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Tips and information for fiction writers |
| This book functions as my blog and will contain my writing advice, tips, writing prompts, and other information for fiction writers. |
Unlocking Creativity: A Guide for Fiction Writers Creativity is the lifeblood of fiction writing. It’s what transforms a blank page into an epic adventure, a gripping romance, or a chilling mystery. But let’s be honest—creativity can feel elusive. One day, you’re brimming with ideas, and the next, you’re staring at a blinking cursor wondering where your muse wandered off to. That’s where this blog series comes in. Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore the components of creativity, breaking them down into practical, actionable insights tailored for fiction writers like you. Whether you’re world-building for your next fantasy novel, crafting an unforgettable protagonist, or stuck in the middle of your thriller, this series will help you unlock your creative potential and take your storytelling to new heights. Why Creativity Matters in Fiction Writing Creativity is more than just a spark of inspiration—it’s the engine that drives every aspect of your story. It’s how you: • Develop compelling characters that leap off the page. • Build immersive worlds readers don’t want to leave. • Solve tricky plot problems with twists no one saw coming. But here’s the thing: creativity isn’t magic. It’s not reserved for the chosen few who seem to effortlessly churn out bestsellers. Creativity is a skill, and like any skill, it can be nurtured, honed, and expanded. The more you engage with it, the more it grows. What to Expect From This Series In this series, we’ll dive into the key components of creativity and how they relate to fiction writing. Each post will focus on one specific aspect, providing insights, exercises, and examples to help you apply these ideas to your own work. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming: 1. Curiosity: Learn how asking “What if?” can transform your storytelling and unlock hidden layers in your characters and plot. 2. Imagination: Discover how to push beyond clichés and tap into your unique creative vision. 3. Risk-Taking: Embrace bold choices in your writing and understand why taking creative risks often leads to the most memorable stories. 4. Flexibility: Adapt to unexpected changes in your plot, characters, or world-building without losing momentum. 5. Open-Mindedness: Explore new genres, perspectives, and techniques to enrich your storytelling toolkit. 6. Resilience: Overcome writer’s block, handle criticism, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth. 7. Playfulness: Rediscover the joy of experimentation and play in your writing process. Who Is This Series For? This series is for any fiction writer who wants to: • Rekindle their creative spark. • Explore new approaches to storytelling. • Find fresh inspiration for their writing projects. • Build confidence in their creative process. Whether you’re a seasoned novelist or a budding writer just starting your first short story, you’ll find something here to ignite your creativity. Why Start With Creativity? Writing advice often focuses on the mechanics—plot structures, character arcs, dialogue techniques. While these are essential, they mean little without creativity. Creativity is the beating heart of your story. It’s what makes your work original, meaningful, and uniquely yours. By starting with creativity, we’re laying the foundation for everything else. Let’s Start the Journey Writing is a deeply creative act, but it’s also a journey—sometimes exhilarating, sometimes frustrating, always transformative. Through this series, I invite you to embrace the ups and downs of that journey, to nurture your creativity, and to see where it takes you. Grab your notebook, your favorite pen, or your laptop. Let’s explore the world of creativity together and unlock the stories only you can tell. See you in a week! June |
The Subtle Magic of Small Shifts: Transform Your Writing Life One Step at a Time As a fiction writer navigating the often tumultuous world of creativity, I’ve discovered something powerful: transformation in your writing journey doesn’t require monumental changes. Small, deliberate shifts can elevate your craft, nurture your creativity, and bring joy to the writing process. Small Beginnings, Big Impact For example, I started by dedicating just ten minutes each morning to freewriting in a journal. At first, it felt insignificant—like a warm-up that might not matter—but it soon became a cornerstone of my creative process. Those ten minutes helped me break through blocks, spark new ideas, and approach the rest of my writing day with confidence. Your Writing Superpower: Reflection As fiction writers, we often spend time deeply observing the world, our characters, and ourselves. This reflective nature is a strength. While others might chase trends or force massive changes, we have the ability to test, evaluate, and refine our creative routines. By embracing a slower, more thoughtful approach, we can find what truly works for us—and make it stick. Embrace Your Unique Sensitivity as a Writer If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your sensitivity is your secret weapon. As a writer, your ability to tune into emotions, subtle details, and hidden truths gives you a unique edge. When you honor this sensitivity, you align with your authentic voice. Even the smallest shifts, when made with care and intention, can transform your writing and your creative life. Gentle Shifts to Fuel Your Writing Journey 1. Your Sensitivity Is a Creative Gift Your ability to perceive nuance and emotion is what makes your writing resonate with readers. Lean into this strength by journaling your observations, exploring your characters’ emotions in depth, or tuning into the atmosphere of your writing space. 2. Five Minutes to Spark Creativity Take five minutes each day to immerse yourself in something that inspires you—whether it’s reading a poem, sketching a scene, or jotting down a quick character monologue. These short bursts of creativity build momentum for larger projects. 3. Trust the Process, One Sentence at a Time You don’t have to write thousands of words in one sitting to make progress. Some of the most powerful writing happens when you focus on one sentence, one line of dialogue, or one small revision. These micro-moments of progress add up. 4. Pause to Reflect and Realign When a plot isn’t working or you feel stuck, resist the urge to push forward blindly. Take a moment to pause and ask: What feels off? What sparks joy in this story? Reflecting before acting often leads to breakthroughs. 5. Experiment with Mini Writing Challenges Try small, low-pressure changes to shake up your routine. For example, write a scene in a different point of view, set a timer for a 15-minute sprint, or start your day with a short haiku. These experiments can reignite your creative spark. 6. Protect Your Creative Energy Rest is essential for a writer’s mind. Step away from your work to recharge—whether that’s through a walk, meditation, or reading for pleasure. In stillness, new ideas often emerge, and your energy for storytelling is replenished. 7. Celebrate the Quiet Wins Not every milestone needs to be a finished manuscript. Celebrate the small victories: a beautifully written paragraph, an unexpected plot twist, or even sitting down to write on a tough day. Acknowledging these moments builds your confidence and motivation. Transform Your Writing, One Step at a Time You don’t need sweeping changes to thrive as a fiction writer. Small, deliberate actions can breathe life into your stories, renew your enthusiasm, and strengthen your connection to your craft. Honor your process, trust the magic of small shifts, and let your creativity flourish in ways that feel deeply authentic to you. What small change will you try today? Whether it’s journaling, experimenting with a new technique, or simply giving yourself permission to rest, know that every step you take matters. Your writing journey is uniquely yours—and it’s one worth savoring, one small shift at a time. |
| The Fiction Writer’s Secret Playbook: 7 Uncommon Tips You Haven’t Heard As a fiction writer, you’ve probably heard the usual tips and advice: write daily, read voraciously, and edit, edit, edit. While these are important, there are some less obvious ways to enhance your writing career and nurture your creativity. Below are seven tips that might surprise you but could have a lasting impact on your writing journey. I love brainstorming and coming up with new ideas and ways to view the writing life differently. I’m hoping some of these are new to you. 1. Embrace “Creative Cross-Training” Just as athletes cross-train to build strength and flexibility, writers can benefit from exploring other creative outlets. Whether it’s painting, photography, music, or even dance, venturing outside the world of words can invigorate your storytelling. These activities train your brain to think in different ways, allowing you to return to your writing with fresh perspectives and new ideas. Other ways I love being creative are composing music, designing crochet patterns, and coming up with various ways to write complex prompts to create images. I believe that being creative outside of my fiction writing helps me with my creative flow. Actionable Tip: Dedicate a small portion of your week to another creative hobby. You might be surprised at how it unlocks new layers of inspiration for your writing. 2. Write with a “Reader Rhythm” in Mind A great story, like a song or poem, has its own rhythm. Beyond pacing your plot, consider how the emotional intensity rises and falls throughout your novel. The best stories create a satisfying ebb and flow of emotions, allowing readers to experience a balance of tension and calm, action and reflection. Keying in on the emotional aspect of your story helps create that emotional connection to your readers as you balance emotions with other components of story. Actionable Tip: When editing, map out the emotional beats of your story. Make sure the rhythm keeps readers engaged without overwhelming or under-stimulating them. 3. Think of Rejection as “Editorial Training” Rejections are inevitable, but they can also be some of the best learning experiences for writers. Instead of feeling disheartened by each "no," view it as a form of free editorial training. Rejection teaches you to assess markets, polish your writing, and build resilience. It’s never easy when you first read a rejection. When emotions are involved, you’re going to have an emotional reaction. Put the rejection aside and return when you can evaluate what is being rejected with clearer insight. Try to re-envision your response. Actionable Tip: Start tracking your rejections with a goal to learn from each one. What can you take away from the experience, and how can it make you a better writer? 4. Network Beyond the Writing World Most writers seek connections with other authors, but broadening your network to include professionals from unrelated fields can open up new creative avenues. Talking to scientists, artists, chefs, or architects can give you insights and inspiration that elevate your writing. After all, some of the richest ideas come from unexpected places. Actionable Tip: Attend events, workshops, or social gatherings where you'll meet people from different fields. You never know when a conversation might spark a brilliant story idea or provide the perfect piece of research for your next story. 5. Map Out Your “Personal Seasons of Writing” Everyone has creative rhythms. Some writers thrive in the summer, while others find their muse during the darker, quieter months. Understanding your personal creative seasons can help you structure your writing schedule more effectively. Don’t push beyond your limits to write during a low-energy period—use that time for planning, research, or other creative pursuits instead. Actionable Tip: Track your productivity over the course of a year. Or reflect over the past year. Look for patterns when you’re most creative and energetic and build your writing routine around those peak times. 6. Create a “Fail-Forward” Folder Every writer has drafts that didn’t quite work out, stories that didn’t sell, or ideas that fizzled out. Instead of letting them disappear into oblivion, gather them in a "Fail-Forward" folder. These "failures" aren’t really failures at all—they're seeds for future stories or lessons in craft. Revisiting them can spark new ideas or show you how much you've grown. Afterthought: If you don’t like the “Fail-Forward” folder name, consider calling it something else. I call my folder “Fall Forward” as these items would otherwise “fall off my radar”. Actionable Tip: Start a digital or physical folder where you keep all your abandoned or rejected work. Revisit it every few months to see what you can learn or resurrect from these past projects. 7. Approach Writing Like a “Story Architect” Think of your writing journey as a long-term architectural project. Each book is part of a larger structure, and every choice you make as a writer—genres, themes, branding—should support your larger vision. Building a writing career with this big-picture mindset ensures that your work will resonate not just as individual pieces, but as part of a cohesive body of work. Actionable Tip: Map out your long-term goals as a writer. What kind of stories do you want to be known for? How can each project contribute to your overarching career vision? Being a fiction writer is about more than just putting words on the page. It’s about building a sustainable, fulfilling creative life. By embracing unexpected ideas like creative cross-training, mapping out your personal seasons, or thinking of rejection as training, you can cultivate a writing journey that stands the test of time. Give these unconventional tips a try and see how they might transform your writing journey. Question: What actionable tip(s) appeal to you and why? How might these benefit your writing journey? P. June Diehl Live Your Writing Dream "Helping fiction writers past obstacles on the way to publication" Website: liveyourwritingdream.dorik.io/ Blog: https://liveyourwritingdream7.wordpress.com Store: https://payhip.com/LiveYourWritingDream |
| A New Year and Thoughts on Writing Goals A Personal Note: Yearly, monthly, and weekly goals have never worked for me. In July of this year, I started doing daily tasks to track my various writing projects. I now use a two-page undated daily planner, and I can’t believe how productive the second half of 2024 has been. If yearly goals don’t work for you, try monthly goals. If that doesn’t work, move to weekly goals or tasks. Try daily goals or tasks if none of the former works. Also, redefine what success looks like for you. For example, I love checking off the tasks I have completed each day. Each is a success, no matter how small. Try for tasks or goals that are somewhat challenging, yet achievable. Rethinking Goal-Setting: Alternatives to Yearly Goals for Fiction Writers Yearly goals can feel overwhelming and, for many writers, unattainable. They’re often too broad and detached from the day-to-day realities of writing. If you find traditional goal-setting doesn’t work for you, here are some alternative approaches tailored for fiction writers. 1. Daily Goals Centered on Current Projects Focus on what you need to accomplish today. Break down your writing process into actionable steps—drafting a scene, brainstorming characters, or editing a specific chapter. Daily goals are more adaptable and grounded in the immediate needs of your projects. For example, instead of setting a yearly goal to “finish a novel,” a daily goal might be “write 500 words of the climactic scene.” By concentrating on manageable tasks, you’ll make steady progress without the pressure of long-term deadlines. 2. Project-Based Milestones Instead of tying your goals to a calendar, anchor them to your projects. For instance, you might aim to complete a short story draft before a submission deadline or finalize edits for your novel before sending it to beta readers. These milestones are flexible and naturally align with your creative flow. 3. Themed Focus Periods If you like structure but not rigid timelines, try themed periods of focus. Dedicate a week or two to a single aspect of your craft—like character development or world-building. This method keeps your energy focused without the weight of long-term goals. 4. Tracking Progress, Not Deadlines Instead of focusing on when something should be done, focus on how much you’ve accomplished. Use a journal or app to track your daily or weekly achievements. Celebrate the progress, no matter how small—it adds up. By shifting your mindset from yearly goals to daily actions and project milestones, you’ll stay motivated and productive while embracing the unique rhythm of your writing life. P. June Diehl Live Your Writing Dream "Helping fiction writers past obstacles on the way to publication" Website: liveyourwritingdream.dorik.io/ Blog: https://liveyourwritingdream7.wordpress.com Store: https://payhip.com/LiveYourWritingDream |
| Spark Your Writing: Whispers in the Margins Don't you love a good mystery? Even better when romance is thrown into the story, giving it a different slant. Here's a writing prompt that includes both of these elements. Play with this story idea and see what you might come up with. PROMPT: A rare book restorer finds cryptic notes written in the margins of a first-edition novel. Each note hints at a long-forgotten affair and a series of unsolved murders. She seeks help from a local true-crime podcaster, and together they uncover dark secrets hidden in the town's past. What personal secrets might be revealed when the romance between these two heat up during their investigation? QUESTION: What two genres might you use instead of mystery and romance in a story titled Whispers in the Margins that works for you? June P. June Diehl Live Your Writing Dream "Helping fiction writers past obstacles on the way to publication" Website: liveyourwritingdream.dorik.io/ Blog: https://liveyourwritingdream7.wordpress.com Store: https://payhip.com/LiveYourWritingDream |
Holiday Hustle: Creative Ways to Keep Writing Through the Festive Season The holiday season can be magical, but for writers, it’s often chaotic. Between shopping, social events, and family gatherings, finding time to write may seem impossible. But fear not—here are some creative ways to keep your writing alive while still soaking up the holiday cheer. 1. Embrace Micro-Writing Sessions You don’t need hours to make progress. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and dive into your current project. Use this time to brainstorm, draft a scene, or polish a paragraph. Small, consistent efforts add up. 2. Use Holiday Vibes as Inspiration Let the festive season fuel your creativity. Write a flash fiction piece set at a winter market or explore a character’s reaction to a holiday tradition. Who knows? You might stumble upon a gem for your next big project. 3. Make Writing a Social Affair Turn downtime with family or friends into a fun writing session. Create a group challenge where everyone pens a short story or poem. It’s a great way to bond and keep your creative muscles flexing. 4. Create a Portable Writing Kit Keep a notebook or digital device handy so you can write on the go. Whether you’re waiting in a long checkout line or lounging by the fire, you’ll always be ready to jot down ideas or dialogue. 5. Reward Yourself Pair writing goals with holiday treats. Finish a page? Enjoy a gingerbread cookie. Draft a chapter? Watch your favorite holiday movie guilt-free. Writing during the holidays deserves celebration. Remember, the holidays are busy, but staying connected to your writing doesn’t have to feel like work. These small steps can keep your creative spark alive—and who knows? You might even start the new year with a shiny new draft. P. June Diehl Live Your Writing Dream "Helping fiction writers past obstacles on the way to publication" Website: liveyourwritingdream.dorik.io/ Blog: https://liveyourwritingdream7.wordpress.com Store: https://payhip.com/LiveYourWritingDream |
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