Storycraft Gateway

14/10/2024

Want to write a book but no clue where to start and needing that Monday morning kick off the cliff to get started?

Got your back 💪🏼—to kick off that cliff and into action, that is, with this new blog article on the Storycraft Gateway page 👇🏼

Here's the TLDR:

Top 5 Tips for New Writers ✨

⚜️ Start small: Don’t overwhelm yourself with a whole novel on the first go. Begin with a short story or small writing challenges. Work your way in with a steady writing habit.

⚜️ Consistency is everything: Write regularly, even if it’s just 100 words a day. Or even 10. Just get going, keep going, keep your momentum. It’s amazing how it compounds.

⚜️ Embrace rough drafts: Your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to exist. Let it be there. Let it be ugly. Just tell yourself the story, get the vibes. Then work into it. Call it “stupid draft zero” or whatever you need to get into this mindset.

⚜️ Get feedback: Share your work early and often. Constructive critique will help you grow. Find alpha readers you trust to look through the worst of the worst and tell you what you need to make it better. (🫶🏼 And a massive shoutout to mine! 💛)

⚜️ Believe in yourself and your book: No one else can write your story the way you can. It doesn’t matter if there are similar books out there. The difference is you. Keep going! 💪

💎 Need more personalised guidance and support? As an author coach, I can help you from concept through planning, drafting, all the way to a finished book you can hold in your hands. And I’ll probably cry over it with you. 🥹 🫣

Comment “AUTHOR LIFE” if that sounds like the mentoring you need 💎 Or DM me if you’re a private bunny like me 🫣

Dreaming of writing a book but feeling stuck? Here are 5 simple, actionable tips to get your ideas flowing and kickstart your writing.

08/10/2024

Sometimes, the pressure to produce can kill creativity.

Am I right in thinking that, like me, you started writing because you loved it?

And yet I’m sure every one of us has had some feeling of stuckness in our writing life. That when we focus too much on the end goal or a need to produce new things regularly can make us feel at our least creative?

How do we regain that joy we had in our writing? In any of our creative work?

The answer is to play, experiment.

Go back to the days we felt we had no expectations of ourselves or what we wanted to produce.

We just wrote.

This is how 👇🏼

https://medium.com//the-importance-of-play-in-creativity-how-to-rediscover-joy-in-the-writing-process-df5cf2041c5a

Sometimes, the pressure to produce can kill creativity.

27/09/2024

Write a short scene (50 words) where a character is feeling nervous. Focus on showing their emotions through actions, body language, and dialogue instead of directly stating how they feel.

25/09/2024

Writing tip of the day!

Check your work for overuse of crutch words and remove them for smoother prose.

13/09/2024

I wanted the floor to swallow me whole at a writer's conference when I was chatting with an agent about current romantasy trends, and an author - not caring about our conversation or the fact we were both mid-cupcake - bombarded her about their book 🤦🏽‍♀️

Actually, to make it worse, it happened three times.

THREE?! 😱

Authors are ruining their chances by bombarding publishing professionals in casual spaces, so I wanted to spread some advice on how to socialise at writing events and look like the lovely, gracious writer we all know you are.

"Chance encounters are for chitchat."

Here's how you can leave a great impression with publishing pros and still have a good bookish time. 🎉

👇🏼

https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/why-you-shouldn-t-pitch-your-book-at-the-snack-table-a-socialising-tip-for-authors

Pitching your book at the wrong time can harm your chances. Here's a socialising tip for authors on chance encounters.

30/05/2024

Wondering how long your book should be? 🤔

You're not alone, and fortunately there's so much advice on story length.

It doesn't matter whether you're writing flash fiction, short stories, a romance novella, or a full-length space opera novel, understanding the ideal word count is crucial for not only completing the writing of your book with confidence, but also publishing successfully. ✨

Why?

The publishing world does almost everything based on word count.

Check out my latest blog post, "The Writer's Blueprint: How Long Should Your Book Really Be?" for a comprehensive guide on recommended word counts by genre and story type. Plus, get valuable tips on planning your book to meet those guidelines. ✍️

Read it here 👇
https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/understanding-word-counts

Happy writing! 🤓

How long should my book be? There's a word count for that. Discover the ideal word count for your book by genre and type, and get tips for planning and writing to meet those guidelines.

23/05/2024

Struggling with writer's block? You're not alone! It happens to us all.

I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Donika Mishineva, a cover designer and author branding expert, on a comprehensive guide to overcoming writer's block and sparking creativity. In our interview, I shared practical tips and personal insights from my own journey as a published author.

From treating creativity as a muscle to incorporating short, timed writing sessions, ideation exercises, and even physical activity into your routine, we cover a range of strategies to help you stay inspired and productive.

🌟 Key takeaways include:

💠 Setting manageable, daily writing goals
💠The importance of journalling and ideation sessions
💠Balancing discipline with creative spontaneity
💠The crucial role of self-care in maintaining a healthy writing habit

Whether you're just starting out or looking for new ways to keep your creativity flowing, this article has something for everyone.

📖 Read the full interview here:
👉🏼 https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/how-to-overcome-writer-s-block-and-ignite-inspiration

Let me know which tip resonates most with you in the comments below.

And please share if you know someone this will help. I love how the writing community is all about supporting each other. 😊

Struggling with writer's block? In this interview, Sarah Kate Ishii shares practical tips and personal insights to ignite your creativity and keep writing!

16/05/2024

Authors! Ready to elevate your platform and connect with readers? Take a moment to reflect on these FIVE questions:

1️⃣ Is your brand consistent across all platforms, setting you apart from the rest?

2️⃣ Have you established a dedicated hub where readers can find YOU?

3️⃣ Are you active on social media, showcasing your work and engaging with your audience?

4️⃣ Do you have direct communication channels with your readers beyond social media?

5️⃣ Are you actively engaging with and supporting fellow writers and readers in communities and events?

Each "yes" brings you closer to a robust author platform. Learn more about these strategies in my latest article:

https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/building-your-author-platform-5-strategies-for-success

Remember, building your platform takes time and dedication, but it's worth it. Let's connect, share, and grow together.

Learn how to build a strong and authentic Author Platform with 5 proven strategies. Discover the key to reaching your audience.

08/05/2024

When was the last time you let yourself be bored?

What if I told you it helped with idea generation, creativity, and writing?

https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/make-time-for-boredom-cultivating-creativity-through-idle-moments

Give yourself permission to be bored for the best ideas to flow and creativity to free itself.

03/05/2024

A popular piece of advice for writers is to 'show, not tell', but very rarely does that come with advice on HOW to do it.

Here's how 😎

* * *

If you find tips like this useful and want to book a personalised 1-on-1 author coaching session to discuss your writing and publishing journey, get in touch with us now, and we'll help you create the book you're dreaming of.

People tell us to 'show, don't tell' in writing. Here's how you can do that and transport your readers to your written world.

02/05/2024

Wanting to improve your world building through better, more immersive descriptions?

What can gardening with a three year old tell us about better descriptive writing?

A lot!

https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/sprinkling-seeds-of-description-enhancing-world-building-in-your-writing

A story to help you enhance your world building through description to make your book as immersive as possible for your readers.

29/04/2024

Learn how to discover your voice and become the writer you dream you can be.

https://www.storycraftgateway.com/post/discover-your-voice-a-journey-to-writing

We live in a world of untold stories. For this reason, it's important you give yourself the chance to write and find your voice.

23/04/2024

A reminder the Pro Writing Aid is hosting their Fantasy Writers' Week 2024 currently which has excellent resources and speakers to help with all elements of writing a fantasy book.

It's ongoing now, but it's not too late to sign up.

I 100% recommend you sign up at the link below and check out the resources. There may be something that will help you take that next leap in your writing journey.

https://prowritingaid.com/fantasy-week/sign-up

Discover the secrets for writing, editing, and publishing a fantasy novel at this free online summit for fantasy writers.