Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 89
January 17, 2018
How To Write A Great Death
Killing off characters in a novel is one of the most difficult and exciting parts of writing it! An effective death has a significant impact on your story and how your readers feel about it. It is therefore so important to understand how to create and write a great death and ensure that this comes across to your readers.
So what are the things you can do to ensure the death in your story is well- written and not easily forgotten? Here are some helpful tips:
Make it original.
It’s all too easy, when writing death scenes, to fall into the trap of describing them in the same tired old cliched ways. Not only should the way your character die be unique and memorable, but everything from their last words and the expression on their face to the way that other characters react to their death should be arresting and unusual i- f you want to make an impact on your readers that is!
Make it have a purpose.
There needs to be a reason for killing off a character, and you, therefore, should think carefully about what affect it will have on the other characters in your book, your story, and indeed, your readers too. Killing off a character, especially unexpectedly, can be hugely dramatic. If a character dies and there are no consequences or reactions to their death it won’t be meaningful and will seem rather pointless and ineffective in your story.
Think about your reader's emotional reaction.
A death is a perfect time to ensure that your readers are on the same page as you. Making sure your readers react in the way you want them to is crucial. It may be that you want your readers to feel sad, and shocked, but remember there are many other emotions they could feel about a character death too. At the end of the day, you want to evoke a certain reaction, and whether that’s to laugh hysterically, to bawl their eyes out or to be too afraid to turn the next page is entirely up to you.
A death should prove something.
Any death in a novel should be making a statement about something. Does death prove that love is everlasting? Does death prove that goodness will always triumph over evil? Does death prove that everyone gets what is coming to them in the end? Before you write your death scene think about what point you are trying to make, and ensure that in creating your death scene your point is clear.
Writing a great death is not something that comes easily to many authors. However, done right it can enhance your book, and win over your readers. So next time you need to kill off a character, think about the points above, and you’ll no doubt write a more meaningful and powerful death scene which your readers are sure to love.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post How To Write A Great Death appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
January 16, 2018
How To Set A Scene Like A Pro
When it comes to writing a book, setting the scene, so it draws the reader in and creates a platform for the action that’s about to unfold is so essential.
All great writers need to learn how to paint a picture, how to create a setting that appeals to the senses and allows readers to become immersed in it as if they were there themselves.
Becoming a master at scene setting takes time and practice. You are setting the scene from a particular character’s point of view, and the reader therefore see’s it as they would. So considering that character’s personality, use of language and the way their mind works will influence which details are shared with the reader, what they notice and how that makes them feel.
Scene setting is a great way to prepare the reader for what’s to come. For example, the description may be one big metaphor for how a character is feeling or what action they decide to take next. Authors do this often using devices such as pathetic fallacy (projecting human feelings onto inanimate objects to determine the mood) to indirectly demonstrate how a character is feeling or letting the reader know what’s in store for them next.
The basics of scene setting require a writer to think about the senses. A well-set scene will appeal to all five senses, thus really giving the reader an idea of what it is like to be there. Every time you write a new scene, it is a good idea to think about the five senses and try to include a description that appeals to all of them. It’s all too easy just to describe what a character see’s and forget to mention what he or she hears, smells, feels or tastes.
Creating a great scene is one of the ways that you can demonstrate your own stamp as a writer, and really let your unique writing voice come through. Some writers are known for their use of poetic language, for example, others may be celebrated for their smart descriptive words or the way they are very economical and sparse in their descriptions yet manage to pick exactly the right adjective to precisely conjure up powerful images in the reader's mind.
A scene should not only appeal to the senses but also provoke an emotional reaction in the reader. Writing powerful descriptions can ignite an emotional charge in your reader. If you are trying to get them to feel a particular way or have a sense of what the character is feeling, then using the scene to reflect this can make your writing even more powerful and effective.
At the end of the day, becoming a master at scene-setting will significantly enhance your book and immediately make the reader want to know more about what’s going on. So make sure that next time you sit down to write, you pay attention and take the time to set a brilliant scene and let your story unfold from there!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 6, 2018
How To Stay Motivated During The Winter
During the winter, and especially with the latest storm it can be difficult to stay motivated. Most of us want to grab a cup of tea and wrap ourselves in a blanket… but there is work that needs to be done!
Each morning when you wake up, watch a motivational video. Yes, motivational videos aren’t a cure for staying motivated but they can help you get started. The goal of watching a motivational video is that you create motivation inside of yourself. When you’re motivated from within, you can accomplish amazing things!
Upon waking up and watching a motivational video, you should do a review of your life plan. Your life plan is what you wish to accomplish during your lifetime. If you don’t have a life plan, then you need to create one. Without one, you will be meandering around in life and end up at a destination in which you will not be happy about. If you haven’t yet written your life plan, start by asking yourself, “What makes me the happiest, and something I can make money from?” Remember, the best in every profession gets paid.
Exercise first thing in the morning. Exercising first thing in the morning can be going for a walk, run, or hitting the gym. There is no better feeling than working out and then starting your day. You get a sense of euphoria that’ll last your entire day.
With exercise, waking up early will give you the needed motivation. There’s just something about waking up before everyone else that gives you an added edge. I’m not saying you need to get up at 4 am but you should get up any later than 7 am. When you get up early for a consistent period, you will notice beneficial changes in your life.
It may seem like a small task, but making your bed in the morning right after you wake up will also help to motivate you. Why? Because you’ve accomplished a task already and that momentum will carry throughout the day. Don’t believe me? Check out the book: Make Your Bed. Staying motivated during the winter doesn’t have to be hard if you follow the steps above!
Trevor Oldham
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How To Feel Good About Your Writing
As writers, we all know how easy it is to be critical of our work. In fact, often we are our own worst enemies when it comes to bashing our confidence as writers.
While it’s good to try and push yourself and be a bit of a perfectionist in your work, too much self-criticism quickly leads to self-doubt and if we don’t nip it in the bud, it can mean that we begin to give up on our writing altogether.
Writing is hard work; there is no denying it. However, it should be enjoyable too. If you don’t enjoy your writing and always find it a painful struggle full of fear and self-loathing and doubt, you’ve got to ask yourself, is it worth it?
Feeling good about your writing is important, and here’s how to start doing so!
Believe that you are a writer. Truly knowing that you are a writer and accepting that will help you to gain in confidence and self-belief. Say it to yourself in front of the mirror, say it when people ask ‘what do you do?’ The more you tell yourself and others, the more it will ring true, and the more you feel like a writer, the more positive you will feel and the more writing you'll want to do.
End the worry. Writers waste so much of their time fretting about things they cannot change or worrying that they are somehow doing it ‘wrong.’ Try to let go of the fears, accept that they are not helping you and know that there are many different ways writers become successful, not just one right way - so you can get there, in whichever way feels comfortable for you.
Remind yourself of the reasons why you write. Whenever you feel as though you might be having a crisis of confidence, try to remember why you want to write in the first place. It is a good idea to write these reasons down and stick them up somewhere you can see them. Remembering what inspires you is a powerful motivator and can help keep you on the right track,
Prioritise your writing. It’s hard to feel good about your writing if you keep procrastinating or letting other things take over. It’s hard to feel good about your writing if you don’t write! So next time you are feeling uncertain, really be honest with yourself about how dedicated to your writing you are and figure out how you can make it a priority in your life once more.
Get a reliable support network. Surround yourself with people who are positive, energetic, motivating and inspiring. These people will help keep you on the right track and pick you up when you aren’t feeling good about your writing.
Stop being jealous. It’s difficult not to feel envious when some writers just seem to ‘get lucky'. But jealousy isn’t going to make you a better writer or increase your chances of success, and will end up eating away at you and making you miserable in the long run. So stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your own goals and self-improvement instead.
Get a thicker skin and a better sense of humour! Rejection happens to everyone so just learn how to deal with it, get over it and move on. Also, it’s worth trying to find humour in bad situations and keeping a positive mindset. If we take ourselves and our writing too seriously we could end up sucking all the enjoyment out of it.
Keep learning new things. When it comes to writing there is so much to learn. So keep exploring and experimenting, and you’ll be surprised at what you learn and how much you improve too.
If you are feeling down about your writing, try the tips above. If you keep practising them and incorporating them into your writing routine, you’ll soon start to feel happier and more confident about your writing, which will inspire you to write even more!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 5, 2018
How To Tell If Your Story Is Any Good
Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether our stories are any good, and, let’s face it, the sooner we find out for sure, the better.
It can be all too easy to get halfway through writing a story only to realise it just isn’t going to work, and there isn’t anything much more frustrating to a writer than the discovery their story just can’t go anywhere.
So what can you do to decipher whether your story is any good? Ask yourself the following:
Have you sketched out the entire thing?
Making sure that your story will work is just good common sense. Whether it’s a short story or an entire novel, by sketching out the basic plot, doing chapter outlines and ensuring that you really do have an entire story there you can feel confident that it will work when you start writing it out.
Do your characters excite you?
An exciting cast of characters will make or break your story. Make sure you pay attention to every character in your story and that they all have a purpose, are intriguing and make your reader care.
Is there a journey?
Your story should take the characters and the reader on a journey. It should have ups and downs and highs and lows, and there should be obstacles that your characters need to overcome. Making sure that you have a well thought out journey will mean your story is on the right track.
How’s the pace?
Pay attention to the pacing of your story. You can tell if the pace is good just by reading over it. Are there parts that you skip over, or parts that feel tedious and slow, does too much happen too quickly? Your pace is an essential part of your story so make sure you get it right.
Can you imagine the world you have created?
Paying attention to setting and detail is another excellent way to ensure you are writing a good story. You should be able to picture the world you have created vividly. If you can’t, it suggests that something important is missing.
Are you showing or telling?
Ah, the age-old advice of 'show don’t tell'. It’s important to make sure that you aren’t directing your readers too much, or that you are making it impossible for them to immerse themselves in your story because they can hear your voice telling them what happens all the time. While there are some instances where telling is the most economical and straightforward way to relay information to your reader, if this happens too often it will be off-putting and could make your story seem bad.
By asking yourself these questions, you can decide whether your story is any good and therefore whether it is worth pursuing. Ask yourself these questions before you start and you’ll begin your story confident that it is worth writing in the first place and that you won’t be wasting your time!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 4, 2018
How To Make Writing More Enjoyable
Sometimes it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the negatives of writing. We often read about how tough the industry is, and how teeny our chances of ever really making a successful career out of writing are. We know how easy it is to procrastinate, to be our own worst critic, to feel the cold hard blow of rejection and find it near impossible to recover.
But all this negativity can begin to wear us down, and if we are constantly being told how tough writing is, it’s difficult to get that out of our heads when we sit down to write.
The truth is that writing should be enjoyable and something that we cherish in our lives. Writing can be cathartic, revealing, interesting and beautiful. It can make us get to know ourselves in a way we never thought possible, can help us work through problems, feel creatively satisfied, and make us laugh and cry and feel everything in between. In short, writing should be something enjoyable in your life. Otherwise, you’ve really got to wonder what the point of it is.
So how can we ensure that we make out writing more enjoyable? Here are some things to try:
Be interested in what you’re writing about. Think about what inspires you, what fascinates you, what gets you going and out of bed in the morning. Write about that. If you aren’t writing about something that interests you, it will be difficult to conceal your disinterest on the page.
Stay true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to write about what you want to write about. There are so many rules and so many things to think about that often this can take away from the simple pleasure of writing. Tell your story just the way you want to, and you’ll find the whole process so much more enjoyable.
Figure out what you hope to achieve and go for it with everything you’ve got. Writers tend to work best when they have goals in mind. Figure out what you want from your writing and then don’t let anything stop you from getting to where you need to be.
Know that you can’t please everyone. The sooner you accept that not everyone will like your writing, the better. If you can really, truly take this on board, you’ll stop worrying so much what everyone thinks and be all the better and wiser for it.
Be as imaginative and creative as possible. There is nothing quite like writing fiction to exercise your imagination and creativity. Don’t censor yourself and really feel free to write about whatever you want. However you want. You’ll find this a truly enlightening and cathartic experience and will love exploring the inner depths of your mind!
Be fearless. Fortune favours the brave, and this is particularly true when it comes to writers. Don’t be afraid to experiment, to think outside the box, to try something different. There are rules, but rules are made to be broken after all!
Write for yourself. First and foremost you should write for yourself because you need to love what you do. If you don’t love your writing, you can’t expect anyone else to either so try to forget about everyone else and figure out what kind of writer you want to be and what type of writing you want to do.
Be proud of your achievements. Remember to step back and take stock of your accomplishments once in a while. You might not think you have achieved much, but the very fact that you are writing at all puts you ahead of thousands of people who never even get that far - so just remember that you are doing something awesome and amazing, and you should congratulate yourself for that.
By focusing on all the great things about writing, and trying to remain in a positive frame of mind you really can make writing something that you just adore to do. So next time you sit down to write, get yourself excited and raring to go and remember that the more you enjoy it, the more you’ll want to do it, and the more you do it, the better writer you’ll be!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 3, 2018
Break Your Bad Writing Habits In 2018
Now that the new year is upon us it is a good idea to look back and reflect on your writing achievements over the past 12 months. What have you done well? What could you have done better? How will you set goals for yourself going forward?
The new year is the perfect time to reassess your writing and find a way to ensure it stays a priority. One of the most effective ways of doing this is looking at the bad writing habits you may have fallen into and making sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes twice.
So what are some of the most common bad writing habits that you can work on for 2018?
Not sticking to your plan.
Having goals and deadlines is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you stay motivated and productive. However, we often make our deadlines impossible to meet, or our workload too massive to contemplate. By giving yourself realistic goals and deadlines, you are more likely to stick to them and will feel so much better about yourself when you do.
Procrastinating.
One of the most common bad writer habits is procrastination. Putting your writing on the back burner and making excuses not to do it must become unacceptable to you. Don’t put your writing off - make it the first thing that you do every day and worry about the other stuff afterwards.
Being your own worst critic.
So often writers let themselves down by being unreasonably negative and hard on themselves. Why not start this year with a positive mindset? Believe you can and will get to where to want to be, and then just go for it.
Thinking instead of writing.
It's easy to walk around all day thinking about our stories in our heads, but unless you actually put pen to paper so to speak, you’ll never actually get the darn thing written! Try not to worry too much about what you write in the first instance; it doesn’t have to be perfect, just get the story down and then you can find ways to perfect it later.
Not paying attention to your health.
As with any aspect of our lives, if we run ourselves ragged, if we don’t get enough sleep, if we drink too much caffeine, don’t get fresh air, stop socialising and eat and drink unhealthily we will become incapable of performing our best. Take care of yourself this year, and you’ll have so much more energy and motivation to write.
Sticking to the same tried and tested methods.
One of the great joys of writing is being able to experiment. It’s so easy to stick to one rigid formula, and this can become boring for ourselves and our readers. Don’t be afraid to experiment with techniques, genres, storylines - find out what works for you!
Working on too much at once.
While it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have more than one writing project on the go, if you stretch yourself too thin you’ll never be able to truly focus, and you also run the risk of never finishing anything either. Limit yourself to a couple of writing projects at a time so you can make sure you give them you're all.
Letting fear hold you back.
Writing can feel like a scary business, but you’ll never get anywhere if fear stops you from achieving what you want to achieve. Break this bad habit in 2018 and have the courage to believe you can achieve all of your writing dreams.
If the above sounds familiar now is the time to acknowledge these bad writing habits and start the new year with fresh resolve and determination to break them. By accepting that you have bad writing habits, and then devising strategies to break these, you give yourself the best chance of successfully moving forward with your writing and becoming a more prolific, productive and positive writer in 2018.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 2, 2018
New Year New Rules
A New Year is a time for a fresh start for many people, and for writers, it is an excellent opportunity to try new things.
One of the challenges many writers face is that while they want to learn, they can feel restricted and confused by the writing rules they hear about, and spending too much time trying to adhere to them can end up being detrimental to their work.
So since it’s a new year and a time for a change, why not try to gain a new perspective? Here are some of the classic writing rules and why perhaps 2018 is the year that writers should rebel against them!
Show don't tell. As writers, we must have heard this piece of advice a million times. The trouble is for many of us doing so doesn’t come naturally. If we get too caught up in this rule, we can end up delaying our work and becoming too critical of our writing. Even the best writers tell their readers things occasionally, and you know what? The readers don’t even notice. Get your book written in the first instance and then worry about this rule. Sometimes it is just more economical to tell the reader, to be direct and matter of fact. So while it is important not to direct the reader throughout the book, this rule simply doesn’t hold true 100% of the time.
Write what you know. Many writers have been baffled and perplexed by this piece of writing advice. Writing what you know can be the very worst thing you can do. It stifles creativity and imagination; it doesn’t allow readers to branch out, it limits experience and emotional range. We must not take this advice too literally. Write about whatever you feel like - as long as you are feeling inspired and having fun this will come through in your writing even if you are pushing the boundaries and making it all up.
Have a protagonist that your readers will love. Your protagonist does not have to be a hero, in fact, your readers don’t even have to like them! They just need to want to know more about them, and therefore to keep reading. A main character who is repulsive, nasty, hateful, obscure, can be just as intriguing and readable than one who is happy, courageous, funny etc. - perhaps even more so.
Make your book timeless. By this I mean, the rule where you shouldn’t include anything that ‘dates’ your book such as pop-cultural references. This rule simply isn't helpful and if you feel like it, just add as many as you like. The fact is that getting your book read by many people in the present day is difficult enough - dwelling on whether people in 100 years won’t ‘get’ a reference you have made should be pretty low down on your list of priorities.
Less is more. You know what? Sometimes more is more! Less is more makes sense when you are editing your book, where you are trying to cut down on unnecessary fluff. But great stories require detail; they require description, imagination, poetry. A good story is a work of art, and if you cut it down too much, it won’t flow or build or be enjoyable to read at all. Make sure you don’t get so preoccupied with the less is more rule that you end up making your novel nothing more than a series of statements and facts!
These common writing rules are ones that need an overhaul. One of the beautiful things about writing is how creative, imaginative and freeing it can be. So don’t let outdated, antiquated writing rules hold you back in 2018. Write the way you want and the way that feels comfortable, natural and inspiring to you, and you’ll enjoy the process more - and end up with something better and more genuine too.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
The post New Year New Rules appeared first on Writer's Life.org.
Your New Year’s Writing Resolutions
All writers know that setting goals and deadlines is one of the most helpful ways to stay on track and achieve what we want to achieve.
At the start of each year, there is never a better time to take stock of your writing achievements to date and then set some future goals for the year ahead.
So what are some fantastic New Year's resolutions for writers?
Focus on how much you write, not what happens afterwards. It’s too easy to get caught up in what we want from our writing and forget to just write in the first place. Without being productive and without practising, all the other stuff is irrelevant. If you want to make one thing a priority this year, make it writing - actually physically putting the words down. The more productive you are, the better you’ll feel.
Find your writing truth. Try to use your writing to say something, to give a little something to the world. Writing for writing’s sake isn’t enough. There has to be something more than this. Search deep inside for what truly inspires you to write, and make sure you stay true to yourself - always.
Have a sense of humour. When you get particularly into your writing, you run the risk of taking yourself a little bit too seriously which not only can be tedious for those around you but will stop you enjoying what you do as well. Being unable to laugh at your mistakes, or be amused when you realise how poorly you’ve written something will make your writing life much more difficult and dull. Relax, have fun with it, accept that you are not perfect and you’ll find it so much easier to let go and write the way you want to too.
Experiment. Make this the year that you push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something completely different. You may discover a new writing passion that takes you to exciting and unexpected places.
Research properly. When it comes to research, we often start out with vigour and determination and then slowly lose interest. But researching your book thoroughly can really pay off, so try to make an effort to do this correctly from now on.
Don’t skip out on proper editing. Editing is another area where many writers need more resolve and determination. For lots of us, editing is the most challenging part of writing, but don’t be afraid to take your time and don’t give up halfway through. If you re-write and edit until you can’t bear it anymore the results will be well worth it - so hang on in there and just keep going!
Take advice and criticism. Learning how to be quiet and listen to advice and criticism of your writing is one of the most beneficial things you can do. Get feedback from as many different sources as you can - the more you try, the more you’ll learn and the better your writing can become.
Read, read read. If you’ve been a bit of a slacker when it comes to reading over the past few months, make this year the year that you read like crazy. The more you do, the more ideas and inspiration you’ll get for your own work - so set yourself reading challenges and get cracking!
Find some support. Seek out other writers and throw yourself into the writing community. Other writers really can offer invaluable advice and support so make this year the year you dive in, immerse yourself and get involved!
Start that blog, finish that book, get published and earn a living! Whatever your writing goals just make sure you go for them. Get that book finished, get something published, start to make money writing - you can do anything you set your mind to, so just go for it.
Of course, you can make writing resolutions at any time of the year, and it’s ok to shift the goalposts every now and again too. Remember, setting resolutions is the very tip of the iceberg. The real work is making sure you have the determination to follow through. So make your number one resolution to stick to your guns and have the resolve and motivation to get on with it, and make 2018 your best writing year yet!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'
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January 1, 2018
The Lost Art of Thank-You Notes
The holiday season usually brings a lot of joy as you get together with friends and family. It brings people together where laughter is shared, and stories are told. But the end of the holiday season can bring a bit of darkness. The lights are taken down, people go back to their routine lives, and social visits diminish. It can be hard to sustain such a busy social life, but the spirit of comradery can live on through the thank-you note.
Thank-you notes are a way of showing appreciation to one another. They don’t have to be for presents given. In fact, the best thank-you notes are those that acknowledge people over things. They can be short or long, but the point of them is to demonstrate that you thought about someone enough to put the effort into writing down your feelings.
As an added bonus, in this world of technology, a hand-written note is an extra-special gift to give. It takes effort to not only write the note, but to purchase the paper or card, find the address, buy a stamp, and mail the note.
Thank-you notes allow you to be creative when writing. You can spend some time thinking about what to say, and if need be, you can always write a draft first.
Thank-you notes should include specifics. If it is in response to a gift, make sure you explain how you are using the item. This way the giver knows that the gift is being used and is appreciated.
Thank-you notes should have the right tone. If it is to a boss, then it should be more formal. If to a friend, then more personal.
Thank-you notes are for everyone. If you have children, it is a great idea to get them involved in the process, no matter the age. A picture drawn inside of the card, or carefully arranged stickers add a personal element. It helps children stop and think about the gift they have been given or the party they were invited to. The reverse is also true. If a child has given you a gift, make sure they receive their own thank-you note.
Thank-you notes may be viewed as a relic of the past, but if you’re ever in doubt about sending one, just think how you would feel if you received a note in the mail. It’s always a great feeling to open the mailbox and find a personalized envelope amongst the bills and flyers.
It is never too late to write a thank-you note. So, find some inspiring paper or cards, curl up in front of the fire this winter, and get lost in the timeless art of saying ‘thank-you.’
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