Should You Commit to Writing That Book?
I’ve been thinking about what it takes to decide to write a book. Not just to toy with an idea or jot down a few scenes, but to actually commit to the long, winding, and often uncertain road of seeing it through to the end. What is it that tips the scales from ‘maybe someday’ to ‘yes, I’m doing this’? It’s a question that’s been on my mind because, well, I’ve just made that decision myself. And it’s not as straightforward as it might seem. The Leap from Idea to Commitment We often assume that writing a book starts with a lightning bolt of inspiration—a story so compelling it practically writes itself. And sure, inspiration plays a role. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that inspiration alone isn’t enough. Ideas are easy. Starting is easy. What’s hard is deciding to finish. And that’s where the doubts creep in. Will anyone…
Why Your Story Matters More Than You Think: A Love Letter to Human Storytelling
Story has been with us longer than writing, longer than cities, longer than agriculture. It is one of the oldest human technologies we possess—older than the wheel, older than metalwork, older than almost anything we can point to as ‘civilisation’. Long before we built monuments, we built meaning. And we built it through story. The First Stories Imagine a circle of early humans gathered around a fire. The night is vast, the world mysterious, and the flames cast shadows that look like spirits dancing on the cave walls. In that circle sits the storyteller—a role so essential that every culture on earth developed it independently. The storyteller was not merely an entertainer. They were: Through story, people learned how to survive, how to belong, how to understand themselves and the world. Story was how knowledge travelled before writing existed. It was how culture was shaped, protected, and passed on. When…
The ADHD Multi‑Passionate Quandary: Where the Fuck Am I Going?
A look at the multi‑passionate ADHD mind, the search for direction, and the thread that ties a creative life together.
Should You Write That Book? What if it’s Bad?
So, you’ve got this idea for a book. Maybe it’s a story that excites you, or a topic you feel strongly about. You’re thinking, “Yeah, I should write that book.” But then doubt creeps in. Should you? I’ve been there. I get ideas for all sorts of books—fiction, non-fiction, young adult, adult, books on writing, meditation, even imagination books. My writing isn’t confined to one genre, so the question of whether to write or not comes up a lot. If you’re someone who sticks to one genre, like thrillers, the decision might feel easier. You’ve got a rhythm, an audience, and a clear path forward. But for those of us who dabble in different areas, it’s a bit more complicated. Write It Down First Here’s the thing: if you’ve got an idea, write it down. You don’t have to publish it, but there’s value in getting the story out of…
Novel Writing Mastery: Your Essential Guide to Writing and Publishing Success
It’s done. Finally. Tick. Finished. Move on to the next thing. That’s how my creativity urges me on. Oh, wait—I need to tell people about it. No one will know it is exists if I don’t, and someone might like to read it. So, here I am, letting you know that I’ve written another book. It’s called Novel Writing Mastery: A Step-By-Step Guide From Conception To Publication. I keep forgetting to mention it, which is silly because I genuinely think it’s a book that could help anyone who’s writing. It’s been formatted. The cover’s done. I’ve uploaded it to the printer/distributor, and it’s on Amazon, ready for you to order. What’s in the Book? This book is a culmination of everything Rose and I have shared on our Alkira Publishing YouTube channel over the past couple of years. I actually started writing it long before that, but life got in the…
New Angles on Writing From the Heart: Personal and Professional
Life is always changing. It’s a fact that we sometimes, if not often, forget. We tend to live our lives as if we’ll always feel the way we do now – always be this poor, or this sick or this angry or sad – but the truth is that everything changes all the time. Everything. Our moods for sure, but also things we normally consider relatively permanent, like the seat upon which we sit, or that mountain that rises above our home; they change constantly only it’s on a microscopic scale, so we tend not to notice. We notice the big things, like a tree falling, a roof being blown off, a flood that washes away a whole town, that sort of thing, and of course, death. But this post isn’t about death, I’ve left writing about that for my Substack publication, Tahlia Newland – From the Heart. This post…
Writing Tips for Outlining a Novel
Outlining your novel is an important step in writing as it helps you visualize the entire plot and ensures you have a clear roadmap to follow. Not every author does this, but I certainly found it helpful to have at least a rough outline when writing my novels. Here are some tips on creating an outline for your novel: 1. Brainstorm ideas: Write down all the ideas you have for your story, including characters, settings, and potential conflicts. 2. Organize your ideas: Group your ideas into related categories, such as character development, world-building, and plot points. 3. Choose a plot structure: Select a plot structure that resonates with your story and use it as a framework for your outline. 4. Develop your characters: Flesh out your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters, exploring their motivations and backgrounds. 5. Establish the setting: Create a vivid world for…
Blog Roundup: Latest Tips for Writers and Readers from Alkira Publishing
Alkira Publishing posts some great articles full of tips for writers as well as some fascinating information for readers, so I just wanted to share the most recent articles here to make sure you didn’t miss them. But before you scroll down to the links to those articles, have a look at this video I made to illustrate my post on the hero’s Journey plot structure. If you read that post, then this will serve as a summary and an example told in visual imagery. And if you like it, please do like, subscribe, comment, and all that on YouTube. But if it’s tips for writers you’re looking for, then subscribe to the Alkira Publishing YouTube channel. And below are some of the articles associated with the videos. For Writers For Readers I hope you all have a happy holiday season! And get lots of books for Christmas. Thanks for…
Unveiling the Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Storytelling Structure for Captivating Narratives
The hero’s journey is a timeless narrative framework that has captivated audiences for centuries. Rooted in the seminal work of renowned comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell, this powerful storytelling structure has been applied to some of the most iconic tales in literature, film, and beyond. At its core, the hero’s journey chronicles the transformative odyssey of a protagonist as they navigate a series of trials, tribulations, and transformations, ultimately emerging as a changed individual. The Origins and Evolution of the Hero’s Journey The origins of the hero’s journey can be traced back to Campbell’s groundbreaking 1949 work, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” in which he introduced the concept of the “monomyth.” Through his extensive study of myths and legends from around the world, Campbell identified a common narrative pattern that he believed underpinned the vast majority of heroic tales. This universal structure, he proposed, mirrored the fundamental human experiences and…
What Do You Think of this AI Generated Story? An Editorial Opinion
What do you think of this AI generated story I asked ChatGPT to write as part of my research for an upcoming blog post and video on AI in the publishing industry? The blog post (titled ‘Will AI Replace Writers Editors and Cover Designers?’) will be published on Monday the 19th of August on the Alkira Publishing blog, and the video is scheduled to appear on the Alkira Publishing YouTube channel on the same day. Subscribe to both the blog and YouTube channel to not miss this important discussion. The blog post complements the video and visa versa. Below is the story followed by my editorial analysis. My prompt for ChatGPT for the story below was ‘write a first person, present tense short story about a woman with social anxiety having to attend a wedding. It has a happy ending.’ The Wedding I stare at my reflection in the bathroom…