Tag: Writer
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What Inspired Natalistide?
Even though our immigration story continues to inspire my writing, German Christmas markets are king when it comes to plot bunnies. The Fall of the Mantle holiday called Natalistide is proof of that! And as we enter the holiday season IRL, my heart fills with memories of that time, so let’s chat about it today.…
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My First Bullet Journal
I cannot tell you how often I’ve been told to ‘just get a planner’. It’s one of those endlessly annoying rites of passage everyone with ADHD experiences at some stage. We get it; we forget things. š¤ The problem is, like basically every other ADHDer out there, I’ve tried my fair share of planners. Sometimes,…
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Let’s Talk About Debut Novels
What is it about a debut that the world so adores? But not just any old debut, mind youāwe want a newcomer with a story of runaway success and broken, no shattered, records. The debut novel must tick all the boxes: perfect characters, compelling storylines, breathtaking descriptions, an endless list of awards, and impending movie…
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Half-Year Life Update
This post is a triumph. After the longest-ever absence from my blog, I wrote to you on the 20th of February 2023 and committed to one new post every week. And I kept it up. We’re in July, and I’m still here. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but I’m coming to you live…
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Let’s Talk About Setting
Have you noticed how an increasing number of authors are breaking away from the Eurocentric worlds associated with speculative fiction? It has been super refreshing to read mainstream books set in magical, faraway places that are totally different than what we’ve grown used to. But now I question why I automatically default to those pseudo-European…
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Let’s Talk About Sensitivity Readers
Picking up from where we left off last week (which was all about alpha and beta readers), we’re going to chat about sensitivity readers today. Please be aware that THERE MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING CONTENT IN THIS POST. About Sensitivity Readers A sensitivity reader is someone with experience on a certain topic who will offer…
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Let’s Talk About Alpha and Beta Readers
But before we start, Iād just like to insert these disclaimers. Firstly, Iām not a writing coach or anything like that, just a writer who loves learning about writing and sharing my experiences with everyone who is interested. Secondly, writers view alpha and beta teams vastly differently. Some swear by alpha and/or beta teams, others…
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How I Name Them (Part 2-Characters)
Hello again! Welcome to part 2 of this naming convention series. If you’d like to read about how I chose place names, check out part 1 here. Let’s dive straight in, shall we? My first and most important criterion for a character name is pronounceability. It has to be easy to say, regardless of the…
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How I Name Them (Part 1-Places)
I did a whole podcast about this way back when I was still on Patreon. And, you know, podcasting. š ADHD, amirite? Anyway, a recent Instagram interaction with a reader made me realise I’d never actually written about how I name characters and places on the blog. Said reader’s best friend is named Cara Lenoir,…
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Reconnecting Creativity
Okay guys, it’s time to get real here. If you’ve been around the blog, you’ll have read all about my struggle with writer’s block and the burnout that caused it. I’ve tried to be as honest as possible about both things (without sacrificing my personal space) because I feel like I have the platform to…
Yolandie Horak 