Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 76

Unusual Writing Tips

Getting tired of reading about the same old tried and testing writing tips? Looking to try something more unusual to boost your creativity and writing skills? Try these fantastic, unusual writing tips and see if they work for you!

Go bungee jumping

OK so it doesn’t have to be bungee jumping, but doing something that gets your heart racing and adrenaline pumping can be an ideal way to get those creative juices flowing.

Write a script

Try something different and write a script or a play. Doing so will really force you to focus on the power of dialogue to tell a story and can be a great way to learn how to make dialogue more effective in our work.

Use a dictaphone

Get old school and take a dictaphone with you wherever you go, it means you can easily record anything interesting you observe as well as general musings, or those bolt of lightening ideas that may strike at any time - without worrying your pen is going to run out of ink.

Write in weird places

Don’t just sit at your desk in your home office to write, get out and about and find some weird and wonderful locations to write in. You’ll feel inspired, and no doubt discover some exciting people and places while you are at it - all excellent material for your book.

Write in the middle of the night

Set your alarm for midnight and wake up to write in the dead of night. You might find your sleepy state unlocks new ideas and allows your writing to flow, or just writing when everyone else is asleep could give you more focus and will enable you to be more productive too.

Get relaxed

OK while we shouldn’t advocate heavy drinking, lots of writers do find they are more creative if they settle down to write after a nice glass of wine! Of course, it doesn’t have to be alcohol that does it for you, anything that gets you into that relaxed and carefree state of mind will help your creativity flow.

Work backwards

It might seem unnatural to start a story at the end, but doing so can give writers a fresh perspective and a new insight into the way they write. Why not give it a try?

Read before you write

Every writer knows that reading can help inspire you and give you great ideas too. But have you tried setting some time aside to read before each of your writing sessions? Doing so could help you to get focused, get into the creative mindset and be inspired to write your very best.

These unusual writing tips are well worth trying out; they’ll help you to gain a new perspective, experiment with different techniques and have fun with your writing too!

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Fantastic Tips To Make A Kickass Author Website

An author website is an essential platform from which writers can promote their work. Here’s how to make yours stand out:

Keep it simple

Don’t overly complicate things. If you aren’t very computer savvy creating an author website might seem complicated - but it doesn’t have to be. Your author website doesn’t have to be all singing, all dancing, but it does need a few separate pages, some nice images to break up the text and be creative and exciting enough to attract visitors.

Have diverse content

Don’t make your website merely another place from where people can buy your book - make it worth readers while to return again and again. Release chapter samples, write entertaining blogs, keep them updated on new projects, engage and involve them by asking their opinions. Make it easy for them to leave comments and contact you too.

Have a theme

Your website should have a theme that reflects the writing you do. Whether you write thrilling crime and mystery novels or deliciously decedent romance books, everything from the colours to the font to the content you write should be carefully thought out, so they complement the theme of your website and the genre you write in.

Make it personal

Readers aren’t just interested in your writing - they are interested in you too. So make sure you don’t put up barriers or make everything just about your writing or professional life. Readers who feel like they have an insight into your life, your inspiration and so on will feel more connected to you, and to your stories as a result of that.

Have a USP

Your author website needs to stand out and to make readers keep coming back for more. The more creative and interesting your website is, the more it will reflect how creative and brilliant a writer you are. So spend some time thinking about how you can make your author website entirely unique and offer something different to your audience.

Have fun with it

Not every writer loves the idea of having to keep up maintaining an author website and blog, but if you can, try to make it fun. The potential for a good author website to raise your writing profile is enormous. So try to focus on the benefits and find ways to make it fun to keep you motivated and ensure your website stays fresh, relevant and exciting.

Creating a kickass author website is essential for every writer. So use these tips to create a website that you can be proud of, and you’ll always have a brilliant platform from which to showcase your work.

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What Is A Story Character Arc? (And How To Write One)

You may have come across the term ‘character arc’ when learning about different writing techniques and in developing your writing, but what exactly does it mean? And, perhaps more importantly, how can one implement character arcs in their story?

Character arcs are incredibly important, and every main character in your book should have a distinct, definitive character arc that progresses throughout the story. A character arc is, essentially, the journey that the character goes on. The character arc focuses on not only what literally happens to your character throughout the story, but their transformation because of it. A good character arc will show how your protagonist (and other characters in your book) starts out as one person and end up profoundly changed and affected by the journey they have gone on.

Great character arcs will take your reader on an emotional rollercoaster and leave them shocked, delighted, laughing, crying, and most importantly, wanting more. To do this, you must have characters who evolve throughout the story and take the readers on their journey with them.

So how do you do it?

Firstly familiarising oneself with the different type of character arcs is a good place to start. There are three primary character arcs that a writer can choose to apply to their stories, these are:

The transformation or positive arc

This type of character arc sees ’s your protagonist go through a complete transformation. Your previously regular character turns into a hero, superstar, warrior etc. They usually begin as the underdog, or someone we wouldn’t usually pay any attention to, and, as the story unravels they become a completely different (and often much more admirable) person in the process.

The most common divide used to write a change/transformation arc is to allow your character to believe a particular lie. This lie or misconception that the character has is then overturned and the truth revealed. When this happens, your character is left having to face the consequences and overcome the obstacles that this lie has created for them.

The growth arc

The growth arc is more subtle than the change/ transformation arc. This is where a character stays the same type of person but becomes a lot wiser, or changes a particular aspect of their character because of the journey they go on. They might start out as someone spoiled and selfish and end up as someone generous and thoughtful, they may have previously been sheltered and naive and then grow up to become intelligent and worldly-wise. In this arc, the change occurs because of particular realizations the character has, about both themselves and the world around them. Rather than a dramatic and heroic transformation they change their perspective, learn and grow and perhaps go on a journey of self-discovery rather than battling baddies or taking over the world.

Often the more subtle growth arc is reserved for secondary characters, allowing the main protagonist to undergo a total transformation and emerge the hero or heroine of the story. When writing a growth arc a writer should ask themselves whether the character remains mostly the same at the end as they were at the beginning, do they stay in their regular life just with a different perspective or a change in the way they do things? If so they should go through a growth arc.

The fall or negative arc

The fall arc is less commonly used, as this character arc type see’s the character make a series of bad choices, catastrophic mistakes or experience multiple unfortunate events that ultimately lead them (and potentially those around them) to their doom.

Death, wickedness, madness and corruption are all suitable endings for a character that experiences a fall arc and while this can be shocking to your reader, it certainly is a powerful way to create an unhappy ending. A fall arc will see your protagonist become totally unrecognisable by the end of the story, and will either meet a bitter or tragic end or become a compelling villain and antagonist.

Employing a fall arc in your writing needs to be carefully considered. You can either write it in such a way that your reader feels deep sympathy for the character or create a character so corrupt and vile that your reader actively despises them by the end!

Remember, not every single character in your book needs to go through a character arc such as the ones above. It is possible for more minor characters not to change or transform at all really, and rather go through a flat character arc. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t develop and they should still be exciting and relevant to the story - they just can remain the same at the end as they did at the beginning.

Creating character arcs is all about writing strong, relatable characters with motivations that your reader understands. Doing so will ensure that your characters remain compelling throughout the story and keep readers urging your characters on, feeling everything that they feel and staying with them right until that final page.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post What Is A Story Character Arc? (And How To Write One) appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Setting Realistic Writing Deadlines

Every writer knows that without writing deadlines, it is all too easy to keep procrastinating, to keep putting ones writing on the back burner until eventually, it becomes a distant memory, a niggle at the back of your mind that can soon be forgotten!

Creating realistic, achievable goals and giving yourself writing deadlines will keep you organised, motivated and making progress. It will also ensure you keep writing regularly, and regular writing is the best way to get better at it.

But what are the best ways to work out how to set writing deadlines, ones that keep us motivated but aren’t so tight they are impossible to keep (and then probably do more harm than good)?

Here are some useful tips.

Be clear

Don’t make your goals vague or your deadlines flexible. Be completely clear about what it is you need to achieve and when you need to complete it. Don’t leave any room for manoeuvre or to make excuses, the more clear-cut your goals are, the more likely it is that you will achieve them.

Be detailed

When setting your goals write them down in as much detail as possible. The more detailed you are, the easier it will be to work out exactly what it is you need to do, and by doing that you’ll know for sure if your deadline is realistic and the tools and time you need to achieve each one.

Break things down

Don’t set goals that are too huge or too far in the future that they already seem impossible. Creating realistic writing goals is all about making life easier for yourself so instead of a goal being ‘finish book’ make ones that are far smaller like ‘write 500 words by the end of the week.’ The result will still be the same, but you’ll feel much less daunted by and more capable of achieving the latter.

Make them visible

Once you have set your goals and writing deadlines, write them down and stick them up somewhere visible. It’s easy to make a plan, feel motivated at the time and then forget all about it. So print out your writing goals and put them up somewhere you’ll see them regularly. This way you’ve got no excuses not to stay on track.

Reward yourself

It’s much easier to stick to your writing goals and deadlines if you know you’ve got a reward coming your way if you do! Try to keep yourself geared up to achieve those goals by treating yourself every time you hit a target.

Setting realistic writing deadlines will help keep writers writing - and that is the most important thing a writer can do!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Writing Contests 2018

Entering writing contests can be a great way to boost your confidence as a writer, gain a following and make some money too!

However, with so many writing competitions out there it’s hard to know which ones to enter. It takes time, after all, to write a competition entry and get it sent off, so you’ll no doubt want to choose the best ones depending on what you are looking for.

Of course, when it comes to entering writing competitions, it all depends on what you are hoping to achieve. Here are some reasons why you might want to enter:

To keep you motivated - every competition has a deadline and working towards these will keep you productive and motivated to get the work done. You’ll be improving your skills and experience all the time too!

To build up a portfolio - Entering lots of competitions will help you to build up an excellent and diverse collection of writing.

To get your work published - many competitions will publish the winning entries as part of the prize.

To get recognition - winners will get their work published and may even land a further publishing deal.

To make money - some big money prizes are there for the taking in the more prestigious competitions, and if you win you could get an impressive sum!

Top tips for entering writing competitions 2018:

Pick competitions that suit your style - you know what kind of writing you are good at and what you love to write about so find competitions that suit your writing voice and style, so you feel comfortable and confident from the outset.

Start small

Look for small, more local competitions to start off with and build your confidence from there.

Read instructions and follow them

Never feel you are above instructions or can bend the rules. If you don’t follow the competition requirements, your entry won’t be included, and you’ll have made all that effort for nothing!

So now you have thought about which competitions to enter, you can start looking! Here are a few great writing competitions taking place this year to get you started:

Costa Short Story Award

Deadline: Friday 3rd August

If you’ve got a short story already completed, get it entered into this incredibly popular competition.

There’s no entry fee and a winning prize of £3,000 so what are you waiting for?

Reader’s Digest 100-Word-Story Competition

Sometimes the best things come in small packages. This competition is all about writing entire stories in precisely 100 words - no more, no less! It’s certainly a challenge, but winners can expect a £2000 prize as well as great publicity for their work.

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Deadline 15th-August 2018 - April 1st 2019

If you are more of a poet and fancy something a little different, the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest could be great for you. This competition is looking for the best funny poems of today, and with the first prize of $1000 and $100 for ten runners-up, it’s well worth entering.

There are a vast number of writing and poetry competitions taking place in 2018 and entering can be a fantastic way to keep writers motivated and gain recognition and publicity. At the very least you’ll write more, and at best you’ll win fame and fortune, so what have you got to lose?!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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How To Avoid Writing Clichés

It can be pretty tough to write an entire novel without slipping into certain clichés. However, there’s not much that will turn your reader off faster.

Clichés tend to interrupt the flow of the story and show an absolute lack of imagination and creativity from the writer. If you are trying to get a publishing deal and your book is full of clichés not only in your writing but also using a clichéd idea, no publisher is going to bite.

It’s not easy to avoid writing clichés altogether, and often we use them without even noticing we’re doing so. So how can we weed them out, or better still prevent them entirely?

Here are some helpful tips:

Don’t steal other writer's ideas

Some plots have just been done to death. They have been written and rewritten so many times it’s almost impossible to avoid falling into the trap of a cliché if you choose to focus your story around them. When writing a book, your idea needs to be unique. Make publishers, editors, and most importantly your readers sit up and take notice of something that hasn’t been done before.

Avoid being overly sensational.

There is a myriad of moving subjects to choose from when writing a book, and lots of great books have murder, car crashes, bombs going off, wars, descents into madness and so on as part of their plots. However, these sensational subjects can be challenging to write without falling into clichés.

This doesn’t mean you can’t tell stories that include these elements. But when you do, pay particular attention to your writing and be alert for any clichés that may appear.

Make the ordinary extraordinary.

One good way of avoiding clichéd writing is by turning everyday events and occurrences into beautiful, unique, unusual, life-changing adventures. It’s more of a challenge, but by focusing on smaller, more unusual things that happen in everyday life, or taking something that we are all familiar with yet making it suddenly breathtaking or extraordinary is a great skill to have as a writer.

Tell your story the way you want to.

No one can tell your story or share your experiences the way you do. If you continue to write clichés, it suggests that you are not being honest with yourself. You have a unique perspective and an original voice, tap into that, use it instead of borrowing from others or retelling a story that wasn’t yours to tell in the first place.

Be authentic

Clichéd writing often becomes that way because it’s not true to real life. Try to avoid injecting your book with melodrama where it’s not necessary. You’ll only end up creating a story that doesn’t resonate with an audience and lacks the authenticity necessary to connect with your readers.

By using the tips above you can eliminate clichés from your writing and create powerfully original stories that really are entirely different than anything else.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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How To Write Multiple Points Of View

Writing a book with multiple points of view is one of the most challenging ways to tell a story and requires juggling and balancing various personalities, points of view and motivations, as well as the ability to pull these together to create a narrative that not only makes sense but is compelling and read-worthy too.

However, done right and using multiple points of view can provide added layers of insight and intrigue to a story and can be a smart and insightful way to widen the readers perspective and allow them to get to know multiple characters in more depth.

Before you get started, it is essential to make sure that telling your story from multiple points of view is the right decision. List the reasons why your story would benefit from using this narrative device and be clear on why this will enhance your story. For example, by giving your reader a broader insight into the world you are creating, or allowing different secrets to come out through the different perspectives giving the reader information that other characters in the story do not have.

Once you have decided to go ahead and use multiple points of view, here are some useful tips to ensure you make this as effective as possible.

Be clear and distinct when switching point of view.

There is nothing worse than confusing your reader, and the danger of doing so is far greater when using multiple points of view. Be very clear when you are switching from the perspective of one character to another. Only changing when beginning a new chapter is usually a more natural way to keep switches defined and easy to follow.

Have distinct characters and voices.

If you are using multiple points of view, make sure that they are all distinctive and exciting enough to stand alone in your story. Each character should have a unique voice and personality that feels utterly separate from the others.

Make everyone as important as each other.

Each point of view needs to come from a character that’s the hero of their own story. Give equal importance to each character and make sure that they all have their journeys, struggles, conflicts and obstacles to overcome which make the reader interested in them and want to hear more from their point of view.

Don’t repeat the same scenes over and over.

Telling the same scene from each character's point of view runs the risk of boring your reader and not allowing the story to move forward. Of course, there are times where it is essential to reveal the same scene from a different character's perspective, but unless truly necessary to the plot, try to avoid this.

Plan, plot and have a good strategy.

There needs to be a reason you are using a particular character to reveal a specific scene. Ask yourself why that character works best to tell that part of the story, what insight they bring and make sure they are the best man/woman for the job! Planning how the points of view will come together and which character to use to tell which bit of the story will make sure things don’t get confusing, and that there are no inconsistencies in your story either.

Writing from multiple points of view is tough, but done right can be incredibly smart and a useful device to intrigue your reader, to bring different levels to your story and to give the reader a whole cast of characters to fall in love with. If you are thinking of using multiple points of view to tell a story to remember to keep your reader in mind and use the tips above to help ensure you do it well.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Novelettes, Novellas, Novels – What’s The Difference?

When it comes to writing a book, there are many classifications, and writers should make sure they are aware of the differences of writing a novel compared to writing a novelette or novella.

Understanding what makes a novel a novel, a novella a novella and so on will help writers decide not only what kind of book they’d like to write but also enable them to familiarise themselves with the structures, the rules and the audiences that will help to shape the book as they write it.

So let’s take a look at the different types of book.

A novelette

A novelette is a more modern term and is used to describe a book that’s too short to be considered a novella, but too long to be regarded as a short story. This book type can be ideal for new writers who want to experiment with writing longer stories yet can’t yet commit to writing a full novel. A novelette would be around 7500 words in length (though, as with all book types, there is no exact word count to define them) and would focus on a single character or a very minimal cast of characters and their one purpose or journey.

A novella

The concept of a novella came about in the early renaissance period. Some famous examples of novellas include A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and The Metamorphosis by Kafka.

A novella usually focuses on the main set of characters and sticks to one plot without digressing into subplots. Their length is around 20,000 to 30,000 words so readers can get through the entire story in one sitting.

This type of book works well for writers who find the idea of writing a full novel daunting, or perhaps know they have limited time and want the satisfaction of completing something sooner rather than later. A novella also works for those writers who feel they have a good story but one that perhaps doesn’t suit the full-length novel structure. If a writer feels they would be stretching their story and adding words just to get up to the required length to be considered a novel, perhaps writing a novelette is an idea that would sit far more comfortably with them

A novel

A novel is the most common work of fiction, and most writers who set out to write a book would commit themselves to write a novel. The length of a novel varies and depends on the genre of the book. Fantasy fiction and sci-fi novels tend to be longer (upwards of 100,000 words), where romance and general fiction stories tend to be sorter. A novel usually contains a whole myriad of characters, scenes, twists, actions, decisions and subplots that take place alongside the main story. Because of how long it is will be read over days or weeks. Novels ebb and flow, rise and fall and usually take place over a longer period of time. The beauty of a novel is that it takes the readers on a journey and invites them into a world in which they can live for a while.

All types of a book, of course, have similarities and give writers great insight into how to put together a piece of fiction writing that has a beginning, middle and end, and involves characters that readers can relate to and care about.

Those who familiarise themselves with the different book types out there give themselves more options, more room to experiment with length and style and ultimately can choose a book type to suit their story rather than trying to make their story fit into something not quite right - and that will result in a better book an a story told exactly as it should be - what's not to like about that?

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

 

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How To Tackle Writing Fatigue

Everyone has days where they don’t feel like writing. But when they days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, it can become a big problem.

Do you have writing fatigue? Some common symptoms are:

Feeling as though everything you write is awful

Being unable to get past the initial stages of an idea

Being consumed by negative thinking that means you can’t focus on the task at hand

Feeling as though you are stuck in a rut and writing the same sort of thing over and over again

Changing things and feeling as though they are no better

Running out of ideas

If any of the above sound familiar you might have writing fatigue. But what can you do about it?

Get out of the house

A change of scenery can work wonders for the imagination. Fresh air and exercise will get that blood pumping - and who knows what you will see or hear when you are out and about that will inspire you with a brilliant idea for your story?

Take a break

Sometimes you suffer from writing fatigue because you do need a break from writing. Let yourself have some time off from it, just don’t let a break turn into a permanent one! Sometimes putting something aside and coming back to it after a few weeks can help us to see new things and spark new ideas that allow us to get over whatever problems we were having when we initially became frustrated.

Read something inspiring

Sometimes need to get back to what inspired us to start writing in the first place. Reading over favourite books or even just finding inspiring quotes can help to lift one's spirits and help us to recollect why we write, what’s important to us and get us back on the right track once more.

Reset your goals

Take a look at your writing goals. Perhaps you have been pushing yourself too far and have set goals that are impossible to reach. Or maybe your goals aren’t driving you far enough and have allowed you to become lazy. Take a look at the goals and deadlines you’ve set yourself and see if you can change them to keep you more motivated.

Look after yourself

Get plenty of rest, eat healthily, learn how to relax and unwind and don’t forget to exercise. Keeping the mind and body fuelled with goodness will help you feel energetic positive and focused -all important for being your best writing self.

Coming across a roadblock in your writing is frustrating, but there are ways to deal with it. Every writer will experience times where they find it difficult to write, and writing becomes sluggish and even dull to them. The critical thing to remember is to work through this, don’t give up and persevere and eventually, you’ll get back into the flow. Using the tips above will help you get there faster and hopefully make instances of writing fatigue as short-lived and painless as possible!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Essential Book Writing Tips For Beginner Writers

If you’ve never even come close to attempting to writing a book before, even the idea of doing so can seem utterly overwhelming.

It may be that you have some writing experience, have written some shorter pieces for pleasure now and again, or have just been struck with a brilliant idea for a book or an urge to do it, but have no writing experience at all. Whatever stage you are at, and however used to writing you are, actually making that move to start writing a novel is a huge commitment, and often people can be at a loss, not knowing where to start.

However, writing a novel, though hard work, doesn’t have to be an overwhelmingly complicated process. Follow these straightforward tips and not only will you find yourself clear on how to get started but also armed with the know-how to finish it too!

Here are some essential book writing tips for beginner writers:

What is your book about?

All books need to be about something, what’s yours about? Have a clear idea of your story, your characters and what’s going to happen in your book before you begin. Just a single idea won’t get you very far, so you need to sit down and work out the details before you start writing - if you don’t, you might find your great idea doesn’t go anywhere.

Write chapter outlines

Once you have a clear idea of your story write chapter outlines to give yourself a firm idea of what you are going to write. Chapter outlines will provide you with the confidence to know that your story has enough meat to turn into a book and will stop dreaded writer’s block from looming halfway through.

Create deadlines

You need to set yourself realistic and achievable deadlines for writing your book. Break them down into manageable, bite-sized chunks top help make them feel less impossible. Figure out a rough word count total for your book (60-80 thousand words is about right for a first fiction novel) and then set a weekly word count goal that you know you can stick to.

Create a writing schedule

Once you know your deadlines, create a writing schedule that you know you can stick too. Be ambitious but don’t push yourself to the point where you can’t get the work done. You’ll only end up feeling disappointed and be more likely to give up. Writing at the same time in the same place can help you to create a routine and immerse writing into part of your everyday life.

Get feedback before you finish.

Don’t wait until you’ve painstakingly written the entire manuscript before you get anyone to look at it - they’ll likely come back with so many questions, notes and comments that you’ll feel like you have to start all over again. Getting someone who knows what they are talking about and isn’t afraid to be critical to look at your work early on can make all the difference.

Learn about the publishing process

Decide whether you are going to try to get an agent or publisher to take on your book or if you are going to self-publish and then dedicate some time to learning everything you can about the publishing process. If you are serious about your book becoming a success, it’s important to know exactly where the opportunities lie and what you need to do to give your book the very best chance.

Don’t aim for perfection.

Your book isn’t going to feel perfect when it’s finished so don’ hold onto that idea of perfection and use it as an excuse to put your book in a drawer and forget about it. If you don’t land a traditional publishing deal then you can still self-publish - don’t spend all that time and energy on your book and not do anything with it at the end.

Write another one!

Many writers don’t experience success the first time around; in fact, many don’t experience it the second, third or fourth either. However, you will have learnt so so much from writing the first book that you owe it to yourself to take those lessons and write another even better one!

Writing a book does take time and dedication, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Use these simple tips for beginners to get you started, stay on track and see it through to the end!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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