NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month and it is this massive worldwide writing event where writers from every corner of the globe all vow to write 50,000 words in the month of November! It is crazy, it is hard, and it is awesome! The camaraderie and support and community with this event is so beautiful… Continue reading Your NaNoWriMo Toolkit
Tag: writing characters
Black Authors to Read (Black History Month Inspired)
Here is a list of some truly inspiring, notable black authors and some of their works: Oprah {I've read some} Maya Angelou {I've read some} Martin Luther King & Coretta Scott King Malcolm X Alex Haley - Roots: The Saga of an American Family Tomi Adeyemi - The Children of Blood and Bone {I've read} Nic… Continue reading Black Authors to Read (Black History Month Inspired)
Awesome Black Characters (Black History Month Inspired)
(I've purposely missed out characters from historical films about slavery or the segregation of black people, for I have another post coming purely for that) Also, this is a list of characters that I know, not the only ones that are out there! Please add your favourite awesome black characters in the comments... Shuri (Black Panther)… Continue reading Awesome Black Characters (Black History Month Inspired)
How to Be a Better Storyteller
All writers are storytellers. Whether you are writing a novel or a blog post, you are essentially telling a story. But how do you become a better storyteller? How do you ensure that your narrative and characters aren't dry and boring? How do you make it all feel real whether it is a non-fiction or… Continue reading How to Be a Better Storyteller
Inspiration Tools for Fantasy Writers
Hey, fellow fantasy writers. Today, I wanted to share with you a few perhaps lesser-known ways to find inspiration for your fantasy worlds and characters... Pottermore Anyone who is a Harry Potter fan will know of the site Pottermore, which is rich in extended content about the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts universe. I've recently… Continue reading Inspiration Tools for Fantasy Writers
Life Lessons from Harry Potter
As a writer: Detail Detail is key. Not George R. R. Martin level of detail, right down to the petal detail on every flower in a meadow, but real detail. Character detail. Room detail. What people are really like and think about and talk about and do. Details matter; it makes the difference between a… Continue reading Life Lessons from Harry Potter
What A Panel of Black Authors Meant for Me
On Tuesday this week, I was able to hear authors Tomi Adeyemi (pictured with me above), Yomi Adegoke, and Elizabeth Uviebinene talk at a bookstore. These authors all had one thing in common - they were black, and they were Nigerian. It was a euphoric experience! I'm not the kind of woman (and never was… Continue reading What A Panel of Black Authors Meant for Me
How I Know I was Meant to be a Middle-Grade Author
Hopefully you know by now that I've made the switch from writing YA fantasy to now writing MG fantasy. I've been thinking lately that it's always been obvious that I am better suited to children's fantasy than young adult or teen fantasy, and here's why... I can be poetic and whimsical and silly with my… Continue reading How I Know I was Meant to be a Middle-Grade Author
Knowing What Kind of Writer You Are
I was speaking to my friend (and critique partner) about our books the other day. I'm in the editing process but she's still in the writing the draft process. And we were envious of each other! You see, I think there's different kinds of writers who thrive in different ways. I thrive in the writing… Continue reading Knowing What Kind of Writer You Are
Mind Mapping for Writers
I love mind maps. Countless times have they helped me figure out ideas that I was struggling with. Here are a few ways that you can use mind maps: Details for your story: this is the biggest one. I've used many mind maps to help me to discover detail about my story without feeling like… Continue reading Mind Mapping for Writers
S. R. Crawford 