As all writers know, we're equipped with a little voice in our heads that likes to cheer us on, fill us with self-doubt, put the "I" in Impostor Syndrome, and occasionally help us come up with a brilliant plot twist. That little inner critic also likes to raise its voice when we complete a writing …
Continue reading Thoughts That Run Through Your Head When You Release A Second Book
This week I received the author copy of my next book, Blackbirch: The Dark Half. As this is only the second book I've had published, it was still a thrill, although I can't imagine any writer getting bored with a box of their own books arriving on their doorstep. After all, it's years of hard …
Continue reading 4 Fun Things To Do With The Author Copy Of Your Book
Once upon a time, the only thing a writer needed to take care of was the writing itself. In modern times, with the rise of social media and self-publishing, a writer needs to do more. I and the other talented wordsmiths in my #6amAusWriters Twitter group refer to this as "authoring." Sometimes when we check in …
When you're the writer of a manuscript, everything about the story makes sense to you. And why wouldn't it? You're the one who has spent hours writing your way through countless drafts. The trouble with being the person who's worked on the story so intensely means it can be hard for you to notice when …
Continue reading Unintentional Story Issues, And How To Fix Them
By the time you're at the tail-end of the writing process, you are so sick of your words you'll do anything to not read them again. This usually happens right around the time you have to read them, though, because you're getting your MS ready to query or publish. But instead of begrudgingly wading through …
Is there anything as good as reading a story and coming across a plot twist so great it completely blows you away? When done right, a plot twist will turn a tale on its head, get readers turning pages, and talking about your work to anyone who'll listen. If that sounds like something you want in …
Concentration is hard to come by at the best of times, but as we're currently experiencing the worst of times, it's downright rare. Time to write is just as scarce some days, with new Coronavirus world responsibilities taking priority. When you do get the chance to write, you might find that diving straight into work …
2020 has become the strangest year. In January we were all ready to kick off a new decade and make the next 10 years better than the last. By March, we were all in lockdown, where it felt like the month lasted 10 years. Times changed quickly, and although we're now home with more time …
Continue reading 3 Signs You Need A Break, And Why I’m Changing My Blog Schedule
Many of us will kick off April 2020 in the comfort of our own homes. This isn't a collective vacation, it's the new normal as the world adjusts to coronavirus. For some writers, this has been their way of life for years. For others, the initial burst of enthusiasm for working in their PJ's, extra …
