Writers are told to “study the market.” For freelance writers, Jenna Glatzer, editor-in-chief of AbsoluteWrite, explains it well in her book Make a Real Living As a Freelance Writer.  But how do I do it if I’m writing a novel?  I’ve found two answers so far:

1. A technique called “mapping.”  I don’t know who came up with this method, but I’m learning how to do it in an online course conducted by author/editor Suzanne James.  Mapping helps you identify the patterns common to a specific genre, such as:

• What drives the story: the situation or the character?

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It’s appropriate that my first entry is about commitment. I’ve been hesitant to jump into blogging because I didn’t want to start something and not keep it up. Everything I’ve read about blogging indicates that consistency is equal to content in importance. Which means that if I don’t intent to blog regularly there’s no benefit to it. So why have I decided to start blogging today?

First, because I need to write something on a daily basis and nothing else I’ve tried has given me the consistency I feel is necessary if I’m serious about writing.  I’ve had a million excuses. Hopefully, a public commitment like this will be the impetus I need.

Second, because I keep nagging a friend of mine about the marketing merits of blogging. My published friend (bless her!) is following my suggestion and blogging away while writing a new novel. So you can understand why I might be feeling a bit hypocritical for not walking what I talk.

Third, I want to display this  on my site,

and the only way I can do that is to participate in NaNoWriMo

 Hey, whatever it takes to get me writing on a regular basis, right?