Category: Writing Tips
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Fueling the Fires of Inspiration
Where does a writer get inspiration from? I understand this is a very common question asked of authors. I wish I could say a fan asked me this, prompting this very post. But that didn’t happen. I just feel it’s a question I should probably practise answering — just in case, when I am world…
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Advice to Ruin Your Writing Career
There is little more poisonous to a burgeoning writing career than the wrong advice. I was discussing this topic with my writing group the other day. Being regular consumers of indie author books and podcasts, we were perplexed by pieces of advice that didn’t sit right with our collective experiences. I have no doubt the…
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3 Tips for Blending Prose into Narrative
This month I complete my short series of posts on how I write descriptive prose. (Apologies for the lateness!) If you’ve been reading them thus far, you’ll know how much I love reading well written and memorable description. If you haven’t, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 to get the full story. For…
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3 Layers of Descriptive Prose
This month, I continue my short series of posts on how I write descriptive prose. I love descriptive prose — the kind so vivid I have to pause and relish it a moment longer. In my last post, I deconstructed some of my favourite passages of description in an effort to find what makes them…
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Examples of Descriptive Prose to Inspire Your Writing
I love getting lost in other people’s writing. And nothing more so than in a well-written piece of descriptive prose — something that is so vivid I have to pause and relish it a moment longer. It’s something I’ve definitely tried to emulate in my own writing. (And, if beta readers and writing group colleagues…
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How I Beat the Not-Enough-Time Excuse
In last month’s newsletter, I mentioned that I have three open story submissions at the moment. This is unprecedented for me. And it surprised me, too. I often lament at how little time I seem to have to dedicate to writing. Sure, when the opportunities arise, I wring every last second I can from them.…
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3 Precepts of Good Character Arcs
Characters are what make stories. Without characters — to react to stimuli, or to overcome or get broken by obstacles — stories are just a string of meaningless events. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously stated that character is plot and plot is character. I guess this means that characters are the core of good storytelling —…
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3 Essential Podcasts for Writers
Podcasts, in case you missed it, are the dog’s bollocks at the moment. You can pretty much find one for any topic — from the finer points of needlework to the history of heavy metal to star gazing to lawn care. Somewhere along that spectrum lies the world of writing and publishing. Now, you could…
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3 Reasons You Need a Writing Group
I love my writing group. A writing group, I feel, is essential to the success of a newbie writer — especially one who wants to progress to author. My group is an eclectic bunch of wannabe best-selling authors and hobby writers, spanning genres and years of service to the muse. And recently I had reason…
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Why Harry Potter is So Good
J K Rowling is a master of the art. Not really a revelation, I know. But having read one of her books for the first time recently, it blew my mind how devastatingly good her story-telling is. But what makes it so good? As a writer, I’m supposed to be able to read analytically. But,…
Matthew J Morrison 