Are you a writer whose mind is a whirlwind of creativity and distraction? Welcome to Writing While Distracted, the podcast designed to help you transform your scattered thoughts into literary brilliance. I'm your host, Brenda Murphy, your NeuroSpicy writing coach. In this episode, we dive into the 11 essential steps to writing your novel, offering practical advice tailored for neurodivergent writers. From harnessing your initial idea and expanding it, to pre-writing, drafting, and revising, we break down each step with actionable tips. Learn how to manage your research time, develop compelling characters, and navigate the intricacies of editing and formatting. Whether you're aiming to submit your work to publishers or self-publish, this episode provides a structured roadmap to guide you through the process. Join us as we explore techniques to stay focused amidst the chaos of your mind, celebrate your milestones, and prepare for your next writing project. With valuable resources and links available in the show notes, this episode is your starting point for turning your creative whirlwind into a finished novel. Tune in, stay inspired, and keep writing! Show Notes Season One Episode 6 Full disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links and I get a small commission if you use the link, it does not affect the price you pay for the item or service. Free Resources for writers: https://brendalmurphy.com/resources-for-writers/   Here is the link for the list of Steps for Writing a Novel:  https://BookHip.com/VRGFVSR Here is the link for the Character Workbook  https://BookHip.com/HDPNDMX Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon. (https://books2read.com/u/mq7Rg8)  Conflict is story, and Debra Dixon’s Goal Motivation and Conflict is one of the best writing books I have ever read. She offers free tools on her website that will get you started with knowing your characters on a deeper level, and crafting story arcs that will keep your readers turning pages. Scrappy Rough Draft by Donna Baker. (https://books2read.com/u/mvLRo) This book is the one to read if you are struggling with getting yourself to start. Full of great ideas and motivation treat yourself to this book that feels like your bestie is right there beside your chair cheering you on as you write. Build Better Characters by Eileen Cook. (https://books2read.com/u/bMAvRk)  Compelling characters and their change/growth are an essential part of fiction. Elaine’s book helps you get to the nuts and bolts of why your characters do the things they do. Chock full of helpful worksheets and ideas, this book is well worth your time. Make A Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld. (https://books2read.com/u/mgDvE7)  This book radically changed how I develop my storylines. A book is a collection of scenes and this book lays out how to string your scenes together to have your readers anxious to read what comes next. The best book in my opinion if you are struggling with the infamous “show don’t tell” writing advice. For those of us who are freaking out at the idea of writing an entire book (all those words!), working scene by scene helps with perspective. On those days I struggle overwhelm, I can remind myself I can move the novel forward one scene at a time.   Creative Penn https://www.thecreativepenn.com/resources-new/ This site is full of free and useful information about writing and self-publishing. Ingram Spark (https://www.ingramspark.com/how-to-self-publish-a-book)  Check out this concise list of how to publish your book. The Creative Academy for Writers is loaded with free information about writing and publishing your book.  https://creativeacademyforwriters.com Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/)  I love Scrivener. It has a learning curve but it also has multiple tools that help me keep track of all my scattered thoughts and ideas that eventually become a book. It has helped my process more than anything else I have invested in since I started writing. Learn Scrivener Fast