New Year's resolutions - love them or hate them, they come up every year. The idea of turning over a new leaf for a new year appeals to me as a writer, a fresh start using a very visible (if immaterial) line in the sand. Perhaps it's the idea of beginning at the beginning. So... Continue Reading →
Hello there! So you've finished the first part of my blog series about writing a book. Great. Let's start on part 2 then. But as I mentioned in part one, research keeps going throughout the whole writing process - including character development. After all, you might not have a clear idea of all the research... Continue Reading →
I love my laptop - I'm writing this blog post on it. I can certainly type fast, so for the most part it makes sense for me to write straight into it. But, there's something to be said about writing on something other than a digital device. And by that, I mean in a notebook... Continue Reading →
The latest in my "3 Things" series - this time the humorous genre. 1) Er... how to be funny Yeah ok, I know this is obvious - but as I've mentioned in a previous full blog post, I think all stories no matter their genre or subject matter can benefit from humour. Even if it's... Continue Reading →
If you're writing something with "serious" themes, you might be wary of putting anything even slightly comedic in your work. A badly-timed sarcastic comment could easily undermine what you're trying to get across - right? But in truth, all fiction no matter how dark can benefit from a smidge of laughter - or at least... Continue Reading →
Writing is a lonely art and sometimes a right old slog. Whether you're mired in your third edit, or stuck in the wobbly middle of your first draft, it can be hard to stay motivated to write. This may seem odd because as writers, we love writing. But that doesn't mean we're always amped up... Continue Reading →
A lot of writing advice focuses on how the story begins. The first line, the first paragraph, the first chapter - these are all important to grab your reader and get them to keep reading. And whilst this is vital part of your story, you shouldn't overlook the ending. This after all, is the last... Continue Reading →
As a writer, there's nothing better than getting a great idea for a new story. Something exciting, something unique, something...in need of some work. Before you can start writing, you need more than just an idea - a lot more. But where do you start when all you've got is an initial "What if..?" Read... Continue Reading →
Straighten up your ruff and fix your doublet, we're delving back into the archives for this week's "3 Things..." with historical fiction. 1) How fiction can educate We're taught history as a series of highlights, large events like wars or big social changes. Or we learn about a series of prominent figures such as Kings,... Continue Reading →
If you're new to writing you might be thinking "hm, how do I know when I'm actually a writer?" I mean yes there's the whole writing stuff malarky but there are also some other tell-tale signs you're a writer that you should be on the lookout for. 1) Your search history is... interesting Also potentially... Continue Reading →
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