Historical fiction writing tips, freelance writing tricks and general writing help.
The first post in my #52WritingTips project, because there’s 52 weeks in a year and I really need to get better at updating this blog. Across the year, I’ll be pulling together 52 writing tips to help you get your dream on paper, edit that manuscript or summon the courage to submit your work. This week, we’re looking at beginnings, and where to find them.
Today we’re going to talk about stakes, which in short is the bad stuff that’s going to happen to your character if they don’t achieve their goal (or if they … Continue reading The Importance of Stakes
Novelist, or historian? The line becomes a bit blurry when you’re writing historical fiction. But one piece of advice that really stood out to me at the Stockholm Writer’s Festival … Continue reading Researching A Historical Fiction Novel: Tips from the Stockholm Writer’s Festival
I wouldn’t walk into a bar and start jumping on the tables. Perhaps in 3,000 years that might be considered normal (if so I’m glad I live now, I’m clumsy … Continue reading How to Start Writing Historical Fiction: Etiquette (Part 2)
Good morrow, dear friends. How fare thee this fine day? Alright mate? ‘Ows it goin’? Why hello, how do you do? … Now if those greetings sound weird, it’s because … Continue reading How to Start Writing Historical Fiction: Language (Part 1)
Way back at the beginning of term (I’m in the Transnational Creative Writing Masters Programme at Stockholm University) we had an awesome workshop from Cassie Gonzales. She was talking about … Continue reading Why Symbolism is Beautiful (And Why You Should Be Using It)
I did something truly insane today. I submitted a piece of work to The New Yorker. It was a piece I’ve been working on for about two months now, a … Continue reading The Terror of Submitting Your First Piece of Fiction
I had a poetry lecture today, which I was dreading. Poetry for me brings back memories of exams in a dusty sports hall with the lingering smell of old socks; … Continue reading What’s the Difference Between a Writer and a Pretender?
You’re in a relationship. You’ve been together three months. You’re starting to get to know each other, you’ve had quite a few dates – and things are starting to go … Continue reading The 10,000 Word Itch (or What To Do When You Come Up With A New Book Idea Whilst Writing A Different Book)
You wouldn’t think a Masters in Creative Writing would lead you to the conclusion that you’re schizophrenic. Or at least, not immediately. You’d want to work up to that after … Continue reading Why All Writers Have Two Personalities
Sophie Writes 