Category: Drafting
-
Involve (all) the Senses
Your readers live in their bodies, just like your characters do. If you want your story to feel real, you need to give us more than just what we can see. The creak of floorboards. The prickle of sweat. The tang of salt in the air. The feel of fabric under fingertips. The stinging burn…
-
The Confidence Game
There’s a tricky balance we all face as writers: the tension between self-belief and the desire for validation. At its best, writing is an act of confidence—saying, this matters enough to write down. That confidence is fragile and can crack early, especially if you share too soon or ask for opinions before you’ve even figured…
-
Your Idea Isn’t Worth Anything (Until You Tell the Story)
This topic arises frequently in writing communities, especially among those just starting out. “I have this amazing idea. Do you think it’s good?” “Would you read a story where…?” “Is this too cliché?” And, my personal favourite: “Has this been done before?” (Answer: Probably. But not like you’d do it) Here’s the truth: Your idea…
-
Leave Yourself a Trail
Scrolling back and fixing things interrupts flow. Here’s how to avoid it.
-
Your First Draft Is Not Your Book
The first draft’s job is to get the story out of you. It’s not a book, not yet, but it’s the start of what your book will be.
-
Adverbs Are Seasoning, Not Flavour
The truth is, adverbs aren’t inherently bad. They’re just misunderstood. The real problem isn’t their existence, it’s their overuse.
-
Your First Draft is NOT your Book
There’s a secret about writing that every novice writer needs to hear: your first draft is supposed to be bad. Not just imperfect, not just messy. BAD bad. Its job is simply to exist, so you have something to work on. It’s a block of raw material, a rough sketch, a first attempt at capturing…