Coloring My Way to "The End"

Celebrating the "Tiny Wins" of Writing With the Brilliant Katherine Center Hack

A few years ago, I borrowed a brilliant bit of wisdom from the ever-inspiring author Katherine Center: for every ten pages I complete in my work-in-progress, I color in a rectangle.

It’s a simple ritual, but it’s wildly effective. In the long, often lonely slog of drafting a novel, these vibrant squares act as my personal cheerleaders. Each one is a tiny, tactile celebration—a visual reminder that even on the days when the words feel slow, I am moving forward. There’s a deep, quiet satisfaction in watching a blank grid transform into a rainbow of progress.

My big win for April? I’ve officially hit the home stretch of my new book, Insatiable. Looking at my tracker, I’m so close to the finish line I can practically taste it! ✍️✨

Of course, "The End" is a bit of a moving target. My books almost always stretch past the 300-page mark, and finishing the draft is just the first peak of the mountain. I still have to craft the back cover copy, nail that elusive two-line hook, and dive into the marathon of revisions.

But for right now? I’m not worrying about the "what’s next." I’m just enjoying the view from the 310-page mark and getting ready to color in those last few squares.