginary ideal. Our ideals don't have flaws—we conveniently leave those out in our fantasies!

But for some writers, this discrepancy between ideal and reality—the fear of writing disappointment—can be paralyzing.

When I was 18 years old, I signed up for my first college creative writing class, The Short Story. My experience turned me against feedback-based writing programs forever.

Dear Mary,

Do you have suggestions for dealing with the struggle that the idea in your head is so much better than the way it comes out on paper?

When this question came up in our weekly group coaching call, there were a lot of nods. I think this is a struggle that many writers relate to—the disappointment of the words on paper failing to live up to our novel idea.

I certainly relate to it. Every book I've written has been better in my head, and of course it has—reality can't compete with an imaginary ideal. Our ideals don't have flaws—we conveniently leave those out in our fantasies!

But for some writers, this discrepancy between ideal and reality—the fear of writing disappointment—can be paralyzing.

Today we’re talking about—DUNH DUNH DUNH—the 3-act structure.

I used to be very intimidated by the 3-act structure. I listened to a very intimidating audiobook called Story and it included some line about how, if I made one wrong decision, my entire story would fall apart, and I turned it off immediately.

There are four types of point of view in literature, and choosing the right one for your novel is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

First, good news: You’re actually only picking from three, because no one writes in Second Person, unless you’re looking to be very adventurous

When I was 18 years old, I signed up for my first college creative writing class, The Short Story. My experience turned me against feedback-based writing programs forever.

I have been in your shoes before, and I want to save you hours of work—and months of grief—by sharing what I wish I had known as a bright-eyed, book hungry writer trying to get a literary agent. I am sharing my top 5 Don'ts (and corresponding Do's) of how to get a literary agent.