Nobody forgets their first query: the pounding of your heart as you are about to hit send, as well as the soul-crushing rejection that follows after a while. To me, that first rejection meant very little. It was like a rite of passage and I felt initiated. My first rejection would certainly not be the […]
Getting feedback on your novel is a terrifying gift. Always be grateful that someone took the time to read your work and provided you with feedback. It is incredibly valuable, assuming the feedback was constructive. Dealing with feedback is unavoidable in the writing business. And life. There are a few things to keep in mind […]
If you’re a beta reader or ever helped a fellow writer out, then it’s unavoidable to give feedback. But what do you have to keep in mind when giving it? I regularly hear complaints from writers who have gotten feedback that just wasn’t useful, or even offensive. So what is the best way to give […]
My latest WIP is about time travel and parallel universes and has been a reason for excitement ever since the idea popped into my brain. I knew from the beginning that the story had to simmer. I wanted to get the details right before I put pen to paper. There is such a thing as […]
Querying is a daunting task in itself. It feels like you’ve just braved the epic climb of a mountain and now you’re about to face the fire-breathing dragon. The most difficult thing about this journey is the rejection and self-doubt. That is why it’s important to make sure you query when you are ready. When […]
Please be advised that this post was actually written by my potted plant Gary. He is not the best speller in the world, but it doesn’t matter. He’s listed four kinds of writers for your amusement. Which one are you? The Diligent Writer You are a very focussed writer. You plan and plot every aspect […]
I love visual organisers to organise information and to give me a sense of overview. Which is also why I love using templates to plot my novel. If you want to write a lot quickly, the best way to go about that is to plot your novel. As a pantser, this can be tricky for […]
Ever stared at a blank page and wished you had the simple life of a cactus? Well, you’re not the only one. Probably. There could be several reasons for your sudden lack of enthusiasm regarding the written word, but they all have one thing in common. It’s all in your head. And easily cured. Okay, […]
Get your ink jar ready because we’re about to dip our characters into a time travel scene. You can use existing characters or create new ones for this small exercise. It may lead to a novel, it may not. That’s not the point. The point is to have fun with words. #1 Your character catches […]
As you may have noticed about me, I’m a planner junkie. It all started when I discovered the bullet journal and fell in love. I now have one for work and I also have teacher binder (Filofax clipbook), but I no longer used a bujo for my personal life. I forgot to write in it […]