Today, I'm celebrating 10 years since I started writing novels! A little over 10 years ago, I heard about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and was inspired to try to write a 50000 word novel in the month of November 2011 (actually, my husband suggested that I give it a go. He clearly had more… Continue reading 10 Year Novel-Writing Anniversary
Tag: Writing
Why I Write – Rosie Travers
I'm very excited to welcome Rosie Travers to my blog today to talk about writing motivations. I'm a huge fan of Rosie's writing, and am in the middle of her current novel now (actually it was quite difficult tearing myself away for this blog...) Why I Write I grew up in a house surrounded by… Continue reading Why I Write – Rosie Travers
Why I Write – Niki Kamerzell
I'm delighted to welcome another Darkstroke author, and fellow Corgi owner, Niki Kamerzell, to my blog today. I write because I love creating stories. When I was younger, I would have these dreams and wake up and think about them all day. I would spend my time expanding the dream in my head. As I… Continue reading Why I Write – Niki Kamerzell
Writing Hints and Tips – How to Write a Great Hook
What draws you into a book and makes you want to read beyond the first page? Then what makes you keep on reading? Have you ever been up half the night because you couldn't put the book down? Next week, I'll write about cliffhangers... The Hook The first line of a book (or at least… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – How to Write a Great Hook
Writing Hints and Tips – Genres
Choosing a genre to write can be the easiest thing in the world. Sometimes the genre will choose you. Other times, it's really tricky. Many authors write the book, and decide afterwards if it will fit into a specific genre. If it doesn't, it might fit the criteria of literary fiction. "Literary fiction is a… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Genres
Why I Write – Michelle Cook
I'm very excited today to welcome fellow Darkstroke author, Michelle Cook to my blog. Read on to discover what compels Michelle to write. Thank you so much for having me, Jo. I’m feeling philosophical these days so the subject of why I write is perfect for the moment! I’ll be honest. When I started out… Continue reading Why I Write – Michelle Cook
Writing Hints and Tips – Point of View
Are you unsure which viewpoint to use in your story? Would you like to know the pros and cons of 1st v 3rd person? Check out the tips below to help you decide the best solution for your story... Bonus tips for clicking into the website... Use the point of view that works best… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Point of View
Why I Write – Anne-Marie Ormsby
I'm delighted to welcome fellow Darkstroke author, Anne-Marie Ormsby, to my blog today. Why I write… Thanks for having me on your blog, its an honour! I wrote my first story when I was 9 – it was for a school project on Deserts and it was just a descriptive piece describing a day… Continue reading Why I Write – Anne-Marie Ormsby
Writing Hints and Tips – Dialogue
Does your dialogue feel realistic? Are your characters' voices distinctive? If not, you can improve on this. Check out these tips: Listen to speech patterns whilst out and about - on the bus, in the shops, on TV. When writing, get inside the head of your characters. Don't overdo accents. A touch of dialect is… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Dialogue
Why I Write – Val Penny
Today is the start of my exciting new blog series, Why I Write. I'm thrilled to begin with my friend and fellow Darkstroke author, Val Penny... My Writing Journey - Val Penny Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today. I have always enjoyed telling stories as well as listening to them. I… Continue reading Why I Write – Val Penny