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…
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…
Mastering Character Development through Inner and Outer Journeys
Mastering character development is vital for anyone who wants to write a compelling story because the characters in your story are the driving force behind your narrative. They are the ones who connect with your readers and keep them engaged throughout the journey. Crafting unforgettable characters takes time, effort, and a deep understanding of the human psyche, but as with anything, the more we study it, the better we get at it. What is it and why is it important? Character development refers to the process of creating dynamic, multidimensional characters that evolve throughout the story. It involves developing the character’s backstory, personality traits, motivations, and goals. The goal of character development is to create a character that is relatable, engaging, and memorable. The importance of character development in storytelling cannot be overstated. Characters are the heart of any story, and without them, your narrative will fall flat. A well-developed…
The Art of Self-Editing: An Essential Guide for Novel Writers
Self-editing is an essential skill for any writer. It allows you to polish your work and create a more compelling story. In this comprehensive guide, I lay out various tips and techniques to help you become a proficient self-editor, focusing on novel writing. Drawing inspiration from Evan Marshall’s The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing and my own The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, this article will provide you with a roadmap to successfully edit your novel. 1. Establish a Strong Foundation: Time, Character Goals, and Logical Behavior Ensure Time Tracks Accurately in Your Story An essential aspect of self-editing is ensuring that time flows consistently throughout your novel. This entails verifying that the sequence of events and the pacing of your story are coherent and logical. Pay close attention to details such as the progression of days, weeks, and months, as well as the…
Writing the Perfect First Paragraph of a Novel
As a writer, I know how challenging it can be to start a novel. You have an idea in your head, but putting it down on paper can be intimidating. The first paragraph of a novel is the foundation of your book, and it’s essential to get it right. In this article, I will share a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect first paragraph. Why the First Paragraph of a Novel is Crucial The first paragraph of a novel is the first impression your reader will have of your book. It’s your chance to hook them in and keep them engaged throughout the entire story. A great opening paragraph can set the tone for the entire book and leave a lasting impression on your reader. Think of the first paragraph of a novel as a handshake. You want to make a good first impression and establish trust with your reader.…
The Ultimate Guide to Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing
As a writer, you have the power to create entire worlds with your words. Worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional world that is immersive and believable, a place that readers can lose themselves in. In this article, I’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about worldbuilding in fiction writing. Understanding Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing What is worldbuilding in writing? It’s the creation of a fictional world, usually one that is entirely different from the real world, but some aspects of worldbuilding also apply to any work of fiction. When writing fiction, you have the freedom to create your own rules, cultures, and geography. Worldbuilding is essential because it helps your readers to understand and relate to your characters and the environments in which they exist. Worldbuilding is not just about creating a setting for your story; it’s about creating a complete world that is…
How to See Edits in Word Documents
When you work with an editor on your book, you’ll need to know how to see edits in Word documents. You’ll want to be able to read the comments they left for you, find the parts you need to look at quickly, and accept or reject edits. For that you need to be able to use the comments, bookmarks and track changes functions in Word. If you trust your editor such that you’re happy to hand your manuscript over to them and accept whatever they do, then you can dispense with learning about track changes, but you will need to know how to use bookmarks and read comments. This article refers to Word 365. For older versions of Word, see this post on track changes and this one on comments and bookmarks. Comments Editors leave comments in a manuscript so they can relate their points to a specific part of…
Finding an Editor You Can Trust
Finding an editor you can trust is vital for a smooth relationship, particularly when you come to check your edits. But trusting your editor is also an important part of the relationship for both of you. Editors don’t want clients who don’t trust their judgement – it’s a recipe for frustration. Your editor needs to be someone you can relate to well, someone who seems to be on the same wavelength as you. They need to be someone who always remembers that it’s your book, who can work to your aims for the book, rather than what they think it should be, but they also need to be able to make the changes necessary to fix issues with your book and make it shine. Finding an editor Finding an editor is easy, but finding the right editor for you, once you can trust, can take time. Some authors write and…
3 Little-Known Writing Mistakes: Avoid them and Improve Your Prose
Three writing mistakes that mark writing as that of an amateur seem to be breeding like flies in books written by unschooled or inadequately schooled authors. Clearly, these stylistic mistakes are little known, and it’s time that changed. I read mostly independently published books, and unfortunately, though there is a great number of superbly written books in indie publishing, I also see a lot of writing marred by these blunders. If not checked, these 3 writing mistakes, will rapidly, all by themselves, diminish the power, beauty and precision of the written English language. How such writing mistakes diminish the power of the written language It works like this. One author writes a number of books all containing the following mistakes, but they market their books well and use a cut-price promotion to get one of their books onto a book bestseller list. Then they call themselves a best-selling author, and…