When you work out, you do a warmup before you start. Before a soccer game, you do a warmup to get you going. Even artists warm up with quick sketches before they get to work. So why don't we talk about writing warmups more? I'll admit that I haven't been the best at doing them … Continue reading Stretch Your Brain with Writing Warmups
Writing Tips
Short Trips: Repercussions – A Masterclass on Flash Fiction Anthologies
I love flash fiction, for those of you who can't tell. Part of the reason is that I love writing in different genres and flash fiction allows me to do that effortlessly. Another reason is that I know that people live busy lives, and I love writing a story that anyone can read, no matter … Continue reading Short Trips: Repercussions – A Masterclass on Flash Fiction Anthologies
Character Creation Doesn’t Have to Be a Chore
Characters. They're the most important part of the story, right? They are to me. I believe that for a story to be truly great, it needs to have great characters that the reader can relate to and enjoy reading about. Otherwise, you're left with a useless plot and no characters to reach out and bring … Continue reading Character Creation Doesn’t Have to Be a Chore
Pacing That Ending
Oh, if only there were a way to avoid writing endings. While they are, of course, instrumental, impactful, and the main takeaway for your readers, they're also hard. You have a lot to wrap up: your plot, your character's journey, your themes... It's one of the most difficult parts of writing a story. Since good … Continue reading Pacing That Ending
Take a Break: Why You Shouldn’t Write Every Day
We are writers. That means we’re determined, stubborn, and often living in our imagination. When we have a story idea, we go for it wholeheartedly. When we’re not plotting or writing, we’re daydreaming about upcoming scenes in our current WIP. Being a writer can very easily be life-consuming—and by that I mean it doesn’t just … Continue reading Take a Break: Why You Shouldn’t Write Every Day
Elusive Inspiration
As I’m meeting more writers and delving into the writing community, I’m getting this question a lot: “Where do you get your inspiration/ideas from?” It’s a pretty broad question and one that’s difficult for me to answer. Ideas just seem to pop into my head at any given moment, not necessarily prompted by any one … Continue reading Elusive Inspiration
Don’t Just Write a Book
Yep, you read that right, and I'll say it again. Please, don't just write a book. This probably goes against so many things you've heard, all of the people saying, "Do it! Go for it!" And yes, while you should absolutely chase your writing dreams... ...that doesn't start with writing a book. Driving a Car … Continue reading Don’t Just Write a Book
Elevate Your Descriptions: Why You Should Read Anne of Green Gables
As writers, we should always be practising our craft. We do that, obviously, by writing. But in addition to practising, we also need to be learning. Luckily, with so many stories available to us at our fingertips in the forms of movies, books, TV shows, and more, it's easier than ever to find a good … Continue reading Elevate Your Descriptions: Why You Should Read Anne of Green Gables
The Writing Process (Part 2)
Better late than never, right? So, if you haven't read my first post about the writing process, I highly suggest you do that now! I talk about how I set up a story and come up with names, characters, and settings. For this post, I'll be sharing my rough draft so you can then see … Continue reading The Writing Process (Part 2)
In the beginning…
The beginning of a book is crucial to its success. Not only does it matter to agents and publishers, but it also matters to the readers. After a few pages, most readers will have made up their minds about whether or not they like your book. And the chances are, if they aren't impressed, they'll … Continue reading In the beginning…
The Story Canvas 