How often do you come to the end of a great novel, an enlightening article or an inspiring poem and immediately set out to learn more about the author? You want to know who was responsible for bringing you to tears, laughing out loud or giving you that light bulb moment …
There is a romantic myth that surrounds writers. This myth is rife with infatuation, possessiveness and protectiveness: a writer is supposed to be obsessed with their work. Utterly absorbed. If their creative process stalls, or in some instances flatlines, the writer should just work harder. More rewrites, more experimentation. They should even …
It’s an age-old question: is the ability to write creatively an inherent or learned skill? With the wide availability of writing courses at tertiary level in recent years, the question becomes even more pertinent: are writing degrees worth their salt? Do we really need a degree to be ‘legitimate’ authors? …
Writing can be a lonely craft – solitary hours turning into months as the writer navigates plot and wrangles characters. This is an essential part of the process. But every now and then it might be useful – even advisable – for the writer to get up from their desk …
Think dialogue is just a case of he said, she said? Wrong. Dialogue is much more than a to-and-fro between characters; dialogue is the backbone of your narrative. In a single conversation between characters you can snag a reader and reel them in to shore. On the other hand, if your …
Young adult fiction is one of the most commonly read categories of fiction around. Despite its namesake, which implies writing exclusive to a particular age group, successful YA fiction is read and indulged in by many other age groups and tends to have a tremendously passionate following. When it comes to …
You may have seen the terms 'bullet journal' or even #bujo floating around lately. Bullet journaling is a hugely popular method of organising, documenting and reflecting on your day-to-day life. It's a customisable combination of journal, diary, notebook, to-do list – and anything else you want to add, really! Bullet journals …
Do you ever find yourself with characters who are too flat? Or notice that you’re spending far too much time writing plot but still struggle with your characters’ motivations? Whether you’re a published author or an aspiring one, character building isn’t always easy. I was first introduced to the “Iceberg …
