It took time and various WIPs to realise that I don’t just have one style. Each novel and POV character brings out a different side of me and makes writing so much more fun.
See teasers of my WIPs on my author site.
I’m here to help with imposter syndrome, “I’ll never make it” syndrome, and “my friends don’t like my book” syndrome to name a few. All of this is perfectly normal during any writing process. It’s hard and time-consuming, and if you’re like me, it can be thought-consuming, but that doesn’t mean you should give up.
Here are some of my thoughts and processes…
- Thoughts on Publishing and Marketing
- Being a Writer Is Hard
- Keeping the Inspiration and Creativity Flowing
- Being Practical
- Dos and Dont’s and Do You Really Have to?
- Writing Your Way
- Writing Ranting with Others
- Characters and POVs
- Unravelling Writing Advice
- New posts in your inbox
Thoughts on Publishing and Marketing
Writing Ranting – Content Warnings vs Trigger Warnings
Warning: This gets ranty because of jerkface bigots, but I left that part for last. I know I’ve covered this in a previous post about pushing boundaries, but after a…
Writing Ranting – Publishing on the Cheap!
Note: This is not about avoiding key steps in the writing or publications process. This is about keeping costs down for low-earning writers or those who can’t justify spending thousands…
Writing Ranting – Why am I not published yet?
This isn’t a rant about how I should be published by now, even though I really should be🤣. It’s an explanation as to why I’m not published already. I also…
Writing Ranting – Publishing Checklist – Design Book Cover
I don’t know what made me think I could do it myself, but I’m doing it. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted for my book cover,…
Writing Ranting – Publishing Checklist – Marketing
I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway. I’m mostly using social media (mainly TikTok) to market my book but also YouTube and my author website.…
Writing Ranting – Publishing Checklist – Make My Book Available
Now I’ve officially got things going with publishing my debut novel, I thought I’d share my checklist and my progress and plans. This is the bare checklist since there’s so…
Pondering Publishing Processes!
I’m still deciding if I want to self-publish or go for traditional. My novel is one line edit away from finished (as best I can finish it anyway) and there…
Figuring out My Social Media and Scheduling My Blog Posts!
Not very exciting news, but I’ve decided to start posting every Saturday and sometimes on Wednesdays if I have a lot to say. But it’s part of my I keep…
Having an Online Presence Isn’t so Scary!
Treat for my writing buddy T-Rex who is always supporting me in my writing, so here’s some hopefully helpful thoughts on getting online. Blogging and staying active on social media…
Everyone Judges a Book by Its Cover!
Writers go on about the first page or chapter of a book being a deal-breaker, and it is as far as the words go, but sometimes, the cover is what…
What a Difference a Phone Makes, 64 Little Pixels!
Disclosure: This is mostly a rant bout my new phone, which is too much fun not to talk about. Also, I have no incentive to rave about any of the…
Being a Writer Is Hard
Writing and Reading Ranting – Don’t Feel Bad for Not Having Enough Time!
Lately life has been getting to me, and I haven’t had much time or brainpower to write or read. It happens to all of us. I meant to post this…
Work/Life/Writing Balance!
It’s ironic that my last post was about how writing is the same as running a small business, and then I go and do almost nothing writing related this month.…
Burnout!
In life, we need a break, a holiday, and day on the sofa before we burnout. Why would writing be any different? I felt a burn out brewing last week,…
Things That Terrify Me as a Writer.
It’s not sales or low ratings, that I’m scare of, it’s the personal effect on readers. I’m genuinely scared of something coming across the wrong way, especially something within my…
Writing Ranting – I’m a Real Author Now
I was so nervous sending out my ARCs of Out of Ashes because that’s the final version of the book. That’s what I’m releasing to the public. That’s what people…
Keeping the Inspiration and Creativity Flowing
Fantastic Inspiration and Where to Find it!
Real life. Write what you know, right? If you have your own story to tell, or someone else’s, then do it. There might be some issues on telling other people’s…
Brainstorming!
I am still unpublished right now, and that’s absolutely fine. I’m enjoying the writing process and polishing my work. Nothing is in a state to be published except for maybe…
More Inspiration?
Yes please. I admit I get overloaded with inspiration. Just the other night I had an awesome dream that prompted a future novel. I didn’t spend too long on it…
Creating Creative Spaces!!!
I rearranged my living room the other day and feel more creative and refreshed in my personal space. So it got me thinking about creative spaces and how writers create…
Organised Creativity and Creative Organisation!
I bought a beautiful planner. I used to buy one at Christmas, but since I started teaching, I’ve bought one in August in time for the new academic year. It…
Cleansing your Creative Palette!
I have multiple project disorder where I keep having too many ideas and projects on the go. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, and I struggle to focus on one project at a…
The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Writing!
I’ve already talked about Fantastic Inspiration for your writing, but what about when you’re actually writing. There are lots of conflicting ideas and opinions when it comes to sounds around…
Creative Dissociation!
I can lose myself in writing so much that time vanishes and, suddenly, it’s lunchtime or time to go to my day job. I’ve been very in and out with…
Writing Ranting – Stuck for Something to Write?
It’s perfectly normal to get stuck writing slumps or writer’s block. And it’s okay to take a break from writing or certain projects to focus on other things in life.…
Random Ranting
I posted this on my mental health blog but I decided to post it here too because it relates to using creative endeavors to help feel positive. I know how…
Being Practical
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Let’s Get Technical!
Technology has changed the way people write and share and publish books. In the five years I’ve been writing, I’ve found various ways to organise and improve my writing skills. Also,…
Writing Is a Business!
Writing is a business, especially if you plan to self-publish. You need to start thinking like a business owner as well as a writer. Make time for the various writing…
Multiple Project Disorder!
I have a wild imagination and vivid dreams that always lead to some literary project whether it be flash fiction, a short story, or an entire series of novels. This…
Balancing Act!!!
Like everything in life, balance is key. But it’s also subjective, so finding a balance between your own writing and critiquing others’ can be a case of trial and error.…
Spring Clean your Writing!
It’s that time of year when many of us clear out things we haven’t used for a while and spruce up the place. Why not do the same with your…
You’ve Completed Your First Draft, Now What?
No matter how many times I do it, completing that first draft brings a sense of euphoria I can’t quite describe. It’s like winning the first race on sports day.…
Writing on a Budget!
Before I start, let me be clear that I’m talking about WIPs on their way to being published, not for polishing that final manuscript. Jenna Moreci has a video on…
Revisions and Edits Suck!
Well… they do and they don’t. But they are necessary for any writer, so suck it up and deal with it. A few days ago, my revisions felt marvelous with a…
Plotting World Domination!
I’m in plotting (well, re-plotting) my Starlighters novels. It’s going well, mostly. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. But what I’m pondering it scene order. I have…
Planner or Pantser?
There’s this age-old argument over planning and pantsing a novel. Honestly, who cares? What’s more important is that writers find a balance that suits them. I keep saying that writing…
Writing a Series!
Writing a series can boggle a writer’s mind before you get things figured out. If you plan to write multiple standalones with overlapping characters and world-building, then you have more…
Writing Ranting – Backup Your Work FFS!
I don’t know why, in this day and age, people can’t wrap their heads around backing up their work. This is another rant prompted by a forum discussion I saw…
Dos and Dont’s and Do You Really Have to?
Hi. My Name Is…
I’m currently writing in 1st POV which is new for me. My Starlighters and Elemental Storm is 3rd POV, so dropping the name in sentence one should be pretty easy…
First Chapters Are the Worst!
Quick announcement: I’ve been on blogging hiatus for a couple of weeks due to losing a close family friend. It’s left us all deeply shocked and upset. I’m not sure…
Final Chapter!
What a perfect day to finish my beta copy of Out of Ashes. It’s been amazing to work on the latest draft and, despite life getting in the way, I’ve…
Epilogues Are NOT the Same as a Final Chapter!
I recently did a post on prologues, and a writing friend (check her out here) asked about epilogues. So here are my thoughts… Epilogues are no different than prologues, just…
Don’t Hate on My Prologue Just Because You Hate Prologues!
I’ve read an array of fiction, mostly fantasy or sci-fi, with prologues. I tend not to be impressed by half of them. They feel like info dumps or pointless backstory…
Why Zombies and not Dinosaurs?
Many of you may know the joke about using the passive “by zombies”. Don’t know what the hell I’m talking about? Here… Okay, you get the point. But why zombies?…
Past Mistakes!
We all make silly mistakes in writing, especially during a draft or when focussing on style rather than editing. Those pesky spellings like they’re, there and their or using past…
Writing and Reading Ranting – What’s the Point if You Don’t Follow Through?
A writing and reading rant today since this both annoyed me as a reader but made me think about how I could avoid this as a writer. I’m going to…
Writing Ranting – Magic Makes a Story
Magic systems are more than just world building in fantasy fiction. As a writer, you make the rules and can use your magic system as part of the plot. Here are…
Writing Your Way
Writing in Style!
One reader will enjoy a simpler prose while another, me, will enjoy a more colourful and descriptive style. Sure, this risks falling into the category of purple prose. Why is…
Signatures!!!
No, I’m not talking about signing my name when (if) I become a famous author 😬. I’m talking about making your mark in your own work. Those little things that…
Gifts in the Pages!
As a writer, I leave many pieces of myself in my work. It’s what connects me to my writing as an expression of myself rather than writing to a formula.…
Writing Advice VS How-to-Write Advice!
There’s so much writing advice available on the internet that it can be overwhelming if you’re starting from nothing. I’m not talking about people who studied literature or creative writing…
I Dare You!
Warning: Graphic images of adult content. How many ways can you be daring in your writing? It’s all about showing the most vulnerable side of your characters, which might represent…
Reigniting an Old Flame!
This is very much how I feel rewriting my Starlighters book one, Wings of Fire and Fury. It was my first. The words have changed so much since I sat…
Writing Has Ruined My Reading!
Warning: This gets ranty. But since this blog is about ranting… Also, shout out to my writing buddy T-Rex who prompted this post. How he puts up with my rants,…
Read Terrible Books!
Yes, I recommend reading terrible books. Why, you ask? Because it helps you learn what not to do as a writer. And that’s even better than learning what to do.…
Therapeutic Writing!
As it’s mental health month, I thought that now is as good a time as any to talk about how writing can be therapeutic. Living with a mental illness sucks,…
Talk Dirty to Me 😉!
Disclosure: May contain book spoilers but only in relation to… relations 🤣 Also, this is about sex in literature in case it was unclear. This is also about sex in…
Writing Ranting – Why Do I Write? Part One!
Because I can’t imagine not writing, and if you ask yourself this too off, then something isn’t right.That doesn’t mean you should stop writing. But maybe it’s time to evaluate…
Writing Ranting – Why Do I Write? Part Two!
In my previous post, I mentioned a forum post on a writing website where a struggling writer was overwhelmed with their writing projects and hated their job. Firstly, I get…
Writing Ranting – Pushing Boundaries part 1
TRIGGER WARNING: This post mentions traumatic situations. Pushing boundaries in writing can mean pushing your personal boundaries or pushing your story’s boundaries. This means different things to different writers, but…
Writing Ranting – Pushing Boundaries Part 2
TRIGGER WARNING: This post mentions traumatic situations. Last week I talked about pushing personal boundaries in how far you were willing to go in your writing. Today, I’m going to…
Reading Ranting – Pushing Boundaries Part 3
Trigger warning: This mentions of dark content in books and films such as abuse and toxic relationships. Ranting warning: It’s a long one because I have too many thoughts on…
3 Tips – For NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow, and I thought I’d share some tips for a successful month. Also, I’ll be including videos on more of my posts. I’ll be announcing…
Writing Ranting with Others
Writing Ranting – Supporting Writers Between Writing
As writers, we can be a complex bunch, and we write for many reasons. One of my main reasons is some form of therapy to process my emotions or dreams.…
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Writing Ranting – Helping Other Writers! Part 1
There are lots of ways writers can support one another. Sharing WIPs for feedbackBrainstormingHelping through writer’s block and imposter syndromeSharing about their books on social mediaReviewing published books (ARCs) I…
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Writing Ranting – Helping Other Writers! Part 2
Writing may come naturally in some ways, but not necessarily in others. One writer might have the ideas for a fun story with a good structure. Another might have a…
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Writing Ranting with Others!
Join my Discord group and rant about writing with others. @LoveFantasy#0367 Writing is scary. Sharing your writing is scary and confusing and chaotic sometimes. I have a small writing group…
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Writing Ranting – Why am I not published yet?
This isn’t a rant about how I should be published by now, even though I really should be🤣. It’s an explanation as to why I’m not published already. I also…
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Collaborative Writing!
Firstly, it’s fun. Secondly, you might learn something from working with someone beyond just giving your opinions and suggestions. And thirdly, it’s fun. That last one was worth mentioning twice.…
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Harsh Critiques!
I’ve had mixed experiences with giving and receiving critiques. I try to be honest and encouraging and have many great writing buddies do the same for me. But one thing…
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Criticism vs Critique!
If you’ve shared your writing online, you’ll know that tense feeling you get the moment you click “submit” or the morning your work is about to go up for review…
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Not My Thing!
This is a little bit of rant here. But I hope you see my point that critiquing work in a writing group isn’t just about sharing an opinion, it’s about…
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Writing Ranting – Getting Feedback – Critiques
I cannot stress enough the importance of getting feedback on your novel, especially with so many indie authors breaking the stigma of “my mum loved it, so I published it”.…
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Writing Ranting – Getting Feedback – Alpha and Beta Readers
I cannot stress enough the importance of getting feedback on your novel, especially with so many indie authors breaking the stigma of “my mum loved it, so I published it”.…
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Writing Ranting – Getting Feedback – ARC Readers
I cannot stress enough the importance of getting feedback on your novel, especially with so many indie authors breaking the stigma of “my mum loved it, so I published it”.…
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Characters and POVs
Writing Ranting – How Realistic Are Your Characters? Part 2
Warning: Spoilers of Zodiac Academy, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Dark Artifices ahead. Disclaimer: I don’t read a lot of LGBTQ+ books purely because I don’t come…
Writing Ranting – How Realistic Are Your Characters? Part 1
I recently saw a few TikTok posts from the same account about portraying body size and characters of colour in books and related character art. I genuinely appreciated her pointing…
Killing Characters!
Someone has to die in fantasy fiction, right? But why? Two main reasons for me are… 1 – To have an effect on another character. It could be an inciting…
Death Is Only the Beginning!
It’s an old Egyptian saying, which makes sense if you believe in an afterlife. Life is fleeting, but an afterlife is infinite. Okay, ideology aside, I’m referring to fantasy or…
What Is in a Pronoun?
Why do people automatically think that 1st POV delves deeper into a character than 3rd? I’m sure many of you wonder what I mean. Well, I’ve been scouting the big…
Whose Secret Is It Anyway?
In real life, people only know what they see or experience or what someone tells them. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about 1st POV or 3rd POV…
New Year, New Perspective!
As it’s New Year’s Day, I thought I’d talk about introducing new POVs in a story and when’s best to do it. Now, you can keep characters to separate chapters…
Random Thought about Cats and Dogs!
Have you ever noticed how different the various breeds of dogs are compared to the various breeds of cats? What does this have to do with writing, you ask? Many…
Besties, Frenemies, or Nemeses?
I tried to make this writing-related, but honestly, it’s all about my new kitten. Imagine I’m talking about introducing two unpredictable characters or something. Introductions are always important. Introducing Tinkerbell……
Get Real!
Whether you write speculative or realistic fiction, your characters need real character traits and real issues going on in their lives. I’m not talking solely about plot-related things. I’m talking…
All Alone!
Characters might spend time alone, either before or after significant events. Preparing and processing is important for character motivation and consequential actions. It can also keep throughs out of busy…
Unravelling Writing Advice
Unravelling Writing Advice – How Often To Write!
Introducing my new series Unravelling Writing Advice where I explain how the advice works and adapts for every writer. Most of the advice I’ve seen talks about weekly goals and…
Unravelling Writing Advice – Show Don’t Tell!
Another installment from Unravelling Writing Advice series. Firstly, what is “tell” and what is “show?” Telling – He was tired. Showing – His limbs became heavy, and his eyelids fluttered.…
Unravelling Writing Advice – When to Hire and Editor!
Another installment from Unravelling Writing Advice series. I’ve never hired an editor, and there’s a reason for that. Let me explain… When it comes to hiring editors, I’ve discovered there…
Unravelling Writing Advice – 1st POV Isn’t Automatically Closer Than 3rd.
Another installment from Unravelling Writing Advice series. This is something that bugs me when so-called “experienced” writers claim that 1st POV is more effective emotionally than 3rd. Well, yes… but…
Unravelling Writing Advice – He Said, She Said.
Another installment from Unravelling Writing Advice series. I find there’s a huge divide when it comes to using said/asked as a dialogue tag and when to use a synonym. I’ve…
Unravelling Writing Advice – Every Scene Must Move the Story Forward
I completely agree with this. But there’s often some misunderstandings as to what elements are capable of moving a story forward. Most people think of plot movement, which is like…
Love Fantasy Novels 