Tag: writing advice

The Ghost of the First Draft: How the Earliest Version of Your Story Haunts All Revisions That Follow

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

I’ve just finished the first draft of my current work-in-progress, a biography-horror hybrid that’s consumed more of my thoughts than I’d like to admit and is sure to consume more. It’s a strange, unsettling project that blurs the boundary between truth and fiction, and somewhere in that blur, I’ve found myself trapped between the two … Continue reading The Ghost of the First Draft: How the Earliest Version of Your Story Haunts All Revisions That Follow

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

What It Feels Like to Kill a Story That Wasn’t Working – The Graveyard of Drafts

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Every writer has a graveyard. It might be a drawer, a folder, or a hard drive, stuffed with stories that didn’t make it. Some sputtered out after a promising start, full of energy but unable to sustain themselves. Others ballooned into sprawling, unmanageable forms, leaving me tangled in their ambitions. And a few simply refused … Continue reading What It Feels Like to Kill a Story That Wasn’t Working – The Graveyard of Drafts

The Art of Writing Without Overthinking: Discovery Writing and Trusting Your Instincts

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

There’s a particular kind of paralysis that creeps in when you stare at a blank page for too long. You’ve got the idea. You’ve got the characters (or at least a whisper of them). You’ve got the mood, the spark, the itch to write. But then your brain, ever so kindly, decides to intervene: “Hang … Continue reading The Art of Writing Without Overthinking: Discovery Writing and Trusting Your Instincts

The Challenges of Writing a Sequel: Navigating the Path to the Next Stage

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Writing a book is a journey, one that is often fraught with its own set of challenges, from conceptualising the initial idea to seeing it through to the final draft. However, when that book is successful and resonates with readers, the task of writing a sequel can feel even more daunting. I’ve recently found myself … Continue reading The Challenges of Writing a Sequel: Navigating the Path to the Next Stage

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

Writing Dialogue that Feels Real: Techniques for Natural, Believable Conversations

~ Gareth Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Dialogue is the heartbeat of a story. It reveals character, advances the plot, and immerses the reader in the world you've created. Writing dialogue that feels real and believable is an art, one that can significantly enhance your storytelling. Here are some techniques to help you craft dialogue that resonates with authenticity.1. Know Your CharactersBefore … Continue reading Writing Dialogue that Feels Real: Techniques for Natural, Believable Conversations