Logging my learning process
I want to write up a full 'mission' for this site, which involves documenting my working process and the things I intend to systematically repeat for future stories and books. I am learning so much, so quickly, that I fear if I don't write it all down, then I will...
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Story Outline, Structure and Line-edits
Ok, I've just finished my first revision of my story, and the 'revision' consisted of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and any obvious story inconsistencies. Does that equal line-edits? I haven't changed any of the story, so maybe not. So with this complete, I started...
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A novice writer’s production guide of getting from A to B
Time for a writing update! The good news and bad news. I've got the first story written, however, I'm not happy with it. I had committed to writing every day since the start of January to get this first story complete and finished the Short about a week ago. Since...
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Editing in cycles
I've recently discovered cycling. Editing in cycles to be precise. Monica Leonelle's book Write Better Faster got me on to this. Which is interesting because out of the whole book about, well, writing faster, the bit I recall the most is about cycling. What is...
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After #nanowrimo: editing in public
(Photo by Nic's events ) I have resisted editing any of my Nanowrimo works. I have only touched one of my drafts and that was only to remove all over-writing and find the story. I ended up with a draft a third of the size. Feeling dejected, I have touched that one...
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By the power of #nanowrimo – I am done! #nanowinner2015
Hippity-hoo-ray. I'm done with nano15! I'd like to thank: my wonderful girlfriend for not nagging me my pet guinea-pig for not dying on me my new car I found just before the old one died all my clients for paying me just enough to not be too stressed my early nights...
read moreI’m 3500 words away from #nanowrimo win!
Yes! After a messy couple of days which were completely dominated by a pet (guinea pig) being diagnosed with cancer, and having to urgently find a new (extremely secondhand) car, I have just about caught up with my word-count. I had only fallen behind by two days, but...
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Using #Nanowrimo for fiction craft good
So I'm nearing the end of my nanowrimo 2015 experience and I'm going to finish this year! However, I'm still well aware of creating a crappy story. The rushed, 1667 words, approach definitely produces 'suck' every time. This is down to my planning being almost...
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The ultimate writer’s craft books no-one knows about
I have just received book 2 of the amazing Glimmer Train titles and I am so happy. I've had book 1 for years and barely used it until recently and I can't believe what I've been missing. These fat 400 page books ask hundreds of author how they overcome writing...
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Nanowrimo progress: 250k words written
This is going well. Well = cranking out the words, and losing control of my planned story in favour of a brand new plot. Check out my stats so far. I was really surprised to see that I've reached the 250k total words recently. This pushes my nano catalogue up to 5...
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Nanowrimo 2016: I’m writing again!
I am blooming writing my arse off in November to complete my fifth(?) Nanowrimo month.
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My lack of writing progress
So, despite lots and lots of willing, I'm not writing. Actually I am writing, but I'm writing in pieces and not one continuous thing. Here's a few of my excuses: I don't have time I'm knackered after work I don't have the (writing) space I don't have a good story (and...
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StoryShop App: is this everything writers have been waiting for?
So the StoryShop app launched on Kickstarter the other day and it's already nearly halfway funded (at this time of writing). I've dumped $50 on it - the 8 month deal - because I want the app produced. I also want lifetime access but can't justify a $300 purchase on...
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The Not-Writing Group
So I'm thinking about starting another writing group, however, this one will be a not-writing group. An idea which isn't entirely original to me as a couple of friends started up their own not-writing group and then moved to a writing-group once they were writing. The...
read moreWhy is the AlphaSmart Keyboard so good for fiction writers?
Yesterday, after hearing so many other writers talk about it, I bought an AlphaSmart NEO2, and I love it. Already it has kicked me out of my writing slump and I’ve typed more words in a single sitting than I have in at least a month.
read moreCelebrate the hero’s journey
Creative copywriting: Trello
I've noticed a trend of business copy which has a clear creative leaning and I'm wondering if this is a the start of a creative writing trend? Should copywriters start flexing their fiction fingers? I think so. Check out the Trello release notes above for an example,...
read moreTalking about publishing strategy
I'm taking a break from my writing right now, and I want to talk about (read that as 'speak to someone/anyone') about what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and why. I'm writing for an audience, because I want to find readers first. This audience comes first; not my desire...
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The Anatomy of Silence of the Lambs
Shawn Coyne is a story nerd. For this reason alone you should inspect the above graphic closely, scratch your head a bit, then wander over to his website, sign up, devour everything he's sharing, and warm up your credit card ready to buy the Story Grid book. Click...
read more1. Author’s Promise
Every morning I struggle to get up and write, however, now my characters have started to complain. So this is my promise to, Mason and Connor, that I'll show up to tomorrow and crank out their story: ---------- Me: Hey boys, I've gotta stop now. My brain is losing...
read moreI’m a writer, this is how I write
Day one starts by... Waking up Making the breakfast Feeding hay to the guinea pigs Sitting on the sofa Grabbing the iPad and flicking through some sites Then it's 9am and I've done nothing. Day two starts by... Waking up Making the breakfast Feeding some hay to the...
read moreWhat academics think about writers
This is a response to this blog post about a teacher leaving the creative writing MFA programme and spilling their guts about the award. I couldn't wait to read this - needing to fire up my computer to do so - but on doing so, it leaves me cringing and disagreeing...
read moreVideo: How to muscle a big brand in on your fiction
Whilst being an inspiring video about the local skateboarding scene, this also introduces the notion of brand promotion. In a word: Levi's. It's also worth noting that Nike have also cracked the scene and the only way they did it was by trying time and time again to...
read moreFiguring out my characters
For my skateboard fiction series, I'm busy figuring out all the details which includes my characters. So far, this is what I've come up with: Char. 1: Stu. He loves the shit town and the crappy scene he's surrounded by. Afraid of change and challenges. Feels...
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