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In the previous post , we talked about the pantsing approach to writing—what it is, why it works, and what to do when it doesn’t. But if sitting in front of a blank page sounds like more anxiety than fun, plotting might be the better writing approach for you. If you’re new to plotting, wondering if it might work for you, or find it challenging, this guide will help you understand what plotting is and how to use it to write your book. In today’s post, we’ll look at: What is Pl

Your mood has a significant impact on your writing (shocking, I know). Feeling sad can draw you to describe gloomy days and dramatic conversations, while exciting events can make you feel pumped and act as fuel for more dynamic, fast-paced, or romantic writing (or make the dragon your heroes encounter in the cave suddenly start singing like a Disney princess). But while it can help, mood can also be a significant hindrance , and potentially prevent you from writing altogether

Can you recall the first time you were hit with the writing bug? For me, it was after discovering the fantasy genre. The limitless potential of a world much more mysterious than our own was so alluring, that I just had to try and create one of my own. But soon after attempting to write my first book, I realized that for some unexplainable reason, I just can’t seem to be able to. And I know I’m not alone in this. Many aspiring writers find that writing, despite our passion for

The writer’s path is full of obstacles—from deciding what to write about to actually finishing a manuscript. But one of the biggest challenges is one we create for ourselves: overthinking. For many writers, one of the main reasons they find it so hard to write a draft from beginning to end is that they keep getting themselves sidetracked by overthinking: What should the cover for this book look like? Is it YA or dark fantasy? How many goblins should ambush my protagonist in t

One of the most frustrating parts of writing isn’t a lack of ideas, but our inability to stay focused long enough to do something with them. You sit down to write, open the document, stare at the screen, and… get sidetracked a moment later to research something “important” or check a likely irrelevant notification. We often talk about flow — that state where writing feels effortless, scenes unfold naturally, and the outside world fades away. For many writers, that feeling is