Inspiring the Uninspired
Writers find ideas everywhere. They pop up seemingly out of nowhere, and you can often find yourself brimming with inspiration. When this happens, it can be hard to focus on your work in progress. It's so easy to become gripped by the excitement of a new idea. As such, I'd like to share someways to… Continue reading Ways to Remain Loyal to your Novel, When Inspiration Strikes
Inspiration and ideas can strike writers at any time. They're always lurking, those little moments in life that spark the plot for a novel or short story. And that spark is electric, it's exciting, it pulls your pen to paper until you're fizzing with the sheer need to tell that story. However, although it's hard,… Continue reading 5 Reasons to Finish your Writing Project
Almost three years ago I began my degree, a part time course to fit in around my work. I'm studying English Literature because it is my passion, and it's a combined course that included Creative Writing. With just one assignment left for the year I am three years down with three years left. Here's what… Continue reading 6 Lessons From Studying Creative Writing At Uni
Writing is all about imagination, and as writers it's amazing what we can build out of a small, initial idea. And readers are imaginative too, which is why the whole process of reading/writing is so enjoyable. However, it's still important to provide realistic descriptions, to help immerse the reader in the moment. I've spoken before… Continue reading Using Internet Resources to Add Depth to the Scenes in your Novel
When I first started the submissions process the thing I found the hardest was the 'silent' rejections. These are not the explanatory-rejections that highlight specific flaws in your work, not the generic rejections which are copied and pasted to every unsuccessful applicant. No, these are the ones you never receive at all. The ones were months… Continue reading How to Cope with Silent Rejections
Writing is a solitary art, but there are times when we need to reach out to others. I've spoken before about the importance of seeking feedback. Finding a critique partner can have a huge, positive impact on your life. What is a critique partner? A critique partner (CP) is essentially somebody you share work with,… Continue reading Reasons to Seek a Critique Partner
This year for uni I've been writing a lot of short stories. It's been a bit of a shock to the system, and is something I still need to practice to get right. Ever since I was young I've always written long stories, enjoying building the world or setting up character arcs. I've been in… Continue reading What Short Stories Can Teach You About Novel Writing
Whether you write novels, short stories, non-fiction or poetry, your goal could be publication. If it is, you'll experience the long journey of seeking an agent and securing a publishing deal. There are some great ways to get your writing out there in the mean time and, if successful, could provide you with some accreditation… Continue reading Ways To Get Your Writing Into The World
Writing can be tough and it's not uncommon for writers to doubt themselves and doubt their manuscripts, whether they're published or not. In this post I'm addressing some of the worries we face, and how to beat them when they get you down. 1. What if my writing is rubbish? All artists find fault with… Continue reading Writer Worries and How to Beat Them
Many writers have a love/hate relationship with editing. My favourite writing quote, and one I refer to often: “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” - Shannon Hale I love the idea of shovelling your words onto a page… Continue reading Reasons to Love Editing Your Novel
