Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 37

Everything You Need To Know About Chapters For Your Novel

If you are writing a novel, you will likely use chapters to divide different parts of the story. A chapter helps to separate sections of the story into more easily digestible parts and can be used as a decision to change perspective, setting, or even a time period. 

Understanding where to make a chapter break in your novel is very important. Each chapter needs to be a story within the story and have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Your chapters should start in an engaging way and end on a little cliffhanger to ensure that the reader wants to keep on reading. 

How long should a chapter be?

Chapters can be really long or very short and you can have a mixture of both long and short chapters in your novel. However, be aware that if you keep changing between very long and very short chapters this could be quite confusing for the reader. Very short chapters could be risky as they will create more of a stop/start effect and could make it difficult for the reader to immerse themselves in the story. Very long chapters may also feel intimidating and overwhelming for the reader and could mean they lose interest. 

Chapters don’t need to be uniform in length however and actually adding one particularly long or short chapter can be a clever storytelling device that might add wit and humor or a sense of foreboding and detail that adds to the weight of your story.  However, try to ensure that you keep the formatting of your chapters consistent otherwise you run the risk of disorienting your reader. 

When you set out to write a novel, there is lots to think about from character development to world-building deciding on the point of view. You can become so immersed in the creation of your story that you can forget that structuring and technical elements are just as important. 

What makes a good chapter?

A chapter is an opportunity for your reader to have some respite. A natural break where they can pause and absorb what they’ve read. Chapters are like milestones that bring the reader closer to discovering the ending and hopefully the resolution of the story. After finishing a chapter the reader should feel satisfied but also motivated to read more. Most readers aren't going to consume your entire novel in one sitting. So chapters are helpful as they are like rest stops for your reader to take a break and get on with other things they have to do in their lives before coming back to your book.  Of course, chapters aren’t mandatory, and some authors purposefully chose not to use them. However, the majority find chapters helpful both when reading and writing a book. 

Creating your chapters

When planning your novel, creating chapter outlines can be a massively helpful way of understandings your story and making sure there is enough of a story there to get started. However, you don’t need to be inflexible with your book structure and you may find that your chapters change, additional ones come up, and that some are eliminated completely before your book is ready for publishing. 

Book chapter titles

Some authors like to simply number their chapters, while others name them. Naming chapters can be a helpful way of hinting at the action to come. They also provide reference points for the readers and help to define each section of your story. Good chapter titles can be creative, however, don’t force yourself to do this if it doesn’t feel natural to you. 

Chapter structures

Each chapter should start with action to draw the reader in. Every chapter should start with some sort of activity and should be structured with a beginning, middle, and end. Try to keep your chapters focused and make sure each one works hard to drive the story forwards. Deciding when to end your chapter can be difficult. You can choose to do so on a cliffhanger or simply when there is a natural pause in the action and you feel like it would be a good time to give your reader a break.

Chapters are generally useful devices and that’s why most books have them. So when you are planning your book, use chapters to help guide you and keep your reader in mind to create chapters that are as exciting and inspiring as possible.

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How To Get Over Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a real problem and one that can hold many would-be successful business people back. Writers are particularly susceptible. So how do we deal with imposter syndrome and work to prevent it from allowing us to be the best we can possibly be? Let's take a look at some of the steps we can take to overcome it:

Talk about it

The more we talk about imposter syndrome the less of a taboo it will be, and therefore the less power it will have. So many prominent people suffer from imposter syndrome and the more recognized it becomes, the more we will be able to support one another.

Recognize it

Make sure you recognize the signs of imposter syndrome within yourself. These could be different for everyone. So make sure you see the warning signs of imposter syndrome when they creep up on you. The sooner you recognize them, the sooner you can deal with them.

Focus on the positive. 

Develop a healthy response to making mistakes. No one is perfect after all. If you fail understand that this is part of the learning curve and an opportunity to learn. If you can stay positive in the face of failure, you will overcome it much more quickly and feel like you deserve the success you have. 

Change the rules. 

People can create all sorts of strange rules for themselves which can end up holding them back. Instead of telling yourself that you should always know the answers or that you should never ask anyone for help, try changing your attitude and being more open. You can be wrong, you can ask for help, this doesn’t make you less of a person or less valuable. It makes you smart and wise. 

Work on a new script. 

Imposter syndrome is clever in the way it gets inside your head. If you find yourself constantly being negative, catastrophizing, and talking yourself down, try to flip the script. Feeling daunted and not good enough can be part of pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone, but when it gets in the way of our success, it’s time to find something new to say. 

Visualise what you want. 

Visualization can be key to success and positive thinking. Spend time focusing on your goals and really see yourself achieving them. Doing this instead of conjuring up images of impending disaster is definitely going to make you feel better!

Fake it ‘til you make it. 

We all end up in situations where we feel a little out of our depth from time to time, and that’s OK - it really is! So if you aren’t feeling confident in your the ability, just act like you are. Your brain will soon catch up!

So there you have it, if you are suffering from imposter syndrome try the above to break the cycle. What do you do to feel more confident? Share with us in the comments!

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The Main Challenges You’ll Face As A Writer

We all know that writing isn’t exactly an easy job. The road is rough and there are many obstacles and problems you must face and overcome along the way. Being prepared for them can be critical. So just what are the main challenges that you'll face as a writer, and how do you tackle them and ensure they don’t get in the way of your success?

Let’s explore…

Editing while you write

Editing while you write can be a real creativity killer. While each writer needs to find what works best for them, editing and writing at the same time tend to slow progress and get you bogged down in the nitty-gritty before you’ve even got your story roughly organized.

Becoming overwhelmed by research

Researching your story thoroughly is a great thing, but you do run the risk of becoming so bogged down in your research that the smallest details of your story become huge side projects - and this could massively lengthen the amount of time it will take you to write your book.

Distractions and interruptions

Every writer will face multiple distractions and interruptions during the course of their career. Do you have the wherewithal to ignore them?

Falling in love with your work

It’s great to have confidence in your own writing, but if you get too close to your own work, you might not be able to edit it effectively. Learning when something doesn’t work, even if you love it, is a hugely important part of learning to write well.

 Having an amazing idea…and then forgetting it

We’ve all been there and it’s SO frustrating. Try to remember to keep a trusted notebook with you t all times!

 No one taking you seriously

Trying to make it as a writer can be tough and there is nothing quite as disheartening as lack of support from those you love most. People mocking you or not taking you seriously in a whole range of situations can have you gritting your teeth, but try to ignore the naysayers and remember that you are following your dreams. 

Finding time to write

Of course, the big one that the majority of writers really struggle with is fitting writing around all their other commitments. This can be tough, but it’s imperative that you create a solid writing schedule to ensure you stick to your writing goals.

Dealing with rejection and negativity

Al writers will get rejected and receive negative feedback at some point during their careers - it’s up to you how you deal with it, and this can make or break you as a writer. 

Making enough money

Writing doesn’t pay enormously well in some instances. In others, it can be a lucrative career. Many writers do struggle to make ends meet if focusing on writing creatively is their sole goal.

Having to be so much more than just a writer

These days writers must wear so many hats, and for those who just want to write, this can be a struggle. 

Plagiarism

Not plagiarising other's work and finding your unique voice and story is tricky. Similarly stopping others from copying your work is a massive challenge too. 

Writer’s block

When writer’s block strikes, many writers feel like giving up. Perseverance is key!

This list of the main author challenges may seem overwhelming, but there are solutions to all of them. A lot of problems authors face can simply be dealt with by focusing, staying motivated, and having quiet confidence in your work. What other challenges have you faced while trying to write? Share them with us here!

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Does Organisation And Routine Stifle Creativity?

Being a writer is not easy. We have to be so many things at once, and often the demands of being a writer mean that we have to wear man hats and balance many different things. Lots of writing advice demands that we remain organized as we write. However many writers struggle with this. Creativity is something that does not like to be stifled, and often putting too many routines and restrictions in place can mean that creativity does not have the room or the space to breathe a grow.

So can too much routine and heavy organization actually become detrimental to creativity? Let’s explore further…

Daily routine

Having a daily routine is kind of essential for any writer. The more you are able to get into a consistent writing habit the easier it will be to return to your work time and time again. However, if your writing schedule is too inflexible, too rigid, you may end up spending more time fretting over it than actually getting on with your work. 

Productivity shaming is a term that Jocelyn K. Glei came up with to try to pinpoint that feeling of being miserably unable to keep up with the unrealistic standards that are set by some writers who brag about their writing productivity and daily routines. If you are constantly feeling as though you are falling short of expectations, your creativity is bound to suffer. 

Negativity creates a lack of motivation - the more negatively you feel about something, the less likely you’ll feel motivated to keep doing it. So if you are constantly feeling pressure to be organized and to stick to a stringent and demanding routine, you might actually do your writing productivity more harm than good.

Do we need to be organized in all aspects of our lives? It’s a good question to ask yourself. While there is certainly some part of our lives that thrive under organized rules and routines, others certainly will feel stifled and constricted by it. Being super organized wastes time and energy that could potentially best spent on other things. 

There are also some that believe that a disorderly environment can actually produce the most exciting and ingenious results. Being too organized leaves little room for spontaneity, for exploration, and adventure. Those who are less committed to stringent routines and writing rules may find that their creativity has room to roam free and therefore create more exciting work.

As Einstein so pointedly put it: 

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Being organized out of fear of judgment that others might think we don’t know what we are talking about if our workspace is chaotic or our to-do list disorganized is also a creativity blocker. We need to be free to work in a way that best suits us, and if embracing the mess and disorder helps us think more creatively, that’s got to be the better choice. 

Of course, the reality is that for writers a good balance between chaos and order is probably the optimum route to effective performance. To be creative as well as productive, we should allow both chaos and constraint when it is appropriate do so.

If we didn’t have some structure and some routine, we’d probably never finish anything. Yet if we don’t allow ourselves any wriggle room, we might well be doing our creativity a disservice too!

What do you think? Share your comments below!

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World-Building Tips For Writers

The worldbuilding process is a vital part of any successful story. Without a vivid world that your readers can picture in their mind’s eye, it will be nearly impossible to place or ground your characters, making creating an exciting story something of a challenge. 

There are endless ways that you can build your world and endless possibilities of what you can do with it. Whether you want to create a world that’s entirely fantastical, entirely real, or combine real-world and fantasy elements, these world-building tips will ensure you do so successfully. 

Settle on your genre and pick your world

Establish the type of world you want to create. Select your genre. Is this a dystopian or fantasy novel or a mixture of the two? Does the story unfold in a place on our Earth or on a different planet? Knowing this will help figure out the tone and mood of your world.

Create rules and laws

Your world should have certain rules and laws that remain consistent throughout. This is particularly important if the world is more fantastical. Make sure you set these from the outset and make a note of all of them so you can always refer back to them when needed.

Define the culture. 

What do the inhabitants of this world believe in? Do they follow a religion? What are their customs and traditions? Do they have festivals or special days celebrations? Do these factors change the way the inhabitants think or behave? Answering these questions can spark so many ideas and help your characters feel unique and fill them with life. Giving them a meaningful existence is key.

Select the language

Do the inhabitants of this world communicate differently? Is there a special language or many different ones? Are there things that are forbidden to talk about? Understanding the restrictions and idiosyncrasies of the language and the way the inhabitants communicate will help to create depth and can be used as a source of conflict too. 

Create the history. 

What is your world’s history? Have past conflicts or natural disasters shaped the world as it is today? Do the lands within the world exist harmoniously or do they have enemies? Providing the backstory to the world you create will help make it feel more real. 

If in doubt - look to the greats

When you are feeling a bit stumped, you can always look to your contemporaries for inspiration. There are so many famous and celebrated authors out there who are masters of world-building. If you feel yours is lacking something, look to other authors to inspire you.

Be detailed but careful

If you start to get lost in the minutiae of your world, you might never get around to writing the story. So make sure you have the structure and roles and details of your world down, but if you find yourself agonizing over tiny nuances that don’t matter to your story, make sure you pull yourself out and get on with the real work!

By following the above you can create an imaginative, immersive world for your characters to inhabit and from which your story can develop. The world-building process can be intense, but the more effort you put into it, the better it will be. 

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How To Discover Your Story’s Central Question

Every good book has one central, dramatic question that acts as the very essence of what your story is about. If you don’t know what yours is, don’t worry! Here we’ll help you understand exactly what the central question is, and how to discover yours. 

What Is the Central Question of any Story?

The dramatic question revolves around the central conflict your main character faces. Typically, this conflict is presented immediately to the reader. The sooner your reader understands the question, the sooner they will feel engaged and wanting to find out the answer!

The question may take the entire book to resolve, but each point of progression should serve in getting one step closer to discovering it. 

Getting this question right may be dependent on the genre you are writing in. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the question was whether the two families would ever make peace so that the couple could live happily together? In Gone with the Wind the question was whether Scarlett O’Hara would be able to win Ashley Wilkes? In The Silence of the Lambs, the question was whether Clarice would be able to hunt down Buffalo Bill and put an end to his killing spree. 

How To Discover What Your Central Question Is?

The heart of your story should be a question, a dramatic, captivating question, and one that will have readers turning those pages to find the answer to it. When thinking about your plot, can you narrow down what the true essence that drives your narrative is? What is it that’s driving your story? Why is your story being told in the first place? Consider your protagonist's objective and whether or not they will end up achieving what they set out to achieve?

 Finding the answer to these questions is what creates the core of your story, from which all other parts develop and grow. Whatever the character's external goals are, this is where you should look for the central question, what do they desire most? This needs to be something tangible and something that is made clear to your readers. 

Examples of central questions might be whether your characters will end up together - this is often the question in classic romance novels. In dramatic, crime fiction, thriller, or suspense novels the central question usually revolves around whether the bad guy will be discovered, caught, stopped, or overcome. The key to discovering the question is knowing your story inside out and having a robust goal for your protagonist and an understanding of whether, in the end, they are going to achieve it. 

Finding your central question will help guide your book and keep you focused on what’s important. So if you don’t know what the central question to your story is, it is probably time to find out!

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The Different Kinds of Characters You’ll Find In Fiction

When writing a book, it’s important to have an engaging cast of characters that are unique, different from one another, and appealing to your target audience.

There are many types of characters that appear in fictional worlds and having a good idea of who they are and what they stand for can help you when it comes to determining the kinds of characters you might want to include in your book. 

Here is a list of the main types

Protagonist: The central character of your story. This character needs a lot of time and attention as they will be the one who you want your reader to connect with most. They need a detailed and believable backstory, they need an end goal, and they need a character arc that covers the entirety of the book. Your protagonist is who your audience will invest in the most, so it’s essential they are about them from the outset.

Antagonist: The antagonist is your protagonist's enemy. This doesn’t have to be in the typical sense though it can be) but the antagonist needs to be the character that creates the most problems for your hero. 

Love interest: Not all stories have a love interest element, but many do. The love interest is usually the character that the protagonist desires. Though they may not know they desire them at the start of your story. 

Confidant: The confidant acts as a special sidekick to your central character. They are who your protagonist will confide in and who they trust the most - whether they keep or betraying that trust is up to you!

Deuteragonists: These characters are no dissimilar to confidants as they are close to the protagonists and their storylines will intertwine with that of your central character but the main plot of your book will not correspond entirely with the deuteragonist’s own character arc.

Tertiary characters: These characters are the ‘fillers’ in your story. They live in the world, they have active parts, and they may influence the plot. However, it is not necessary for these characters to link to the main storyline. Their primary purpose is to fill out the world and make it more believable. 

Foil: A foil character acts as a highlighter for the protagonist's unique qualities. It is a character that’s so notably different from your central character that the stark contrast helps to make your protagonist's qualities really shine through.

These are the main kinds of characters you can expect to appear in a book. While you might not use all of them in any given story, having a thorough understanding of the purpose of each can help helpful. Which character types do you like to use in your stories? Can you think of any more? Leave your comments below!

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What Kind Of Person Makes A Good Writer?

When it comes to being a successful writer, it certainly helps if you are a particular kind of person. While authors come in all shapes, sizes, and personality types, having particular traits can help ensure that you are committed to your writing and have the skills, dedication, and motivation to make a success of it, despite the challenges that all writers face.

So just what qualities do good writer’s have? Let’s take a look at some of them:

Grit

Grit is defined as having the courage and resolve; strength of character - these qualities are hugely important in writers. It’s not an easy job but resolving to keep trying no matter what, being able to overcome obstacles, being true to yourself, and being brave will help ensure you continue to write, no matter how challenging it becomes. 

Creativity

Being a good writer requires creativity and imagination and the ability to present ideas and create characters and worlds in an inventive way.

Organisation

The best writers know that being organized is key. Organizing your workspace, your writing schedule, your research, and so on will help to ensure you are always being as productive and effective as possible.

Positivity

Having a positive outlook can be a critical trait of a writer. The job is a tough one and the journey is hard, if you can remain positive, despite setbacks, you are far less likely to give up when things become challenging. 

Adventurous

Good writers know that the more exciting experiences you have, the more you have to write about. Become a yes person, push yourself, and have an adventurous spirit and you’ll always have a great bank of material to use in your stories.

A desire to learn

Writers are also academics, and there is always more to learn when it comes to being a good writer. So if you are able to commit to studying the craft and be open to experimenting and taking advice and practicing, you are far more likely to become successful in the end.

The ability to take criticism

Almost all writers will, at some point during their career, be told that their writing isn’t very good. How you handle these negative comments and rejections is absolutely essential. If you can’t take it and it makes you stop you might not get very far. Good writers have thick skins and realize that one person’s opinion shouldn’t be taken as gospel. 

If you already have the above qualities in bucket loads, you are probably already a great writer! However, if you feel you are lacking in some of these, don’t worry. The above traits are all things that you can work on, and if you take the time to do so, you should see not only your commitment and proficiency in writing improve but also your enjoyment of it - what’s not to love about that?!

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The Best Jobs For Budding Writers

Lots of writers have one goal only, and that’s to write and sell their novels. However, we all know how difficult this is, and it can be disheartening for writers to work so hard on these kinds of projects and find it very challenging to get anywhere with them.

If you keep getting your book rejected or find that your self-published book sales are pitiful, you might want to consider some other options. There are lots of great jobs for writers out there, and it’s worth thinking about how you might expand your reptiore and put your writing skills to good use. This doesn’t mean you have to give up on the dream of becoming a published author, but it’s also good to keep your options open, and getting paid writing work of any kind can be a big confidence booster.

So here are some of the jobs you might want to consider:

Creating a writing course

If you’ve bene writing a long time, you’ve probably picked up a lot of skills and knowledge along the way. So why not create a writing course and sell this to other budding writers too?

Becoming a university lecturer

Lots of universities offer writing courses as degree subjects - so why no apply for a role where you can teach creative writing to others?

Writing scripts for radio

Many radio stations are on the lookout for creative scripts to air on their shows - so why not research ones that have plays and try your hand at creating one?

Becoming a journalist

You could also train to become a journalist and research and write up newsworthy stories for a local paper.

Copywriting

Becoming a copywriter can be a great job for creative people as the topics you can cover are endless. Think about your other passions and interests and then find publications of businesses in those niches and get in touch to see if you can write for them.

Newsletter writing and social media content

You could also contact businesses to see if you could get a job writing their newsletters or managing their social media platforms - there should be plenty of scope to be creative here. 

Greetings card writer

If you are good a poery, or writing humorous or charming one-lines, you could stay to create cards for a greetings card business, or why no start your own?

These jobs are just some of the roles that those with great writing skills could take on. So remember, while you might have your heart set on getting your book published one day, it’s not a bad idea to do some research and see what other jobs are out there that might also fulfil your desire to be creative. Good luck!

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What To Include In An Author Website

If you aren’t sure what to include in your author website, you need to read this.

Many authors want to just write their books and that’s it. However, if you are serious about selling your book, you need to create an author brand and a strong platform from which to do so. 

Setting up an author website will make you look professional, can be used as an outlet to sell your book, and, most importantly can get you noticed by new fans who will become interested in your work.

These days, setting up a simple website is easy (even for those technophobes amongst us). However, once you’ve set up your site you might be stumped for ideas of what to include in it. With that in mind, here is a list of things to get you started:

An about me page

Tell your readers about yourself. Giving your readers a little insight into the writer behind the book is something all your fans will enjoy. Writing is personal and it’s nice for readers to make that human connection, so include a picture and tell your story as creatively as possible. 

A news and events page

Let your fans know what you have been up to and what’s coming up for you in the future. Even if you don’t have a lot going on you can be creative here and talk about how you are writing and what your plans are for marketing your book.

Your book sales page

Have a dedicated page for selling your books so that it’s clear and easy for visitors to buy should they wish to!

An blog page

An author blog is a great way to keep people visiting your site time and time again and is good for SEO too!

A contact me page

You need to make sure that your readers can get in contact with you if they need to so make sure you leave some details or a contact form so they can let you know how much they love your work!

Links to your social accounts

Make sure all your social accounts are linked on your page so you can encourage your visitors to follow you on other platforms too.

Examples of your creative work or portfolio

It’s nice to give fans of your work a little taste of your skills as a writer, so include a portfolio and some extracts of your creative work so they can see if they like what you’re selling!

From the above you have the means to build a strong author website to help get you noticed and build your brand. So what are you waiting for? Set up your site today and start getting the recognition you deserve!

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