Now What?

The "Now What?" Months

During the “Now What?” Months in January and February, we support the revision and publishing process.

It’s an extension of our anything-goes, fun-filled noveling philosophy, with the added aim of helping you fulfill your novel’s potential: from first draft to final.

Check out additional resources on our blog, or start chatting on the “Now What?” forums now!

Set new goals for your novel.

Introducing Goal Trackers!

Use our Goal Trackers to set a creative goal for the beginning of the year, whether you want to keep track of the words added to your draft, or the hours you spend revising.

Track your next creative goal!

Sign our official Revision Promise.

Polish your novel at a #NaNoNowWhat event!

To see what time an event starts in your time zone, click into the event, then click “copy to my calendar”.

 

Video resources

From virtual write-ins to short tip videos to webcasts with the pros, we’ve compiled some video resources to help you publish, edit, and revise. Check out our playlist on YouTube!

See all our “Now What?” videos on YouTube.

Use these resources to make a revision and publishing plan.

Need advice, inspiration, or guides to beginning the revision process? Curious about which publishing method could be best for you? Check out these resources.

Our “Now What?” Library

Title Author Topic Likes
6 Tips for Polishing Your NaNoWriMo Manuscript June Casagrande Editing and Revision 196
Your Writing and Revision Checklist NaNo Staff Editing and Revision 553
5 Ways to Improve Your Action Sequences Bethany Nolan Editing and Revision 472
7 Tips for the Reluctant Editor Rebecca Frost Editing and Revision 209
How to Research the Agent That’s Best for You Jane Friedman Publishing 312
5 Tips from a Graphic Designer on Creating an Impactful Book Cover Charlene Maguire Publishing 239
How to Write Your Rough Draft 2.0 Osie Cairn Editing and Revision 203
3 First-Time Self-Publishing Mistakes to Avoid Joaquín Alberto Pineda Publishing 244
6 Tips for Turning Your Novel Draft Into a Submission Samar Hammam Editing and Revision 237
4 Things to Focus on in Your First Rewrite Martin Cavannagh Editing and Revision 813
Ponder Before You Print Rebecca Milton Publishing 100
2 Rules for Typing Through Your Problems Jessica Guernsey Editing and Revision 231
Find Perspective on Your Novel with a Critique Community Shannon Burnette Feedback and Groups 137
Fantastic Agents and Where to Find Them Lauren Karcz Publishing 419
Chasing Unicorns: Publishing Tips from a Pro Who’s Seen It All Silver James Publishing 203
3 Pro Tips to Get Your Story Traditionally Published Shireen Hakim Publishing 488
3 Things to Remember When You Beta-Read Sonali Dev Feedback and Groups 291
I Published My NaNo-Novel: My 7-Step Revision Process Angela Quarles NaNo-Novel 168
Why Revising Your Novel Can Mean Filling It With Stuff You Like Michelle Hodkin Editing and Revision 1383
5 Tips for Being a Good Beta Reader Danielle Paige Feedback and Groups 246
I Published My NaNo-Novel: 8 Steps to Get You Through the Revision Marathon Kat Yeh NaNo-Novel 153
I Published My NaNo-Novel: 4 Things I Learned from Teaching Revision Alison Stine NaNo-Novel 152
A Roadmap for Revising Your Novel James Scott Bell Editing and Revision 257
An Overview of the Publishing Landscape Brooke Warner Publishing 130
How to Tell the Difference Between Constructive and Destructive Feedback M Todd Gallowglas Feedback and Groups 250
How to Find an Audience for Your Book Orna Ross Publishing 127
How to Build a Welcoming Author Site Sophie Walker Publishing 235
Producing and Distributing Your Book Independently Orna Ross Publishing 168
The Top 4 Tips to Take Publishing by Storm H.M. Ward Publishing 112
How to Self-Publish a Well-Designed Book Orna Ross Publishing 185
Don’t Give Up on Your Goal Beth Revis Pep Talk 116
3 Key Tips to Help You Sell Your First Novel Ashton Quinn Parker Publishing 351
Taming the Octopus: How to Self-Publish Without Getting Squeezed Ruth Kaufman Publishing 287
Top 10 “Do”s and “Don’t”s of Writing a Query Letter Elizabeth K. Kracht Publishing 556
How to Conquer the Dreaded “Now What” Months…Together! Gavin Cameron Pep Talk 53
How and Why to Find Critique Partners for Your Novel Dan Koboldt Feedback and Groups 178
The 4 R’s of Editing A.K. Child Editing and Revision 219
Congratulations—You’re Only Halfway Done! Laura VanArendonk Baugh Editing and Revision 313
4 Tips to Un-Fry Your Brain and Polish Your Novel E.A. Comiskey Editing and Revision 463
It’s Time to Abandon Your Creative Comfort Zone Meg Dowell Pep Talk 183
Putting Your Work Out There Katharine Gripp Pep Talk 94
How to Maintain Your Writing Momentum Neal Thompson Pep Talk 315
After the Battle: 4 Post-NaNo Tips from a Published Wrimo Sarah Raughley Editing and Revision 134
6 Tips for Finding Perfect Beta Readers Jody T. Morse Feedback and Groups 217
6 Ways to Approach Your Edits with Objectivity Elizabeth Kracht Editing and Revision 373
I Published My NaNo-Novel: Using Traditional and Self-publishing Angela Highland NaNo-Novel 173
Critique Circle Basics: How to Set Up a Writing Group Kathy Kitts Feedback and Groups 82
How an Editor Can Catch the Things You Miss Cass R. Morris Editing and Revision 111
7 Tips to Help You Edit Your Novel Derek Murphy Editing and Revision 360
5 Quotes on Editing N/A Editing and Revision 308
I Published My NaNo-Novel: How to Wait Productively Katharine Webber NaNo-Novel 121
I Self-Published My NaNo-Novel: Creating a Marketing Plan Manuel Ruiz NaNo-Novel 102
Unexpected Resources that Can Help You Publish Your Novel Jeannie Zokan Publishing 119
Where the Story Comes In E. J. Runyon Editing and Revision 95

 

Find a community of writers and critique partners.

As always, there’s no better encouragement than your fellow writers. Meet beta readers and sympathetic ears here:

Swap novels with fellow Wrimos through the “Now What?” forums.

Find a writing group with sponsor Scribophile.

Publish Your NaNoWriMo Book with Free Title Upload to IngramSpark.

Try Fictionary: The New Editing Tool for Fiction!