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7 ways to fix a boring book (and avoid getting stuck in the middle)

7 ways to fix a boring book (and avoid getting stuck in the middle)

Stuck in the middle of a NaNoWriMo draft? These fixes work in November too. For planning the month, my NaNoWriMo 2026 prep page has free outline templates and tools. Last night I searched for how to fix a boring book, because I was stuck and frustrated. I’ve been procrastinating for weeks and just couldn’t get

Derek Murphy procrastination, writer's block, writing prompt, writing tips 1099
Are you heroic? How to persevere when things look bleak.

Are you heroic? How to persevere when things look bleak.

It’s 4:54am in Cleveland, and I can’t sleep. I elected to stay in a youth hostel and it’s quite nice, but my sole roommate has been coughing all night like he has some 18th century affliction. I had hoped to get a solid night’s sleep but now I’m in the common area, in the dark,

Derek Murphy hero's journey, insecurity, self-doubt, writer's block 308
The secret to finishing your novel (8 tips for self-motivating persistently)

The secret to finishing your novel (8 tips for self-motivating persistently)

This is a guest post from Bridget at Now Novel – she’s going to get the conversation started and I’ll finish up with my own thoughts. You’ve taken the leap into actually putting words on paper and getting started on that novel you’ve always wanted to write, but how do make sure that you keep

Derek Murphy finish a novel, finish your book, writer's block, writing a novel, writing motivation 156
“Be the flame, not the moth.”
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Writing, publishing, and creative business advice for indie authors.
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Free novel outlining template for Google docs
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The 8 brilliant fonts you NEED to use in your book layout (with type combos & samples)
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The horrible hidden truth behind the Secret Life of Walter Mitty that’s keeping you from your dreams.
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Best Free AI Image Generator 2026 (No Signup, Tested + Ranked)
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