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May 2022 Roundup

Welcome to the May 2022 roundup!

Finally, a monthly update where I can say I finished my edits of Blackbirch 3, draft 10! The MS I’d been working on for 6 months is in the hands of new beta readers and getting closer to the end of the editing process so it can move to the publishing process. One beta has gotten back to me with their feedback already, and while there are some minor tweaks to make, it certainly won’t be anything that’ll take me another 6 months.

While I wait for more feedback, I’ve been working on Blackbirch 4. I have a 5-year-old draft of the MS that’s in need of a total writing style update (thankfully, my writing has improved since 2017 ) and some changes to the storyline to bring it in line with the three books that precede it, but it looks like the series I first started working on way back in 2001, is heading into the home stretch of being completed.

This is what else I’ve been up to this month!

What I’ve Been…Writing

Blackbirch 4 and Blogs – As well as working on an updated plot/plan/outline for Blackbirch 4 and making a start on the first 2 chapters, I’ve been trying to get ahead with blog posts, which is what I like to work on when I’m in between writing projects.

Watching…

Dr. Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness – While I wasn’t a huge fan of the first Dr. Strange movie, I did like his character in Spiderman: No Way Home, so I was looking forward to seeing this latest Marvel movie, and it didn’t disappoint. Taking on a much darker tone for this second installment, Dr. Strange needs to help America Chavez, a young girl capable of jumping between multiverses who is being hunted for her power. The person hunting her is a great twist, and as usual, there are plenty of Marvel characters and actor cameos here, which I won’t spoil. The special effects and acting are top-notch, and as always, be sure to stay for the post-credit scenes.

Stranger Things (Season 4) – While this season has been split into two parts, with the second volume not dropping until July (boo), the seven episodes released so far have been a welcome return to the horror and spookiness that shaped the first season. While the core characters are all split into teams working on different missions in Hawkins, California, and Russia, they are all hurtling toward the same goal, which is to stop the evil that created the Upside Down. The final two episodes of Volume 1 have some of the best backstory and history twisting reveals that I’ve seen in a show in a long time, and is just genius writing.

Reading…

The Old Friend: A Collection of Tales and Poems by Chantelle Atkins – An eclectic mix of stories, many leaning toward a darker tone, and most having an ending that hits in just the right way on the last line or closing paragraph to bring the tale to a close that’s either satisfying or will make you think long after you’ve finished the book. It’s the mark of well-thought-out works from a writer who knows what they’re doing when it comes to crafting short stories. Standouts for me were Leaf, Child’s Eye, The Puddle, 7 Minutes, Moonlit Shadow, and the poems 2020 and We Write.

Hangman’s Revenge (Fortune’s Well Book 1) by Chantelle Atkins and Sim Alec Sansford – Thank you to the authors for providing an ARC of this book for me to read and review. You can find out more about Chantelle and Sim at the following links: www.chantelleatkins.com and www.simalecsansford.com.

This was such a good read and a promising start to what I think will be a compelling magical realism YA series. Shifting between the POV of JJ, who lives with his uncle after his mother murdered his father, and Darcie a rich girl hiding a battle with bulimia, Hangman’s Revenge holds your attention from the first page.

After suffering regular beatings on his way home from school, JJ begins to manifest a dark mist that allows him to strike back for the first time in his life. Dismissing it as his imagination, one night he uses the mist to stop Darcie from being attacked and realizes she can somehow see it too. Teaming up to find out what it is, the teens form an unlikely bond as they delve into their family’s pasts and the dark history of Fortune’s Well.

While the main story resolves, there are plenty of clues for future books, lots of interesting questions raised, and a great budding romance between JJ and Darcie that I can’t wait to see play out in the other books. Highly recommended for fans of series about magic and curses that are rooted in the real world.

Blurb:

In the town of Fortune’s Well a dangerous storm is brewing, and two unsuspecting teenagers are standing right at the heart of it.

For JJ Carson, life has not been easy. His father is dead, his mother arrested for the murder, and he has been forced to live on the farm with his alcoholic uncle, Henry.

Just when things could not get any worse, JJ discovers his living situation is not the only thing that makes him different from the other kids. A dark, swirling mist has made itself at home inside him and it is slowly changing him from the inside out.

Enter Darcie Duffield. Beautiful, popular, and incredibly misunderstood.
Darcie is sick of the status quo and wants to make a difference. After a chance meeting with a strange boy at the river she becomes tangled in a web of lies and deceit stretching back generations, as she tries to help save him from the darkness lurking within.

Why is this happening?
Where has it come from?
And why is Darcie the only one who can see it?

If you’ve got any good book recommendations, let me know in the comments, or be my friend on Goodreads and share your books/recommendations with me!

If you’d like to add the Blackbirch books to your “Want to Read” shelf and/or check out the reviews, click the following images!

Taking Photos Of

Autumn! It’s Autumn/Fall here in the southern hemisphere, although it feels more like winter, which has given me some beautiful photos on my now very cold morning walks.

On The Blog…

In case you missed any of my posts, or want to read them again, here are the latest blogs.

April 2022 RoundupWriting A Book: 6 Ending Types4 Reasons To Use Internal Thoughts In Your WritingWriting Tip Of The Month…

#WritingTipWednesday posts are added to my social media feeds every week and here is the most popular tip for this month. It’s taken from my blog post, How To Tell If You’ve Nailed Your Book Ending.

For more tips, visit my Writing Tips Pinterest Board.

Blackbirch Teaser Of The Month…

This teaser comes courtesy of Blackbirch: The Dark Half and was the most popular teaser posted this month on my social media feeds.

If you’d like to read the books released so far or find out more about each novel, here are the links:

Blackbirch: The Beginning (Book 1)Blackbirch: The Dark Half (Book 2)

If you’ve read either of my books—and haven’t done so already—please consider leaving a review or a star rating. It really helps indie authors get their books noticed, and also helps fellow readers find books they’ll like.

Quote Of The Month…

I’ve hoped you’ve enjoyed my May Roundup. Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments!

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

4 Reasons To Use Internal Thoughts In Your Writing

While there are just as many writing tricks as there are ways to tell a story, there are some specific ones that can help make your book something special, and one of those is internal thoughts.

If you’ve never heard of the concept, it’s where you let the reader inside a character’s head by writing what they’re thinking but not saying out loud.

Why is this such a good trick to use? Because it gives the reader something extra, like letting them in on a secret. That and the following other reasons are just some perks that internal thoughts can bring to your manuscript.

4 Reasons To Use Internal Thoughts In Your WritingInternal Thoughts Ensure Motives Don’t Come Out Of Nowhere

As the writer penning the story, we know it inside and out. We’ve plotted, planned, and rewritten countless drafts so any motives are seared into our brains. We know when and why things are happening, but sometimes, we don’t put those reasons on the page.

Yep, it happens. We forget to let the reader know something that is perfectly obvious to us.

The good news is that you can fix such an oversight via internal thoughts. If the reader knows why your MC had a sudden outburst because they internally debated what was going on around them first, it makes things clearer than if they’d just huffed off in the middle of the scene.

Including a hint as to what your character is thinking and feeling makes their actions more realistic and their motives easier to accept, so if you can work those kinds of internal thoughts in, definitely try to.

Internal Thoughts Make Your Characters Relatable

While we might not always understand the actions of characters because we’d never do what they would in the same situation, an internal thought a character might have could be what strikes a familiar chord instead.

Often, it’s those thoughts that people think but never say, including the good, the bad, and the witty. Giving these thoughts to your characters makes them relatable because readers will think; I’ve thought that, too!

Imagine all the times you’ve wanted to say something but held your tongue. Could it have made a difference in a situation?

While you might not know in real life, you can see how it would play out in a fictional one, and along the way, you could show readers a piece of themselves, making your characters more relatable, and the reader more likely to have a satisfactory experience with your book.

Internal Thoughts Can Help Avoid Info-Dumping

Working backstory into your character’s history can sometimes come across as info-dumping when you’re laying it all out. One way to avoid this is by putting that same history into internal thoughts.

Your character reminiscing about something in their past, or thinking back to a situation using their thoughts, allows you to impart that info in a more subtle way rather than dumping it in paragraph after boring paragraph.

Internal Thoughts Can Deepen The Reader’s Connection

Internal thoughts allow the reader to get as close to the character as they can. When someone’s innermost truths are on the page, they are giving the reader insight.

If you knew something no one had ever told anyone, would that make you feel closer to them? You’d have an instant bond, a deeper connection. You’d feel special because you know something about someone that no one else in the world does. That’s the power of internal thoughts, and why it’s a good idea to include them.

That perk, as well as the others listed in this post, should demonstrate why internal thoughts are a good idea if they suit your genre and the tale you’re telling. As with any writing element, however, it’s important not to go overboard.

Readers don’t need to know every little thing that pops into your character’s head. It’s an exhausting way to write and read. Use your discretion, double-check with beta readers that you haven’t gone internal too much, and enjoy the depth an excellent trick such as this can bring to your writing.

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Writing A Book: 6 Ending Types

You may know it when you start, it might pop up when outlining, or you could have no clue until you’re writing the last chapter, but every book needs an ending, and every writer needs to work out the best kind to use.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of options to choose from, such as the following 6 types!

Writing A Book: 6 Ending Types1) Resolved/Tied Up

As I’m sure you can guess from the name, this type of book ending resolves everything.

It’s the happy-ever-after, tie-it-up-in-a-neat-bow, totally satisfying option.

For a resolved ending to work, your story should do its best to answer every unanswered question, address the story conflicts, and mysteries, and complete the character arcs.

It doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect and the ending happy, but it does carry the expectation of closure, which means you’ve got to practice your knots and get those plot threads tied up!

Be sure to keep track of your story’s details to make the job easier on yourself, and to give your readers the best chance of closing your book with a smile on their faces.

2) Cliffhanger/Unresolved

On the other end of the spectrum is a book ending that doesn’t resolve and leaves readers wanting more via the introduction of a cliffhanger.

Now, this kind of ending doesn’t mean you should leave every story question unresolved. You need to give the readers something, and it’s still important to tie off most threads. Where a cliffhanger ending works best is when it’s just one mystery left or the start of a new one. That way, you don’t frustrate a reader who wants a resolution for the book they’ve already spent hours invested in.

This is one reason a cliffhanger ending is something you’ll see in a series. In such cases, a reader expects the answer in another book. If you aren’t resolving things and there isn’t a next book, you’re delving into a standalone unresolved ending, which is also an option.

Readers may not like it, but if done well, an unresolved ending where an important factor of the book is never known can be powerful. Just make sure you have a good reason for implementing it.

3) Expanded/Epilogue

An expanded ending is where you’ve resolved the main plot and then use the closing pages to expand the story just a little further.

It might be a note about the future of the characters after the big event of your finale, a “Three months later…” type thing, or a flash-forward decades ahead.

It could also be an epilogue that gives the reader more information to round things out. Some editors advise against using epilogues, but as a reader who enjoys them myself, I say go with what suits your writing style and the book you’re crafting.

If the main story is told but you need to impart info that is separate from the ending, give this option a try. Often, it’ll give your readers a good sense of finality without dragging things on for another five chapters.

4) Circle

A circle ending is where the end of your book starts back at the beginning.

This can be a very effective writing trick. Often, something that seemed insignificant or typical at the start of the book can gain new meaning when the story circles back to it.

If you want to aim for this type of ending, brainstorm how you can shift the perspective of your opening event once the reader has been through the entire journey with your character/s, and work it into the ending in a way that’ll blow their minds.

5) Ambiguous/Interpretive

Just as there’s an ending type that most people prefer, there’s also one that is despised.

While some might argue it’s the cliffhanger, because it doesn’t give closure, I say it’s the ambiguous/interpretive ending.

This is the kind of story ending where you’re not sure what happened, you’ve been given info that could lead to multiple endings, or you’ve been left to make up your own mind. It can be very frustrating for readers when executed poorly.

Like every ending option, there are certain stories where an ambiguous/interpretive ending will suit what you’re going for, but if you want to pull it off, the best advice is to build toward it.

If you’re leaving it to your readers to make up their minds, at least give them hints, clues, and foreshadowing so they can arrive at some semblance of a resolution. After all, you want them to close the book and think about what happened, not throw it across the room and then tell everyone they know it’s a waste of time.

6) Combo

A combo ending will—you guessed it—combine ending types.

Where this option can go wrong is using too many combinations. Your best bet is to stick to two and do them well.

For example, a cliffhanger that circles back to the beginning could create an ending that will leave your readers in awe. A cliffhanger that circles back, gives three ambiguous choices, and then an epilogue that only gives closure to one… not so much. Keep. It. Simple.

And there you have 6 book ending types! Learn how to expertly craft the tricks behind each kind and always go with the ending that suits your story best. That way, you should be able to close your book out in a way that suits both you and the majority of your readers.

— K.M. Allan

What’s your favorite type of book ending to both read and write? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

April 2022 Roundup

Welcome to the April 2022 roundup!

Well, I started this month on track to finish draft 10 of Blackbirch 3. The plan was to have it out to betas by Easter so I could leave for a break knowing it was in their hands, ready to be read. Instead, my household of four was hit by Covid and I was one of the unlucky two who got it.

Thankfully, we’re all as vaccinated as possible, so the symptoms were mild. I did, however, require a few days of bed rest (where I broke my reading slump) and the ongoing tiredness did set my editing plans back. It was frustrating spending 12 days in isolation (first as a household contact and then my own 7-day iso time) and not having the energy to benefit from no responsibilities or the fact I couldn’t leave the house.

After I recovered, I got to spend 5 days visiting my hometown for the first time since 2019, but for that, I was happy to put my writing aside to enjoy as much time talking and laughing with family and friends. I hope you had a similarly safe and happy Easter break. This is what else I’ve been up to this month!

What I’ve Been…Writing

Blackbirch 3 – I only had 5 chapters left to edit when Covid struck so I was pretty annoyed that my plans got derailed. Able to finally get back to it by the last week of April, I’m currently on a final read-through of the whole MS from start to finish.

I did hit 3 chapters in the middle that still referred to old story threads (how I’d missed them, I have no idea?!), so I’ve already spent two days this week fixing those, but I’m confident with only a handful of chapters left now, I will have it to betas within the next few days. Then I can say that after 5 months of self-doubt, inspiration, and re-writes, draft 10 is done!

Watching…

Coda – It’s Best Movie win at this year’s Oscars may have been lost in the headlines, but Coda was so deserving of the award. It’s such a feel-good movie, something I think we’ve all been missing for the last few years. It follows the story of Ruby (Emilia Jones), a child of deaf adults (Coda), who wants to go to college and study singing. Unable to relate to her dreams, and with goals and pressures of their own, her father Frank (Troy Kotsur), mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin), and brother Leo (Daniel Durant) clash about what to do with the family fishing business without Ruby to interpret for them, and how all of their lives will look when touched by the inevitability of change. It’s a classic coming-of-age story that is guaranteed to move you.

The Lost City – While the life of a movie author never mirrors real life, it’s always a bonus when the MC of anything you watch is a writer. After the death of her husband, best-selling romance writer Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) shuts herself off from the world and struggles when on a tour for her latest book. While promoting it with Alan, the cover model (Channing Tatum), she is kidnapped by billionaire Abigail Fairfax (played so well by Daniel Radcliff) who believes that Loretta holds the key to finding a real lost city that she’s described in her fictional book. Action, crazy rescue attempts, humor, and romance ensue, and it’s just a fun escape.

Reading…

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len – This was one of those hyped books that everyone is raving about and I wondered why when I started reading it. The MC, Joan, is childish, there’s a love triangle trope that picks the wrong guy, there’s no depth to the relationships, which makes it hard to care about Joan’s goals, the writing is repetitive, and the monsters aren’t monsters. They’re families with magical abilities, some useful and some pointless. But there’s a unique premise, time travel, action, intriguing unanswered questions for future books, and then there’s the final twist in the last chapter (yep, literally the last chapter) that redeems the whole book. For me, it elevated a middle-of-the-road story about changing events of the past to something else, something I loved as both a reader and a writer because it was hinted at throughout the book and then pulled off expertly. If you can stick with the story until the end, you’ll be rewarded with what will hopefully be the beginning of a very promising YA series.

We Who Hunt The Hollow by Kate Murray – Set in a future society where Hollow Creatures come into our world through energy rips to wreak havoc and superheroes are whole families with special powers who hunt them. Priscilla comes from a family of monster hunters and feels like her Hollow Power to sense energy is useless, so she tries to strengthen it, not realizing her power has evolved and its true purpose is both helpful and dangerous. Caught up trusting the wrong person, she sets off a chain reaction that puts her ex-girlfriend in danger, threatens her family, and may result in her losing her power forever. Well written with a humorous touch, and excellent world-building, We Who Hunt The Hollow is a unique take on the YA fantasy genre, and has characters you’ll want to follow to the next book.

Everything In Between By Valerie G Miller – This is such a beautiful collection of short stories grounded in family ties. The author explains at the start of the book that she’s inserted her Italian heritage into the stories, and she really has! It gives the stories a nostalgic realness that’s relatable even if you don’t know what it’s like to have a nonna. Favorites for me were Bookmarked Letter, about a librarian who finds a letter scavenger hunt from 50 years ago and sets out to solve it. Betrayal, about a woman grieving the loss of her sister, and The Promise where a famous actress writes to the love of her life, and the twist of what has happened to him will break your heart. There are upbeat stories too, about family connections and first loves, and they’re all beautifully told by an author who knows how to bring characters to life and leave you wanting more in only a few pages.

Enchanted Sleep by Emily Wrayburn – After taking on the Rat King in Operation Sugarplum, Max and Clara return with new adventures in Enchanted Sleep after Clara is once again sucked into the virtual game world. Turned into Sleeping Beauty, she has to rely on Max and his special ability to interact with the game and its characters to find a way to wake her. This is a quick read, full of fun, action, romance (yay!), and a creative premise. Emily Wrayburn has added yet another worthy entry to the Drosselmeier Industries series.

If you’ve got any good book recommendations, let me know in the comments, or be my friend on Goodreads and share your books/recommendations with me!

If you’d like to add the Blackbirch books to your “Want to Read” shelf and/or check out the reviews, click the following images!

Taking Photos Of

Sydney! After the upheaval and lockdowns of the last two years kept us away, my family and I finally made it back to my hometown for the Easter break. I was reunited with my mum, sisters, aunties, uncle, cousins, nieces, and friends, and it was so good to see everyone again and to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the 10-hour road trip between Melbourne and Sydney.

On The Blog…

In case you missed any of my posts, or want to read them again, here are the latest blogs.

March 2022 RoundupThe Merry Writer Podcast – Writing A Series3 Essential Reminders For When (You Think) Your Manuscript SucksWriting Tip Of The Month…

#WritingTipWednesday posts are added to my social media feeds every week and here is the most popular tip for this month. It’s taken from my blog post, How To Tell If You’ve Nailed Your Book Ending.

For more tips, visit my Writing Tips Pinterest Board.

Blackbirch Teaser Of The Month…

This teaser comes courtesy of Blackbirch: The Beginning and was the most popular teaser posted this month on my social media feeds!

If you’d like to read the books released so far or find out more about each novel, here are the links:

Blackbirch: The Beginning (Book 1)Blackbirch: The Dark Half (Book 2)

If you’ve read either of my books—and haven’t done so already—please consider leaving a review or a star rating. It really helps indie authors get their books noticed, and also helps fellow readers find books they’ll like.

Quote Of The Month…

I’ve hoped you’ve enjoyed my April Roundup. Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments!

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

3 Essential Reminders For When (You Think) Your Manuscript Sucks

It’s often said that no one can be a harsher critic of a writer’s work than the writer themself.

Not only are we the first readers, judges, and fans of our work, but we’re also the ones that tell ourselves that it sucks.

Most of the time that’s right after we’ve typed “The End” and are convinced we’ve just wasted the last few weeks/months/years of our life on something no one else will want to read.

It’s all part of the fickleness and fun of being a creative writer, and like self-doubt, it’s most likely not true.

3 Essential Reminders For When (You Think) Your Manuscript Sucks1. The Whole Thing Isn’t Crap

Unless you’ve written something so truly bad that every sentence can’t be saved, there is no way the whole of your MS is crap.

It might feel that way to you, and I’m sure the writer’s doubt that has raised its voice and whispered in your ear is very persuasive, but the likelihood that what you’ve written can’t be polished into something readable isn’t possible.

Go through every chapter and focus on the parts you do like. Note them down and use them to remind yourself of what you can do when your writing works.

Next, highlight the parts you don’t like and brainstorm how you’re going to fix them.

Is your MC unlikable? What can you change about the way you’ve written them or the way they act in the story?

Do your action scenes lack punch? Is your romance luke-warm instead of red-hot? Are your descriptions boring? These elements can be fixed with research and practice.

Look into ways to master the basics of writing and read every craft book you can. The only way we improve as writers is by learning and by writing. You are capable of both to get your MS into the shape it needs to be.

2. It Can Be Re-written

Just because you aren’t happy with the way your MS turned out, it doesn’t mean you have to put up with it.

Sometimes we get so stuck on an idea, the way we’ve structured our plot, or what has happened between characters that we forget we can change those things.

If you think your book sucks because something isn’t working, re-write it!

While you might not like that suggestion, and it may mean months of more work, if it helps you to achieve the story you want, isn’t it worth it?

Decide what needs to be re-written. It could be the whole thing (I’ve been there, twice for the same MS!) or it could only be parts of your MS. You never know if just one simple deletion of a character, or a restructuring of a key event, can transform your MS from something that sucks into something that works!

Don’t balk at re-writing. It might be just what you need to create the book you intended when you started that first sentence.

3. You Know It Too Well

When writers sit down with the finished version of our story, we don’t have the same advantage as first-time readers.

The words aren’t new to us, the plot twists aren’t surprising, and the character arcs have already been set in motion and completed in our minds. We know the story so well that by the time you get to the final draft of an MS, it’s so easy to think it’s bad.

The struggle to invent a decent plot, the poor descriptions, the ideas that didn’t pan out, the scenes that felt like getting blood from a stone to write, are too fresh in your mind.

It taints how you feel about your own words, but none of it is true. If you didn’t know the story so well, you would see that it’s interesting and exciting. You would see it as a new reader does.

Try to keep that in mind as you prepare your manuscript for betas, submissions, or publication. Along with re-writing what’s not working and learning all the writing tricks you can, you’ll realize that your manuscript doesn’t really suck. Or at least, not nearly as much as you think.

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Ep 106 | The Merry Writer Podcast

We’ll, after avoiding it for 2 years, COVID has hit me. I’m resting & reading while my sinuses & head battle it out. Unfortunately, that means no new blog this week as I didn’t get to finish putting it together.

Hopefully, I’ll be feeling better in a few days. Until then, take care, and please enjoy this reblog from Ari Meghlan of her latest Merry Writer Podcast episode, where I sat down in future and past times zones with her and Rachel to discuss writing a series. 

On today’s episode of The Merry Writer Podcast, Rachel and I are joined by fellow blogger and author K.M. Allan where she shares some tips and …

Ep 106 | The Merry Writer Podcast

March 2022 Roundup

Welcome to the March 2022 roundup!

And that’s the third month of 2022 down. I feel like it’s flying by.

I did have a few fun weekends, the first was hot air ballooning, and the second was attending my first writing retreat with some very lovely and talented writer friends.

The retreat was held near the beach, but the weather was too cold to do anything other than walk the perimeter of the sandy shores, plus we had too much writing to do! It was 2-and-a-half days of creativity and progress, and I highly recommend holding your own retreat, either in a group or solo, if you can.

I hope whatever you achieved this month was just as fun. Below is what else I got up to…

What I’ve Been…Writing

Blackbirch 3 – This month I made some great progress, managing to edit through half of draft 10. It was the last half of the MS, so now I need to go back to the start and edit the first half. As that half is the one that didn’t need a lot of rejigging, I’m confident it won’t take too long to get through. I’ve just got to smooth out some story ripples created by changing ideas/events and finish writing/editing 4 of 5 new scenes, which are still at the first draft stage. Wish me luck!

Watching/Reading

The Afterparty – This awesome limited series takes place during an afterparty for a high school reunion. Thrown by loser-turned-superstar celebrity, Xavier (Dave Franco), things go sideways when he’s murdered, and it’s up to Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) to figure it who did it. Each episode is told from a different point of view of a character and is shown in its own unique style. It’s not only interesting storytelling, and dramedy gold, but the killer is a real surprise. Highly recommended.

Uncharted – I know nothing about the video game this movie is based on, so I just sat back in the cinema and enjoyed the adventure-filled story. After losing touch with his brother, Nathan Drake (Tom Holland), finds out he’s been off treasure hunting with Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg), and the two team up to finish the search. There are mysteries, heists, hidden clues, a rival team of hunters, and unrealistic action sequences galore, but it’s a fun movie. Make sure to stay for the two post-credit scenes and obvious sequel bait.

Unpublished Manuscripts – I didn’t get around to reading any published books this month, but I did beta read two different manuscripts for fellow writers and loved them both.

If you’ve got any good book recommendations, let me know in the comments, or be my friend on Goodreads and share your books/recommendations with me!

If you’d like to add the Blackbirch books to your “Want to Read” shelf and/or check out the reviews, click the following images!

Taking Photos Of

The #6amAusWriters Retreat! We had so much fun writing, talking about books, manuscripts, and eating lots of cheese!

On The Blog…

In case you missed any of my posts, or want to read them again, here are the latest blogs.

February 2022 RoundupPreparing To Be A Guest On A PodcastThe Benefits Of A Writing Retreat

And a big thank you to poet and fiction writer, Lily Lawson, for asking me to write a guest post for her blog Lily’s Writing Life. You can read it at the link below.

3 Essential Reasons Why You Should Summarize Your WIPWriting Tip Of The Month…

#WritingTipWednesday posts are added to my social media feeds every week and here is the most popular tip for this month. It’s taken from my blog post, Writing Do’s and Don’ts: Room Settings.

For more tips, visit my Writing Tips Pinterest Board.

Blackbirch Teaser Of The Month…

I’ve been a bit slack with promoting my books on social media, so I’ve brought snippets and reviews back to my feeds. This teaser comes courtesy of Blackbirch: The Beginning and was the most popular teaser posted this month!

If you’d like to read the books released so far or find out more about each novel, here are the links:

Blackbirch: The Beginning (Book 1)Blackbirch: The Dark Half (Book 2)

If you’ve read either of my books—and haven’t done so already—please consider leaving a review or a star rating. It really helps indie authors get their books noticed, and also helps fellow readers find books they’ll like.

Quote Of The Month…

I’ve hoped you’ve enjoyed my March Roundup. Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments!

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

The Benefits Of A Writing Retreat

While writing might be a solitary affair, the reality is that writing with no distractions doesn’t happen as often as we’d like.

Responsibilities, jobs, kids—basically life—eats into that creative time and are usually the priority for the hours in your day.

And while that’s the way it should be, now and then, putting your writing first needs to happen so you can finish a project, refill your creative well, meet a deadline, and boost your motivation.

That’s why a writing retreat is a great idea.

Recently, I went on my first with Belinda Grant, Sandy Barker, and K.D. Kells, members of the #6amAusWriters Twitter group. We spent a weekend writing, brainstorming our respective WIPs, and talking about future manuscripts (as well as eating, laughing, and sharing life stories).

We all came away with new words added to our current WIPs, our creative cups full, and achieved the following benefits.

The Benefits Of A Writing RetreatIt’s Motivating

A phone jail, celebratory wine, and endless cups of tea.

Knowing other writers who understand the ups and downs of being a word-smith is invaluable. When you can converse about those issues in real life, it’s even better.

When we weren’t writing, we were talking about writing and the scenes we were stuck on, the plots we were trying to work out, the ideas we wanted another opinion on. Being able to talk about your manuscript, and hearing others talk about theirs, made for great motivation.

Another motivating benefit of a retreat is related to the act of writing itself, more specifically, staying on track for a decent length of time.

When you’re writing at home, it’s very easy to get distracted and procrastinate. When you’re writing in a room with others, it’s much easier to stay on task. After all, no one wants to be the only writer not writing.

Once you see what you can achieve when you’re concentrating and not reaching for your phone every five minutes (cue the phone jail pictured above!), the motivation to keep that successful writing streak going is strong.

All You Have To Do Is Write

Writers at work.

Other than the basics of getting ready for the day and eating, the only other responsibility you have during a retreat is to write.

Previous to this weekend, I was struggling to edit through a chapter a day in my WIP. During the 2-and-a-half day retreat, I edited 5 full chapters, 1 scene, and fixed multiple story ripples. It had been a long time since I’d gotten that much writing done—and it felt great!

My fellow retreaters also made genuine progress, completing multiple chapters and hitting word counts they hadn’t gotten near in months.

If you need to be productive in a short amount of time, a retreat is the place to do it.

It’s A Different Atmosphere

Scenes from our daily walks.

Writing in a different atmosphere to your usual shakes up the creativity. And if everyone else is working around you, it’s contagious.

If you’re worried about not being able to concentrate or are hesitant about working in front of others, don’t be. Everyone is so focused on their own screens that you’ll be able to work with no problems.

You can also take headphones to get yourself in a writing bubble, or you can use the option of moving to another room/space if you need to work on your own for a while.

Being in a different atmosphere, especially one that is made for crafting words, is guaranteed to get you out of any writing funk.

You Can Use Your Scheduling Skills

Lots of cheese and a chocolate lasagna.

While on the retreat, we didn’t just wing our writing time; we organized a schedule with some structure beforehand.

While we didn’t stick to it religiously, we followed it as much as we could, including being up at 6 am each morning to write, having a daily walk, and regular break times for meals and snacks.

The rest of the time we wrote in 60-90 minute blocks, which is how we achieved so many of our goals.

Those blocks of time flew by, and being able to talk about what we’d worked on afterward was encouraging and rewarding.

If a writing retreat sounds like something you’d like to try, it’s easy to organize. You can even do it solo if that suits your situation.

We rented an Airbnb and split the cost, but holding a retreat at a fellow writer’s empty home, a hotel room, or even at your own house are all options. All you need is space and hours/days of free time that can be dedicated to just writing.

Pack your essentials, computers, cords, notebooks, chargers, a phone jail, tea, and plenty of snacks and you’ll be all set.

Use the retreat as a reset for your creative ways, break bad habits, and make real progress on your manuscript.

If those reasons, and these benefits, haven’t convinced you, did I mention you’re also allowed to eat a lot of cheese and a chocolate lasagna?

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Preparing To Be A Guest On A Podcast

Being a modern writer has a lot of perks. We get to use computers and grammar checkers to craft our masterpieces.

We also have social media to get the word out about our work on a global scale.

Another advantage of modern technology is podcasts, and how anyone with a microphone and one of those wonderful computers can have one.

While some writers start a podcast themselves, others are asked by said podcasts to be a guest.

While you might think you need to be a big name or have a bestseller to guest on a podcast, that’s not the case.

If you have a platform, like a blog, a popular social media account, or if you’re a well-known/interactive member of the writing community, there’s always a chance you’ll be asked by someone.

Now, we all know your first instinct will be to turn it down. You’ll go through the self-doubt laundry list of excuses:

I don’t have a completed novel, or a traditionally published book to promote.Why would anyone want to hear from me? Surely whatever drew their attention was a fluke/mistake?Anyone who listens to what I have to say on the podcast will think I’m unqualified/a terrible writer/wrong/a boring person.

These excuses and variations of them will run through your head. None of them will be true.

Podcasters won’t ask just anyone to feature on their show. They’ve seen something about you that you can’t, and they want to help share it with the world.

If you get asked, embrace the opportunity! You never know what it could lead to.

Preparing To Be A Guest On A Podcast

Now that you’ve excepted the offer, and pushed aside the doubt and panic, it’s time to get prepared.

Do The Research

If you’re not already a subscriber of the podcast that you’ve been asked to guest on, give it a listen.

Not only will you get a feel for the vibe of the show, but you’ll learn how the host works and a bit about their personality. Listen to as many episodes as you can to get an idea of the format and keep that in mind for when you’ll be speaking.

If you’ve been given a topic to discuss on the podcast, research this too. The better prepared you are on the conversation points, the easier it’ll flow.

Get The Equipment

To take part in a podcast, you’ll need a computer or smartphone, a free video-conferencing program like Zoom (or whatever the podcast host suggests/prefers), and a set of headphones with a built-in microphone. Most likely, these will be items you already have or can easily get/borrow.

If you want to go all out, you can of course get a professional microphone to help with the sound quality, but unless you intend to start your own podcast, or guest regularly, it’s unnecessary for a one-off guest spot.

Arrange Your Setup

Ideally, you’ll want to be alone in a quiet room. If you’re going to be on camera/recorded while guesting (and a good host will let you know this and if any recording will be seen publicly beforehand), you’ll want to ensure you don’t look like you’ve just rolled out of bed.

Brush your hair, wear a nice top, and use a ring light or have good lighting, which also benefits the person you’re podcasting with so that they can see you properly when you’re chatting.

Make sure you’re seated somewhere comfortable, you’re not too hot or too cold, and you have a drink nearby in case your throat gets dry.

Strive For No Distractions

Unless it’s a live podcast, which usually isn’t the case, the host will understand if there’s a sudden loud noise or knock on the door. Life won’t pause because you’re recording a podcast. If anything, this will be the time that something goes wrong or your pet/kid/other-half will urgently need you.

Strive for as little distraction as you can by letting your household know you’re recording. It’s a good idea to also turn off your phone (because this will be the one time ever that you get a call!), and noisy notifications that could go off and interrupt things.

You might not prepare for or avoid every distraction scenario, but minimizing it as best you can will ensure a smooth recording.

Prep Your Words

If you’re really worried about what you’re going to say, aren’t a good public speaker, know that you ramble (especially when nervous), or just need some direction, prep your words!

Make detailed notes or a bullet list regarding what you’re going to talk about. Keep it short and sweet to use as a guide only. Going with a word-for-word script doesn’t allow for natural speech, and no one wants that.

Use your notes to remind yourself what to cover and to stay on topic. Knowing some of what you want to say will also help with nerves or worries. You know yourself best. Prep how you need to so that you can have a productive and helpful discussion.

Don’t Worry About Mistakes

Keep in mind that the recording will be edited.

If you ramble, stumble over your words, forget your train of thought, swear, or really mess up, the host will fix issues post-recording.

Obviously, you don’t want to make their editing job harder by making errors all over the place, but if something goes wrong, it won’t be the end of the world. Relax and go with the flow, including rolling with any mistakes.

Treat It Like A Chat With Friends

After the state of the world these last two years, you’ll either be dying to chat with someone or full of anxiety about having to carry on a conversation with another human.

Regardless of whether you know the host already, have only spoken to them a handful of times online, or only interacted to get the guest spot lined up, treat your chat like it’s with an old friend. It’ll go a long way to calming your nerves and having a smooth conversation.

If you’re a consumer of podcasts, you’ll know it’s always more enjoyable listening to a guest who is relaxed, knowledgeable, heard clearly, enjoys the topic, and interacts with the host.

If you can pull that off, along with the other tips in this post, not only will you have fun recording, but the finished podcast should be a great listen, and you may need that professional microphone for all your future guest spots after all!

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

February 2022 Roundup

Welcome to the February 2022 roundup!

I know I always say every month goes fast, but being only 28 days, this February really did!

The first few days were spent with my evil twin before she headed home again, then it was straight back into my writing routine so I can hopefully finally publish another book this year. I am (not so) secretly aiming for two books, but that was 2021’s goal too, and it didn’t happen. I am making progress, though, and that’s really the only thing I can control for now.

I hope whatever goals you’re aiming for this year are also moving ahead. Below is what else I’ve been up to for the second month of 2022…

What I’ve Been…Writing

Blackbirch 3 – As has been the case of the last few months, a month of endless editing on draft 10 has been and gone. I was hoping to have the MS ready for another round of beta readers (my 3rd) by mid-Feb and then the end of Feb, and none of that eventuated. Ever the optimist, I’m now aiming for the end of March.

I did add numerous words to the 5 new scenes needed. Now it’s a case of changing events in existing chapters and then making sure the new changes I made (which were significant) haven’t created plot holes anywhere. I also need to comb through the completed chapters to remove references to events that have changed/been deleted, etc. Fun times!

Watching/Reading

One Of Us Is Lying – I’ve been meaning to watch this TV adaption (and read the books) forever! While my sister was here at the start of the month, we watched it together and really enjoyed it. It starts with a homage to the 80s movie classic, The Breakfast Club, where five teens end up in detention. What they don’t know is that they were hand-picked by one of them to take the fall for murder. There are twists and turns galore as they try to work out who has set them up and is still stalking them.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window – I know this dark comedy starring Kristen Bell was supposed to be a parody of The Girl On The Train etc, but it just wasn’t funny. It was played too serious at times, and then not enough when it came to the backstory of how Bell’s character became a childless divorcee who becomes obsessed with the new couple across the street. While it’s a quick series and over in four hours, it’s not worth the time.

Wolf Like Me – Another quick series, but one that is worth a look, is Wolf Like Me. It stars Isla Fisher and Josh Gad as two widowers who meet during a car accident. Although their first impression isn’t great, they keep running into each other, and eventually, Gary (Gad) learns Mary’s (Fisher) supernatural secret and has to decide if it’s the kind of life he and his 11-year-old daughter want to be part of.

A Sunrise Over Bali by Sandy Barker – The fourth book in the #HolidayRomance series centers on Jaelee Tan. While on a sabbatical in Bali to escape a fight with a friend and to get over a broken heart, Jaelee quits her successful PR job and then needs to decide what to do with her life. There’s also the matter of fellow traveler, Alistair. He’s been dealing with a long-term relationship breakdown and a family health emergency and might be just who Jaelee’s been looking for. While there’s the obvious romance factor of this story, I really enjoyed the friendships Jaelee formed with the people she met in Bali and how they helped her find a new career path. There was also an added layer of family drama and dynamics, both for Jaelee and Alistair, which lifted the story for me and held my interest. As is usual for Sandy Barker’s books, the descriptions of the settings and food will have you inspired to book an overseas trip. Recommended for adventurous lovers of romance stories.

If you’ve got any good recommendations, let me know in the comments, or be my friend on Goodreads and share your books/recommendations with me!

If you’d like to add the Blackbirch books to your “Want to Read” shelf and/or check out the reviews, click the following images!

Taking Photos Of

Early morning and evening skies. The last days of summer have been putting on some awesome sunrises and sunsets.

On The Blog…

In case you missed any of my posts, or want to read them again, here are the latest blogs.

January 2022 RoundupWhat To Do When Your Writer-Type Stops You From WritingFixing A Stuck SceneWriting Tip Of The Month…

#WritingTipWednesday posts are added to my social media feeds every week and here is the most popular tip for this month. It’s taken from my blog post, Writing Tips: Building Tension.

For more tips, visit my Writing Tips Pinterest Board.

Blackbirch Teaser Of The Month…

I’ve been a bit slack with promoting my books on social media, so I’ve brought snippets and reviews back to my feeds. This teaser comes courtesy of Blackbirch: The Beginning and centers on the strange dreams Josh Taylor begins to experience that lead to the discovery of the magick in his veins.

If you’d like to read the books released so far or find out more about each novel, here are the links:

Blackbirch: The Beginning (Book 1)Blackbirch: The Dark Half (Book 2)

If you’ve read either of my books—and haven’t done so already—please consider leaving a review or a star rating. It really helps indie authors get their books noticed, and also helps fellow readers find books they’ll like.

Quote Of The Month…

I’ve hoped you’ve enjoyed my February Roundup. Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments!

— K.M. Allan

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.