While checklists are a great way to whip your MS into shape, the thought of running through a vast set of tasks when you’ve just completed an MS after months, or even years of drafts, can be overwhelming. You want to ensure your manuscript is the best it can be, but you’re also so very …
Welcome to the May 2023 roundup! This month I went on my second writing retreat with some members of the #6amAusWriters from Twitter. Three of us (myself, KD Kells, and Belinda Grant) attended the same retreat last year, and this year we were joined by indie Fantasy author, Elise Carlson. We spent two and a …
When writing a story, it’s necessary to give your readers information. They need to know what’s happening, who your characters are, where they are, and why they’re doing what they’re doing. Delivering that information can be done in various ways, all of which are great elements to mix throughout your book to keep things interesting. …
Continue reading Writing A Book: Information Delivery Elements
Whether it’s professionally organized, a DIY job, with fellow writers, or flying solo, a writing retreat is a great way to spend focused time with your current WIP. It can help you hit deadlines, make editing progress, give you the space and time to create an in-depth outline or write anything from draft one to …
Welcome to the April 2023 roundup! My April kicked off with a trip to Sydney for Easter so my family and I could see my mother, sisters, aunty, cousin, and extended family, and meet some family members for the first time in real life who were visiting all the way from Scotland. It was a …
While a great premise, unforgettable characters, and a fantastic fictional world are surefire ways to keep readers invested in your story, if everything is smooth sailing for your characters, it makes for a pretty boring tale. Even the happiest of stories requires some upheaval, a hook, to keep the reader on board. But don’t worry, …
Continue reading 3 Ways To Mess Up Your Character’s World And Hook Your Readers
Whether your book is full of action scenes, or requires just one, getting the balance right is a skill worthy of any writer, and can be achieved with some simple do's and don'ts! Action Scene Do's And Don'ts Do Make Things Clear There’s nothing worse than reading an action scene and not being able to …
Welcome to the March 2023 roundup! Well, my March has gone the same way as the rest of 2023 so far, which has been way too quick, and in an endless loop of the same goals. Nothing much changes when your current work in progress is a months-long project, as I'm sure the writers out …
A classic piece of writing advice is to hook the reader with the first sentence. While what makes a great sentence is so subjective that such advice is near impossible to achieve, it’s the sentiment that is sound. You want to grab the reader with your opening so that they’ll want to pick up and …
Continue reading How To Create A Read-Worthy Opening Chapter
K.M. Allan 