Habits are formed by doing things day after day, even if we don't necessarily feel like doing them. This includes writing. Making writing a daily (or almost daily - rest is important!) habit sometimes requires pounding out words even if they all feel like garbage. But sometimes, it's okay to put yourself in a "writing … Continue reading Renewed Energy: Putting Yourself in a Writing Mood
Writing Tips
2 MORE Cheats That Instantly Fix a Scene
I wasn't lying to you the other week, I promise. Those "cheats" I talked about in my Friday post a couple of weeks ago really are the first ones I go to when I get stuck with a scene. But soon after writing that post, I realised that there are two more fixes I look … Continue reading 2 MORE Cheats That Instantly Fix a Scene
2 Quick Cheats That Instantly Fix a Scene
Have you ever been editing a scene that you've written and just get the feeling that something vital is missing? You've followed all the beats, made sure your dialogue is solid, fleshed out all of the characters, and yet, something isn't quite right. I've come across this feeling countless times. Sometimes, the only solution in … Continue reading 2 Quick Cheats That Instantly Fix a Scene
Stick the Landing: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 10
Welcome to the final instalment in my ten-part series where we’ve gone through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ve pounded out the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is … Continue reading Stick the Landing: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 10
Reblog: 7 Unproductive Tech Habits and How to Deal with Them by Make Your Biz Fizz
We all know bad tech habits can really damage our productivity, but do you know which you’re prone to? Resisting the urge to interact with the technology around us can be challenging. In consequence, it’s easy to pick up bad, unproductive tech habits without being aware of them. In the rest of […] 7 Unproductive Tech … Continue reading Reblog: 7 Unproductive Tech Habits and How to Deal with Them by Make Your Biz Fizz
The Thrawn Trilogy: The Importance of Story “Cleanup”
There are good endings, the ones that leave us crying or make us smile, blessing us with a feeling of wonderful satisfaction. There are bad endings, the ones that make us yell and throw our books against the wall. Why do we never talk about the "meh" endings? Because they, perhaps, are the worst kind … Continue reading The Thrawn Trilogy: The Importance of Story “Cleanup”
Are You Cheating the “Show Don’t Tell” Rule with Dialogue?: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 9
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll pound out the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is … Continue reading Are You Cheating the “Show Don’t Tell” Rule with Dialogue?: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 9
Conflict Keeps Interest: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 8
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll pound out the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is more detailed on … Continue reading Conflict Keeps Interest: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 8
Reblog: 7 Ways to Find Telling in Your Writing by First Edition Design Publishing
...I’ve since discovered that it’s almost impossible to see Telling in your own writing just by reading. The story you’re sharing is alive in your mind, playing like a movie, with every detail available to your brain, from the pink sky your characters stand under in your scene, to the low hum of traffic in the distance. … Continue reading Reblog: 7 Ways to Find Telling in Your Writing by First Edition Design Publishing
Resource: How to Write a Catchy Back Cover Blurb That Sells from MasterClass
Once a reader sees a book cover design and thinks the book title is intriguing, what’s next? What helps them decide if they want to make the purchase? They might flip to the back of your book or to the dust jacket and read the blurb. Book blurbs are an oft-overlooked part of a writer’s … Continue reading Resource: How to Write a Catchy Back Cover Blurb That Sells from MasterClass