Anyta Sunday's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-tips"

As some of you might know, I've been in the writing game seriously for about seven and a half years now. Pretty much exactly my son's age - his birth really gave me the needed kick in the butt to give writing a proper go. And I really couldn't imagine it any other way by now.

And boy did I learn a lot of stuff along the way... how to get better at writing, how to navigate the publishing landscape, finding an agent, then discovering this whole other world of self-publishing, the whole process of beta-reading / editing / cover design, and finding the right people for all these steps. And that's before getting to the perils of self-employment in Germany, taxes, and trying to keep a mental balance. Of course this learning process is ongoing. ;)

For a while I've been thinking about sharing the things I've learned (and am learning), but I've also been struggling with finding a good format for this outpour of ideas. So for now I have decided to just start and give you a rather unfiltered (but hopefully still interesting and helpful) weekly bulletin right here on my blog. I will mainly write about writing (craft book reviews or thoughts on specific concepts) and self-publishing, but these bulletins will also be open to any other topic that crosses my path in that particular week.

You can read session #1 on my website right now by clicking this link.
In this session, you will learn:

--> how I got started writing seriously & what I learned
--> which writing craft books I recommend for new writers (and which series in particular)
--> what fiction books I read & liked last week

Hope you enjoy it!
Anyta

Sunday Musings - Session #1

In session 2 on my weekly bulletin, I dive into why having a writing system is so important for crafting your novel.

Besides knowing the right resources, there are some essential things that writers need to do:

--> read a lot – there is no better way to learn and be inspired
--> write every day
--> seek as much feedback as possible and grow a thick skin for feedback of the negative kind

Of these, the most important is: write. As simple as that – if you don’t put words on the page (or into your word processor of choice), there’ll be no book. It is your most important habit as a writer, and I hope I can give you some insights on how I try to cultivate this habit (and where I failed).

In this session, I discuss:
--> how to build a writing system that works
--> how to turn writing into a daily habit
--> what I do to carve out time for writing

Happy Writing!
Anyta

Sunday Musings Session #2

NaNoWriMo 2016 is around the corner. Check out Sunday Musings #3 to learn how NaNoWriMo fits your writing system and how to boost your word count - for your first novel as well as ongoing works.

A writing system should do one main thing: enable you to write regularly and consistently so that it becomes a habit that is not easily derailed. One thing that helps getting there is to build in accountability. Let’s see how NaNoWriMo helps with that.
Also: NaNo pitfalls & how to deal with them.


Enjoy, and have a great writing November!
Anyta

Sunday Musings #3

Hey fellow writers,

even though it's already Wednesday I'd like to point you to the latest Sunday Musings bulletin, this time all about story structure!

We'll follow the hero’s journey through acts and character arcs, including a real-world example from one of my novels.

Happy plotting!
Anyta

Sunday Musings #4

This week we're getting into the nitty-gritty of outlining - how to do it & where to start. Plus: the 3 tools I use to create outlines that work.

Have fun!
Anyta

Sunday Musings #5

Diving into the psychology of perseverance and grit, this week’s post shows what’s most important for great writing. Hint: it’s not talent.

Also: how to decide when to publish and when to keep rewriting...

Anyta

Sunday Musings #6

In Sunday Musings #7, I'm talking about creating engaging scenes.

I introduce the VIGORR concept that keeps track of all important parts of a scene, and also give you a two-part work sheet: part one as an overview of what to keep in mind when planning your scene, and part two with space for your own notes.

Get writing and cause a scene!
Anyta

Sunday Musings #7

It's not just words that count... Keeping track of word count helps you stay focused, but finished scenes are the real target. In this session, I discuss my hybrid approach including outlining & writing!

Sunday Musings #8

Hey guys!

So here it is, the last Sunday Musings of 2016. I'm taking a short Christmas break with my writing tips... but before that, check out Sunday Musings #9 - cover up to show off your book!



In this session, I talk about why you should use a professional cover designer, why you need a great book cover and how it helps you find readers! Enjoy, and see you back at session #10 in January!

Sunday Musings #9

Hey guys,

Just a quick reminder that the Sunday Musings are back from the winter break! We return with #10 - with all you need to know on self-editing.



The checklist will tell you what you should look out for before you send your manuscript off to beta-readers:
Are pivotal parts missing? Do I need additional scenes?
Where am I telling where I should be showing?
Where am I skimming / bored?

These are just some of the checks on a self-edit, for the others check out the blog post!

Sunday Musings #10