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Tag: motivation

3 Essential Reminders For When (You Think) Your Manuscript Sucks

On April 22, 2022 By K.M. Allan31 Comments

It’s often said that no one can be a harsher critic of a writer’s work than the writer themself. Not only are we the first readers, judges, and fans of our work, but we’re also the ones that tell ourselves that it sucks. Most of the time that’s right after we’ve typed “The End” and …

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5 Ways To Train Yourself To Write

On January 7, 2022 By K.M. Allan31 Comments

While the key to being an excellent writer is practice, practice, practice, getting that practice can be tough. It requires a regular writing habit, which can be hard to forge and easy to drop when life gets in the way. Even if you can consistently write, distractions and interruptions can waste precious writing time. When …

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Taking Stock: Resetting To Hit Your Writing Goals

On December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 By K.M. Allan17 Comments

Just like handover notes will help when coming back to a project after time away, taking stock as you move from one year to the next is a great habit to get into. It also helps shift you into the right head and physical space to achieve your writing goals, with a reset if you're …

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What To Do When You’ve Made A Mess Of Your MS

On November 19, 2021 By K.M. Allan43 Comments

Recently, I received some feedback from beta readers after sending them what seemed like the millionth version of my latest WIP. Already up to draft 9, I was hoping this was the one where I’d ironed out the problems raised in the previous round of feedback. I had not. The issues were still there, and …

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Editing Tips: What To Check When It Feels Like Something Is Missing

On November 5, 2021 By K.M. Allan20 Comments

Well, you did it. You took that spark of an idea, fleshed it out into an entire book, edited the last page for the last time, and finished one final read-through. The book is done. At least it should be. As proud as you were, there was a little voice in your head as you …

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How To Stop Self-Sabotaging Your Writing Progress

On October 8, 2021 By K.M. Allan31 Comments

As writers, we’ve all had those moments when it’s been hard to sit down and write. It could be because other responsibilities have kept us away from our writing desks, or illness has sidelined us. Then there are those times when we’ve been able to write and we just… don’t. When that happens, it’s down …

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Blogging Tips

On August 20, 2021 By K.M. Allan50 Comments

Not too long ago I received a notice from WordPress that I’d published my 200th blog post. In case you’re wondering, that post was the 7 Step Old Manuscript Review Plan, and it’s an example of the blogs I love to write. My faves are about being organized, as that’s what gets me in the …

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Character Motivation: Tips And Tricks

On July 9, 2021July 9, 2021 By K.M. Allan23 Comments

When it comes to crafting your characters, one important thing to include is motivation. It’s not just because motivation will get the story moving forward, but because it will also help you create well-rounded characters readers will relate to and become invested in. If that sounds like something you want to include in your book, …

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Motivational Tricks To Keep You Working On Your Manuscript

On April 23, 2021 By K.M. Allan31 Comments

When you set out to write a novel, you quickly learn that it takes a lot of drafts. There’s the first draft, which is laying down the story. The second works out what the story is missing, and every draft after is refining until it becomes the finished book. How many drafts that takes depends …

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K.M. Allan

K.M. Allan

YA writer and blogger. Author of The Blackbirch Series, The Beginning and The Dark Half (books 1 & 2) are out now! I'm also an identical twin, but not the evil one.

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Blackbirch: The Beginning

Blackbirch: The Dark Half

Recent Posts

  • Writing A Book: 6 Ending Types
  • April 2022 Roundup
  • 3 Essential Reminders For When (You Think) Your Manuscript Sucks
  • Ep 106 | The Merry Writer Podcast
  • March 2022 Roundup

Top Posts

  • Questions To Ask Your Beta Reader
  • What To Include In An ARC Ebook
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  • Writing A Book: 6 Ending Types
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