Category: How to Write

  • 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…

  • Screw Writing Strong Women

    Screw Writing Strong Women

    This photo, in my mind, sums up this post completely. Quoting the ever brilliant Joss Whedon when asked why he writes strong female characters answered ‘because you’re still asking me that question’. Having heard this notion of a ‘strong woman’ most of my life it has come to my attention that ‘strong’ doesn’t really cover…

  • The Power of Writing Sprints

    The Power of Writing Sprints

    Some writers can sit down with pen & paper or a computer, & just… write. They can write many, many pages & be proud of their accomplishments. Others, like me, have a real hard time with concentration. We get distracted by social media & T.V, we fall down internet rabbit holes researching middle age apothecaries…

  • Finding Motivation

    Finding Motivation

    It can be hard sometimes, especially as creatives, to find & keep the motivation going. The slog of writing a tome of a novel, that then needs to be edited multiple times or even rewritten before going to professionals can feel daunting. It can seem like you’re not getting anywhere & will never be done.…

  • Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

    Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

    Writers face lots of challenges in the industry – the gatekeepers of traditional publishing or the cost & skill set required to self publish; the sheer volume of books being published alongside theirs, getting their novel out there & seen; learning how to market their work & the royalties that mean most of us have…

  • Writing First Chapters

    Writing First Chapters

    I’ve scoured the internet in search of information to understand how we, as writers, might better write out first chapters. Right from the get go. Although my first chapter has already been written I have every intention of making sure that I have included the points listed below when it comes to editing. There is…

  • Forming A Writing Routine

    Forming A Writing Routine

    I have been a dedicated writer for around five years. Before that I barely wrote at all and struggled to find the time or ideas for it. When starting university I was encouraged to spend much more time writing as not only did I need some of it for assessment but also because of the…

  • How to Handle Feedback

    How to Handle Feedback

    As writers, we inevitably have to deal with feedback, whether it comes in the form of a friend giving you their opinion on your story idea; in the form of alpha/beta feedback from a draft; or from readers once the story is actually published. Feedback & reviews are everywhere – they will come from every…

  • How to Make a Story Bible

    How to Make a Story Bible

    A lot of planning, ideas & research goes into writing a novel, even more so if you’re constructing a series. It can be a challenge to keep track of everything you’ve worked out for your characters & plot, especially if you’ve been writing your novel for a while or have lots of moving parts. A…

  • Notes To Make Writing Easier

    Notes To Make Writing Easier

    Writing is a lot of hard work… it’s also a crazy amount of words. At a minimum of 60,000, creeping up to a potential amount of 120,000 words if you write epic fantasy sagas. It’s a lot of information to remember. Especially if your story then becomes a series. Now obviously there are notes that…