A. W. Slack

A review series of the tome. Writing Course.

Introduction to tome.

What important information is taught in tome’s Getting Started module:

• “The purpose of tome. is to help you ask the right questions so you can find the right answers to help you write the amazing novel that you’ve always dreamed of writing.”
• “Writing a novel can be intimidating! That’s why tome. breaks down the writing process into manageable and actionable steps.”
• “Every task that you find in tome. is designed with a specific purpose in mind — to help you actually write and finish your novel! Most tasks are designed to be completed in around 15 minutes. These tasks build on each other to help you make daily progress.”
• “Your custom toolkit is personalized to where you are in the writing process, your writing strengths, and where you could use a little more support.”
• “Our team designed every task to help you think more deeply and effectively about your story and to help you actually write your novel in real-time.”

My tome. toolkit includes different types of tasks:

• Resource lessons – Each lesson will break down an important aspect of the writing process to its most essential parts.
• Action items – Action Items are designed to help you put what you learn into practice.
• Key tools – Key Tools are designed to help you identify the most important elements of your writing routine, your story arc, your plot, your characters, and the shape of your story.
• Checklists – You’ll work through each Checklist by evaluating your story structure, your writing mechanics, your voice, and your writing routine.
• Minicourses – Minicourses are designed to help you achieve deep focus on some of writing’s thorniest problems.

Writing a book is a cumulative process: every principle, thought, and action builds the next.

tome. has a library of hundreds of writing prompts in its Inspiration tab. You are also able to return to any lesson through its Path tab.

Everything written in the app is automatically saved for later. Task summaries and any written answers to all questions can be exported to a PDF or Word document.

Finding Your Recipe

A novel is nothing if you don’t have an amazing story at its center. But, what is story? Your story is the emotional arc that your reader experiences over the course of your book. “No novel will reach its full potential unless it embodies a few core elements of good storytelling.”

There are three primary elements of good storytelling essential to a successful novel:

1. A protagonist the reader can care about
2. A well-defined conflict
3. A protentional transformation

From the beginning of the writing process to the end, if you don’t have a firm grasp on your story, you’re more likely to encounter problems with your writing.

Action Item: Writing Reflection

Writing a novel is a deeply personal experience. Ask yourself, “Why does writing a novel matter to me?” And perhaps even more important, “Why is this novel something only I can write?” Knowing what makes your perspective unique is essential to writing a successful novel.

Most writers think they want to write a work of literature hailed as a classic or that sells as a commercial hit. While admirable goals, it’s hard to write a novel when hamstringing to expectations about how others will perceive your novel.

“By focusing on how your novel will be received by future readers, you can easily lose sight of what makes your novel great: the fact that it will be written by you and not by somebody else.”

Instead, question why you are writing the right novel for you.

• What do I want to accomplish in this story?
• Why is this story worth me telling?
• How will I offer a unique perspective as an author?

Action Item: Identifying Your Reasons

To write a novel is to embark on a journey. Every writer is on a mission.

“That’s why it’s essential to establish your vision for your novel from the very beginning – so when you encounter obstacles, writer’s block, plot holes, and any manner of writing detour, you know what to do to refocus your efforts and get back on track.”

Action Item: Your Writing Mission Statement

The primary purpose of your Mission Statement is to clarify why your story matters to you and to create a vision of what your story could be.

My Writing Mission Statement:
I create fractured and immersive worlds that transport my readers. My stories are imaginative epic fantasies rooted in real human emotions. I write clever twists with unexpected turns so my stories shine a light on the unpredictability of real life. My current work in progress is a fantasy story where the chosen one isn’t meant to save the world. Instead, she’s meant to decide whether it deserves to survive.

The Confidence to Start

Every writer gets stuck at some point in the process of writing a book. The creative process is plagued by obstacles: whether it’s writer’s block, plot holes, or plain old self-doubt.

Here’s a fact: writing is hard.

There is no one right way to write a novel. Actually, it’s more likely there are infinite ways to write a novel and succeed. At the end of the day, the only right way is the way that works for you.

One wrong way to write a novel is to force yourself to follow a method that doesn’t fit you. The less you enjoy the writing process, the worse your writing will be. Ultimately, readers, agents, and publishers won’t want to engage with your book.

“A key component of finding your voice as a writer and accomplishing your goals is to identify what might be holding you back.”

Though valid, those feelings are hardly ever true.

There are two true obstacles to writing a novel:

1. Your creative life doesn’t have enough room to grow.
2. Self-doubt prevents you from thinking of yourself as a writer.

“Expressing your creativity shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s an essential part of being alive.”

Action Item: Name Your True Obstacles

Writing is a lot like an iceberg — what we see floating is only a small fraction of its full imposing height.

Being a writer does not mean spending hours toiling away at a desk. Much of the work that goes into writing a novel happens before actually putting pen to paper. It is in the hours between when you’re running errands or doing the mundane of life.

“Writing is a practice that can be present in all parts of your life if you give it the proper space to grow.”

Writing requires discipline to sit down and type. Creativity, though, requires more freedom. Creative freedom means you’re allowing your brain space to imagine and notice.

• You think and dream about your story.
• You know you’ll feel inspired again even when you hit a wall with your writing.
• You notice more when you read others’ work.
• You feel inspired to write about things you notice in every day life.

Imagination is an essential part of writing a book. To achieve creative freedom means being intentional about cultivating creativity into daily habits.

Action Item: Creative Assessment

Writing is not a linear process and much of writing a novel happens behind the scenes.