I try to post once a week, but I took last week off as it was my birthday. I'm going to use that excuse again (sort of) as it's a milestone birthday which means I get to stretch it out a bit. So this will be a short, personal post instead of writing advice or... 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 →
At their most basic, stories are made up of two things - description and dialogue. What, how, and when your characters speak can do a lot for your writing. Dialogue can say something about the character, drive the story, unlock a twist, be part of how all your characters interact - In other words, 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 →
In the new year, many people think about new beginnings, perhaps having a go at a long-held dream. And for some, that dream is to write. It might be to finally write a specific book they've had in mind for years. Or maybe it's just starting to write full stop. Whatever you want to do,... Continue Reading →
2021 was as unpredictable and uneven as the year-that-must-not-be-named that came before. Whilst some things have changed, others have stayed the same. Personally, I'm grateful for my health and the health of my friends and family, and that I've been able to get out a bit more than I did last year. Book-wise I finished... 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 →
Wordland 