David Given Schwarm

One of the nicest side effects of a huge creative challenge like a monthlong novel is the way it breaks routine, altering the overly familiar time-tables of our daily lives. As you head toward the fourth week of the escape, you’ve likely created a host of new schedules and routines to help cram writing time into your busy life. As a result, your characters have come to expect a visit from you at certain times.

Your mission for the next two days: sneak attack. If you’ve been writing early in the morning, sleep late and hold a midnight session. Night owls should become afternoon owls. Leverage the potential of change to catch your book off-guard and inject energy into your story.