Help for Writers
Useful articles to help you navigate the writing world
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A basic 10-step article to get you from 'thinking' about writing, to making that all important start. It doesn't need to be so daunting!
The article talks about putting time aside and setting targets, as well as encouraging you to 'just write', and not to overthink things at such an early stage. That's what editing is for at the very end.
This article is one of a seven-part series, but it is the passive vs active voice article that I think is of vital importance to read about early in your writing journey. Using passive voice is something all new writers do (including myself), but learning to recognise this can transform your writing. So, it makes sense to know about it now rather than having to edit every instance of it at a later point.
Here's an example from 'Shadows of Sacrifice'
Point of View tips - How to keep it consistent
One of the quickest ways to put readers off your book is to 'head hop', i.e., the process of switching point of views (POVs) at the wrong times. Jumping from one character to the other without any obvious break (such as a chapter break) is incredibly confusing for a reader, and they simply will not continue reading. Having multiple POVs is absolutely fine, but they must be handled correctly. In 'Shadows of Sacrifice', I use several character POVs to tell the overarching story from different perspectives. I keep these tidy by ensuring each chapter features just one, and the chapter title clearly labels whose mind we are in.
Bad Adverbs - Spot this, and your writing will instantly improve!
Adverbs are often used in instances when a stronger verb would do a better job of conveying meaning. Check out these examples from 'Shadows of Sacrifice', which highlight this in practice.
How to structure your scenes
This is a 12-part article covering everything you need to know about properly structuring your scenes within a novel. I recommend taking the time to read all the parts as I found it incredibly useful.
Just the image here (credit: helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com) is a fantastic base to use when you are planning your scenes and chapters. It will ensure you keep things moving along with the appropriate amount of action (conflict), as well as proper reflection and growth of your characters and the plot itself
