How do you write a novel in 29 days? The same way you write a novel in 21 days, only slower.

This past November, I wrote my second novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), completing the required 50,000 words the day before the deadline. But my experience this time was very different from when I wrote my first novel, Mesothelioma Lawyers, New York.

Last time, the words flowed effortlessly. It was a lot of work, for sure, but nothing was forced. This time, it was really a chore, and the results show it. There’s only one semi-decent character, and the plot is held together by supernatural band-aids.

The whole point of NaNoWriMo is to go for quantity over quality, and just get a first draft done quickly instead of editing yourself to death and never finishing. So this was a success in that I crossed the finish line. I’m going to make a few revisions, then post it anonymously on one of my other sites.

Some people say that you can’t force inspiration when your muse is on sabbatical. Others say that writer’s block is a lame excuse to avoid work. What do you say?

I just picked up The Power by Rhonda Byrne, thinking it would make a good gift for someone. She says she felt inspired to write this sequel to The Secret after answering several thousand reader letters, and that it contains the essence of everything she’s learned since then.

Based on this, I was surprised to find that it’s a very toned down version of The Secret, feeling much more like a prequel than a sequel. It’s actually a halfway decent book, but probably not what its readers would want. People who didn’t like The Secret won’t like The Power either, and people who did like The Secret will find The Power to be a very weak second act. Oh well.

Now, can you guess what “the power” is, the greatest force in the universe and the key to having everything you want? Hint: it’s not a genie, it’s not quantum physics, and it’s not really even the law of attraction. Go ahead, take a guess.

If you could achieve anything in just one year, what would you do? Clone dinosaurs? Achieve 0% body fat? Swim around the world at warp 10? Discover the lost treasure of the Knights Templar? Sneeze with your eyes open?

Nothing is off the table if you read Achieve Anything In Just One Year by Jason Harvey, a Certified Life Coach and the founder of The Limitless Institute.

OK, the title is perhaps a bit exaggerated, but you already knew that. A more accurate (though less marketable) title would be “Daily Bite-Sized Self Improvement Tips for a Whole Year: Makes a Great Holiday Gift.”

This comprehensive and inspiring book shows you how to do things such as:

• Set goals and stick with them
• Take daily action that creates a ripple effect
• Stay motivated, focused and balanced
• Feel happier every day
• Define, pursue and celebrate personal success

Yes, a lot of books cover this kind of stuff, but what sets this book apart from the pack is the way it’s organized. The page-a-day format was a fantastic idea, and I definitely think that if you read one page a day and really take the time to think about it, do the exercises, and put it into practice, then major transformation is possible.

I’ll be giving away my copy as a Christmas present, since New Year’s is the perfect time to begin the 365 day program. If you’re short on holiday gift ideas, this would make a good one for a lot of people.

Keep in mind that while this book has enough material to cover all of 2011, it can’t cover all of 2012 because of the leap year and the 366th day. (Of course, that could be a moot point, considering the end of the world in 2012.)