Tag: writers life

The First Story You Finish Will Change You – Celebrating the Importance of Finishing, Not Perfection

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Every writer has scraps of stories lying around. Half-started drafts, notebooks full of beginnings, that one chapter you wrote years ago that you still kind of like. I’ve got folders of the stuff. Ideas that caught fire for a few days and then fizzled. Stories that seemed like the best thing I’d ever come up … Continue reading The First Story You Finish Will Change You – Celebrating the Importance of Finishing, Not Perfection

How to Write Realistic Villains: Techniques for Crafting Complex Antagonists

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

When I embarked on writing my novel *The Next Stage*, I was determined to create villains that were more than just obstacles for my protagonists to overcome. I wanted them to be realistic, nuanced, and truly threatening. Crafting such antagonists requires a careful balance of traits and motivations that make them compelling and memorable. If … Continue reading How to Write Realistic Villains: Techniques for Crafting Complex Antagonists

Writing Flash Fiction: Tips and Techniques for Crafting Powerful, Concise Stories

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Flash fiction is a unique literary form that offers a captivating blend of challenge and creativity. With word limits typically ranging from 100 to 1,000 words, flash fiction requires writers to distill a story down to its most essential elements, crafting a complete narrative in a space where every word matters. This brevity, while challenging, … Continue reading Writing Flash Fiction: Tips and Techniques for Crafting Powerful, Concise Stories

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Writing: A Personal Journey

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I’m sitting with my laptop, fingers poised above the keyboard, heart racing. I’ve been here before. The cursor blinks at me mockingly, as if saying, “What makes you think you can do this?” This, my friends, is imposter syndrome, and it’s an all-too-familiar companion on my writing journey.Let’s rewind a bit. When I first started … Continue reading Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Writing: A Personal Journey

Overcoming Writer’s Block: Strategies to Reignite Your Creative Spark

~ Gareth Ellis ~ 1 Comment

Writer's block. The mere mention of it can send shivers down a writer’s spine. It’s the dreaded obstacle that every writer encounters at some point, whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding novelist. But fear not! Writer’s block is not an insurmountable barrier; it’s a challenge that can be overcome with the right strategies. … Continue reading Overcoming Writer’s Block: Strategies to Reignite Your Creative Spark

The Art of Short Story Writing: A Casual Exploration

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I'm discovering that there's something truly magical about short stories. These bite-sized tales pack a punch, capturing the essence of a moment, a character, or an emotion in just a few pages. If you're someone who loves storytelling but isn't quite ready to commit to a full-length novel, writing short stories can be a rewarding … Continue reading The Art of Short Story Writing: A Casual Exploration

The Never-Ending Journey of Marketing Self-Published Books

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

You would think that the hardest thing about being an author is the writing of books, but it's far from it. Writing books is easy because it only involves you, your brain, and your characters. The hardest thing about being an author is marketing the damn book once it's written and released.Marketing as a self-published … Continue reading The Never-Ending Journey of Marketing Self-Published Books