Nicole J. Simms's Blog, page 4
July 18, 2020
Taking Part in My First Writers’ HQ Online Writers’ Retreat
Have you ever taken part in an online writers’ retreat? Well, I hadn’t until I saw a Facebook post advertising a free online writers’ retreat with Writers’ HQ. As you all know, Covid-19 has ruined many plans for 2020, and that includes writing-related events. But instead of cancelling the year, many event organisers decided to […]
July 5, 2020
10 Tips to Help You Choose a Title for Your Story
Ugh! Choosing a title for a story is my least favourite part of writing. I normally have a working title for my stories, but when it’s finally time to properly title my story, I’m left with a blank page waiting for me to find a title that makes the story shine. But, I must admit, […]
June 28, 2020
Behind You
I sit at the dining table, staring at the Facebook video call window on my laptop screen. ‘Oh, where is Anna?’ Thanks to the bloody Covid-19 Lockdown, I haven’t seen Anna for a month — yes, a whole month. Even though we didn’t see each other every day, we still met up once a fortnight, […]
June 21, 2020
How I Use the MBTI Method to Create Realistic Characters
If you’ve read the title and said, ‘What’s MBTI?’ I wouldn’t be surprised because this time last year I would have asked the same question. But, I’m glad I found out about this because it has helped me to create realistic characters. I first heard about the MBTI when I was watching Abbie Emmons’ ‘How […]
June 7, 2020
March to May 2020 — A Writing Journey Update
It’s June! (Gasps in horror) I can’t believe we are halfway through 2020. Where did the time go? The last three months have been a blur, thanks to Covid-19. Here in the UK, we are starting to ease out of lockdown, but these last three months have been challenging. Thankfully, my friends and family are […]
May 31, 2020
She Torments Her
Clunk! Creak! Clunk! Creak! Clunk! Creak! Someone’s shuffling towards Janet’s bedroom door again. Janet knows it’s not her husband — he’s working away. And it’s not her little Billy — he’s sleeping beside her. So it can only be the same person who visits her every night. Her husband doesn’t believe Janet, though. ‘She does […]
May 17, 2020
Exploring Reedsy’s Free Writing Courses
I have recently been inspired to start working on my idea for a children’s fiction series — I know this isn’t part of my goals for 2020, but sometimes it’s okay to give in to temptation. But as I have never written a novel for children, I decided it would be wise to learn more […]
May 10, 2020
My Trip to Much Wenlock
On the 5th October 2019, some of my Oldbury Writing Group pals and I visited Much Wenlock to celebrate our belated fifth birthday. Our actual birthday is 22nd August, and we normally go on a group trip in August to celebrate. However, this year we decided to delay our trip so a member who hasn’t been […]
April 27, 2020
I Can Be Beautiful Too
Did your father ever give you a nickname? Mine did, but there was no love behind the name, only hate. I wasn’t his princess, his sweetie or his pumpkin. No, I was his King Kong. He always enjoyed telling me the story of my birth. Apparently, the mere sight of my face killed my mother […]
April 12, 2020
Book Review: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
Last year I started watching writers on YouTube (AuthorTubers), and that’s when I discovered the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel book. Many of the AuthorTubers recommended the book to help with planning a novel, so I decided to buy the book to help me plan my next novel. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel […]
