When I was younger, writing was more fun. Pure creative expression with no limits. Yes, in adulthood I've become more serious and I've learned more about the craft, but that doesn't mean the fun should be lost from the process. There are a lot of benefits to making your writing feel fun again, most importantly,… Continue reading How to Make Writing Fun Again
Category: Writing Tips
The path is long and difficult – will you journey anyway?
Since I was a little girl, I’ve known I’ve wanted to tell stories. Once, I didn’t know I could make a living from this; the word author wasn’t known to me. But when I learned that word, I grasped on tightly to it and haven’t let go since. And that’s painful. Why? Isn’t it lovely… Continue reading The path is long and difficult – will you journey anyway?
Writing Goals for 2024 – that aren’t basic
Next year, I want to look at my writing differently. I don’t want to do what I’ve tried to do years before which hasn’t quite worked. I don’t want to set the same boring goals: Write 100,000 words Write two completed first drafts of novels Look for an agent Publish a book Query a book… Continue reading Writing Goals for 2024 – that aren’t basic
How to Create Actively: Redefining Success and Creative Habits
Anyone who actively follows my blog must have noticed I've been feeling a bit icky creatively. It's only last week that I reminded myself that I'm not in a creative catastrophe! This is not a creative slump. I finished writing a novel's first draft only at the end of August, just two months ago. That… Continue reading How to Create Actively: Redefining Success and Creative Habits
Writing goals and aspirations: do I want to be an author anymore?
I’ve been thinking about my journey as a writer lately and I’ve shared some of that already, but I want to go a bit deeper. Next year, I am not setting the goal of pursuing a good story for publishing. I don’t want to think about publishing anymore. I think I need to forget that… Continue reading Writing goals and aspirations: do I want to be an author anymore?
Writing Updates: Am I doing NaNoWriMo this year? What’s next?
At first, I thought My NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month in November) this year was going to be more of a National Short Story Writing Month (NaSSWriMo). This is because I want to write lots of short stories, even if they’re flash fiction. I want to use my voice and play with style and genre… Continue reading Writing Updates: Am I doing NaNoWriMo this year? What’s next?
How to ask for feedback as a writer
Writers need feedback to get better. Whether this is from friends, critique partners, beta readers, an agent, or editors. There’s no avoiding it. But how do we get the right feedback from people who perhaps aren’t in the professional field? What kind of questions do we actually need answered? Here’s some of my thoughts on… Continue reading How to ask for feedback as a writer
How to support writers in your life (when you’re not one yourself)
I wanted to write a list of ways you can support your writer friends, spouses, siblings, or colleagues when you aren’t a writer yourself. I have writer friends and non-writer friends and sometimes, especially if you’re not a big reader, either, it can be hard to talk to a writer and show you care about… Continue reading How to support writers in your life (when you’re not one yourself)
Writing and Reading Revelations – changing the way I do things this autumn-winter
I’ve realised a number of things about my writing and the books I’m reading that I thought I’d share in case they resonate with any of you, too. Writing the wrong way I think that I really enjoy writing in notebooks, but I rarely write my actual stories in them anymore, just notes. This is… Continue reading Writing and Reading Revelations – changing the way I do things this autumn-winter
What Makes a Good Villain – Writing Podcast Ep. 8
Welcome back, Daydreamers! Today we have a very exciting episode all about villains! Villains are main characters and should be treated as such. In this episode, we help you flesh out your villain and consider their role in your story from a new angle. Here is how to write a realistic and compelling villain for… Continue reading What Makes a Good Villain – Writing Podcast Ep. 8
S. R. Crawford 