Category: How to Write

  • The Vitality of Literary Theme

    The Vitality of Literary Theme

    As a writing coach and former student of English Literature, one thing I will always harp on about is the importance of a solid theme in your work. Now I have no doubt that there are authors out there who disagree with me – art in all forms is subjective – but I would argue…

  • Wading Through The Middle: The Hardest Part of Drafting A Novel

    Wading Through The Middle: The Hardest Part of Drafting A Novel

    For me, and many others, the hardest part of writing is the middle of your story. Where the beginning feels new and exciting, and the end feels like it’s speeding closer as you get excited to type the end… the middle can feel endless and sometimes a bit aimless…

  • Why The World Needs Your Story

    Why The World Needs Your Story

    You’ve been dabbling with writing a while, maybe years. You have an idea for a book, and jot down snippets or a plan for it every now and then, but you’ve yet to commit to it seriously so far. You might say to yourself ‘well I like my story, but no one is ever going…

  • 30 Day Writing Challenge

    30 Day Writing Challenge

    Welcome to the 30 Day Writing Challenge! If you want to stretch your creative muscles or practice your writing skills then this is for you. Take 15 minutes out of your day to write based on the prompts below. They have been designed to be vague and without much instruction so that your creativity can…

  • Balancing Writing & Life

    Balancing Writing & Life

    Trying to fit writing into your life can be a big challenge, but there are ways to make writing part of your life so that you’re not missing out on something else in order to get some writing done. Here are a number of ways you can include writing in your routine without it messing…

  • So… you want to write a book

    So… you want to write a book

    You’ve been thinking about it on and off for a long time. A few times you’ve found a friend or family member say ‘you should write a book!’ and you’ve liked the idea, but never acted on it. You’ve occasionally thought about what you might say, or even what to call it. You like the…

  • Self Inserts: Writing with Trauma

    Self Inserts: Writing with Trauma

    There has been some discussion in one of my writing groups about self inserts in fiction and whether they are ok. Now if you’re unsure about what a ‘self insert’ is, a self insert is inserting themselves into the narrative. This can be in the form of some experiences a character has or even a…

  • Keeping A Writer’s Notebook

    Keeping A Writer’s Notebook

    A writer’s notebook is a super helpful tool for any writer, whether they write YA, lit fic, fantasy, romance – whatever. By ‘writer’s notebook’, I don’t technically mean a notebook for writing in. You can obviously write in your notebook but I use a writer’s notebook for storing information, inspiration, scraps of notes etc. A…

  • Tracking Your Writing

    Tracking Your Writing

    So recently, these past few weeks, I’ve been really struggling to get any words down. Prior to this slump I was feeling super inspired & all I wanted to do was write… & then it stopped. I would try to write each day & barely manage 50 words. Some days I don’t even feel that…

  • The Basics of Blurb Writing

    The Basics of Blurb Writing

    Something that everyone in the writing business (not necessarily trad) will have to deal with eventually… writing a blurb. I don’t know about you but the thought of it fills me with fear. But it’s got to be done, so I scoured the internet for tips on the basics to get myself, & you lovely…