Writing Advice
Five Easy Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
Ah, writer’s block. The bane of many a writer’s existence.… Read More »Five Easy Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
Let’s Write – The Structural Edit (Continued)
In the last post, we talked about the first two… Read More »Let’s Write – The Structural Edit (Continued)
Let’s Write – The Structural Edit
Welcome back to the self-editing miniseries. 🙂 It’s good to… Read More »Let’s Write – The Structural Edit
Let’s Write – Basics of Self-Editing
Something about the editing process has always intrigued me, and… Read More »Let’s Write – Basics of Self-Editing
So You Got a Bad Review
Or maybe your beta reader/s had some less than ideal… Read More »So You Got a Bad Review
On Writing Advice
The internet. A place of abundance. You can learn almost… Read More »On Writing Advice
My Novel Planning Journey
It’s Preptober! I’m not participating in Nanowrimo, but I figured… Read More »My Novel Planning Journey
Just Publish it Already
We’re back to reality today, after a week-long break (if… Read More »Just Publish it Already
To Say or Not to Say
So you’re a writer. Welcome to the club, please pick your t-shirt from the pile and have a seat. You’ve probably been around the interwebs and have no doubt found an article or two on the topic of said. You know, dialogue tags.
There are two firm groups of thought here. Okay, okay – two groups of fanatics.
One will tell you Said Is Dead. This group probably started to screw with your mind in high school – I know I was taught that it’s much more descriptive and interesting to use different words than boring, overused said. I remember exercises where we had to complete dialogues by using any words other than said, or we’d be penalised.
Three Steps to Deep Point of View
I’m by no means an expert on the topic, just a noob who’s learned a thing or two from writers much more experienced than I, willing to share their knowledge. These are three little things any writer could use to hone their craft – some so obvious, it’s blinding. Who felt like an idiot after reading her editor’s notes? I did.
This is why I follow senpai’s advice to the letter, and probably why she reckons I’ve levelled up in the writing hierarchy.
Let’s talk about deep point of view (POV). If you’ve never heard this term, you’re in good company. Until my first draft of The Physician’s Apprentice was being edited, I’d never heard it either.
Write by the Rules
I read an article this morning about why you should write romance novels only in third person point of view. In the past few weeks, a few people made comments on the writer’s groups I belong to about writing in a certain point of view and being criticised for their choice.
I gag a little in my mouth every time I read something along these lines.
Writing, as Taught by Kids’ TV Shows
A year or so ago, I read a writing exercise idea on a blog that changed the way I view watching TV. The blogger in question would make notes of, then dissect the episode she was watching. She’d figure out which plot points worked, which didn’t, where the dialogue fell flat, where it rocked, and how she would have improved the episode. By doing this, she swore she learned better writing techniques. (I’m sorry I can’t find the link to this article now.)
I’ve never taken an episode apart like that, but I haven’t really viewed anything on the telly in the same way either. This thing about learning better writing from TV has remained in the back of my mind, so my viewing has become more critical.
Noob Writers Unite
I had a conversation about writing with my cousin, as… Read More »Noob Writers Unite
Uninspired
Some days, it’s difficult to get inspired. I’m having one of those days. I talked about this problem on Friday too, so you’ll know about my predicament if you’ve been around the blog.
The recap version? Today, I have no idea what to blog about and I don’t have the drive to put in any real effort. #yayhonesty This is me winging it.
A quick Google search on ‘how to find inspiration’ offers some basic results. Take a walk, read a book, listen to music. You get the general idea.
Stuff for Writers
When you tell people you’re writing a novel, they’ll probably react in one of three ways. 1) You’re insane. 2) Ooh, that’s cool! 3) You know, I’ve always wanted to write a novel (this, by the way, is said with the greatest frequency). This post is for everyone in the third group.
I’ve been following some authors on YouTube (because what can’t YouTube teach you) and I thought I’d share some of their stuff with you today.
