Practical advice, encouragement and resources for people who want to write: from the first word to the final draft.
This is a collection of my most popular writing articles. Whether you’re just getting started, trying to establish a regular writing habit or working towards finishing something bigger, I hope you find something to help inspire you!
START WRITING
For anyone who wants to write but doesn’t know where to begin. If you’re having trouble finding inspiration or you just have no idea what on earth you could write about, these resources help you realise you don’t have to wait for the perfect idea begin.
Read these first:
- I Want to Be a Writer But Don’t Know What to Write
- How to Start Writing When You Don’t Know Where to Start
- Writing Prompt Round-Up: 9 of the Best Resources
Your first action? Choose a prompt and write for ten minutes, without worrying about whether it’s any good.
Additional inspiration:
BUILD A WRITING HABIT
Find the time to write, and just keep showing up. Consistency trumps everything else when it comes to getting your work finished, whether it’s 100 or 1000 words a day.
Read these next:
- How to Build a Daily Writing Habit (And Stick to It)
- How to Find the Best Time to Write
- How to Get Back to Writing After a Break
- Writing: Fear, Procrastination and Doubt
- How Decluttering Can Help You Become a Better Writer
FREE RESOURCE
A practical downloadable guide to help you build a writing routine you can stick to.
Next action? Choose a realistic daily writing target and try it for a week.
DEVELOP YOUR WRITING
Craft your ideas into stories worth reading. Once your writing habit is in place it’s time to think about all the other aspects of writing and how we tell stories with detail, pace, plot, and characters.
Core articles:
- Great Storytelling: The Key to Getting It Right
- How to Write Incredible Flash Fiction in Thirty Minutes
- Outlining a Novel (Without Dying of Boredom First)
Next action? Write a complete piece of flash fiction, word limit 500 words.
Flash fiction is one of my favourite things to write. Read some of my stories.
START & FINISH YOUR BOOK
Actually getting your book both started and finished is a HUGE achievement, and you should feel very pleased with yourself for sticking with it until the very final sentence.
Here are some tips on getting going and getting it done.
Read these:
- How to Start Writing a Book: 12 Ways to Get Going
- Outlining a Novel (Without Dying of Boredom First)
- Novel Writing: What It Really Takes to Get to ‘The End’
READ MY WRITING
I’ve been long-listed for the Mslexia Women’s Fiction prize, won a short-story competition (the first prize for which was a TV!), and have a piece of flash fiction published in a short anthology on Amazon. Read some of my writing here:
