I’m Deanne. I’m a writer and I’m not normal.

This is not a confession: it’s a boast. I suspect you’re not normal either. Congratulations.

I wouldn’t mind guessing that you haven’t finished any of the stories you started. One didn’t work so you quit and started another. I’m not attacking you. You are not the problem. The problem is the ‘normal’ way of doing things.

The normal way people become writers of fiction has to change. It starts with excitement and eagerness but all too often descends into disappointment, confusion and a feeling of failure. How far through this writing process have you got? And how many times have you cycled through the same stage over and over?

The normal way to write a novel

The normal way to get a novel out into the world is to write it on your own, send it to an editor who rips it to bits and tells you to rewrite massive chunks of it so that it works, then you rewrite it. Again, on your own. 

Then you get feedback again. And change more parts of your story. On your own.

Then you do a copy edit and keep changing words and phrasing one way then back to the original. Then you get told you’re telling too much and you need to show more. So you change it. And someone else says the new version is too flowery and you need to show less. 

And then… you decide you can’t bear to read the story you were once so in love with even – one – more – time.

Maybe this works for some people. Good for them. Personally, I want to still like my manuscript by the time it’s ready for publishing. I want to enjoy the writing process. There will be sticky patches, sure, but I want to enjoy writing fiction, not do it as if I’m punishing myself for some terrible crime.

I suspect you want the same. Certainly that’s what I’ve found to be true of all my clients.

Writing only one piece of fiction keeps you from growing.

And while you’re not growing, there are people who are publishing books that are worse than yours. They’re writing blogs online. Sharing their flawed stories. Making money. They’re getting famous. More importantly, they are improving their writing skills.

You don’t need to polish one story endlessly. You don’t need to spend years on one novel. You don’t need to hide your writing from the world. You don’t need to stay in one place. You can cheat on your writing project – it won’t be offended.

The best way to write a novel

Working on the same novel for years, struggling to find the right words, is not the best way to write a great novel. The best way to write great work is to write frequently and to write different stories and scenes. Cheat on your novel.

Develop a writing habit. When you do this and also learn the craft of writing fiction, you will improve your storytelling, your structure and your style. That way, you’ll get the success you want.

It happens to many of us. But having a group with the same goals can make it less lonely.

That’s why I started my membership group – Storytellers Elite – as a place for writers to connect. It combines three key elements to support your progress with your writing projects and your development as a writer – Accountability, Development and Motivation. We support each other, and share both the good and tough times.

A virtual community for Writers

This group is for writers who know the basics like showing and telling, plot, and character development, but want to improve further. It’s for those with some writing experience who are considering writing as a career. We meet online to help each other through tough spots in our stories, find what’s missing, and get inspired. Our writing sprint sessions help you set aside regular time to write, so your word count grows naturally. Paired together, it helps you get back on track.

Storytellers Elite is for people with some writing experience who are considering writing as a career

When you have some ideas for writing, but you’re not familiar with the fancy words that writers use. 

Have you ever felt intimidated when you hear writers talk about their craft? I know I have. When I was hosting a live event recently, I realised that I was using some jargon that might not be clear to everyone. Maybe I was confusing them, or worse, making them feel like they don’t belong! Sometimes writers use words that you don’t know, and you start to doubt yourself. That’s not a good feeling!

Learning how to write… as you write!

Sometimes you might feel unsure about your writing skills. Maybe you don’t know when to use an apostrophe, or what some words mean, or how to spell and punctuate correctly. But that’s OK. You don’t have to be perfect to write well. Or maybe you don’t know the technical word for something in writing, simply because you’ve not encountered it before – that’s fine. Even I have to check things sometimes when I forget or get confused. And then there are those days when you have a great idea in your head, but you can’t find the right words to express it. That happens to everyone. Don’t let that stop you from writing, or make you feel bad about yourself. No one is judging you.

Practice makes perfect!

Think of it like this: you get a Marvel comic book as a gift. You don’t have to know everything about the characters before you open it. You just dive into the story and have fun with it. Maybe you’ll get curious and want to learn more about them later. That’s how writing works too. You don’t need to study it first, you just have a go at doing it. You learn as you go along. Don’t they say, every day is a school day?!

There are some things you should learn all about before you start doing them. There are certain jobs or tasks where you will of course need some background knowledge, qualifications – situations where someone might get hurt, or your actions affect others. But writing isn’t like learning to drive, at least not in that way. You’re not going to do any harm by having a go at writing. Maybe you will do it badly to start with, but you can always get better with practice. You can improve the ways you did it the first time around, but by playing about with ideas and making a start, you have already given yourself a great start.

Write what you want to write

So, just ‘doing the thing’ – in this case, writing fiction. If you want to, you can try to do everything by yourself – just start writing and learn as you go, improve your skills, solve problems along the way. Or you might want to join others who are also writing and get their feedback and help – my Book Forge community is a good option, which is all about sitting in the chair, spending time writing, and achieving your writing goals. It’s nice to have people who share your dreams and can give you advice and support. 

Whilst it can be helpful to learn some of the common terms, especially if you want to communicate with other writers, editors, or readers – it’s not a requirement. The important thing is that you are actually doing it. Don’t worry too much about writing jargon. It can be useful, but it’s not a must-have. Write what you want to write, how you want to write it. That’s what matters most.

Do you feel alone as a writer?

Here is some advice to help you cope with these feelings and keep writing:

– Respect your family’s boundaries and preferences. They might not share your enthusiasm for your novel because they have different tastes, interests, or priorities. That does not mean they don’t love you or care about you.

– Find your own motivation and inspiration. Writing a novel is a long-term project that requires dedication, discipline, and passion. You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and why you want to write it. Remind yourself of your goals and celebrate your milestones and achievements.

– Remember that your family’s opinion is not the only one that matters. You are writing for yourself and your readers, not for them. Seek feedback from writing coaches (me!) instead. Or join a supportive writing support group – like my very own Facebook community! You’ll benefit from constructive criticism, encouragement, and advice that can improve your confidence. 

if you’re looking for more structure, you might like Storytellers Elite – its for writers who know they’re on a journey of improvement. We celebrate each other’s successes, help each other through sticky spots and pool our knowledge.

Until next time, keep writing!

A bad week of writing…

I wasn’t having a productive week of writing. But yesterday I sat down and just wrote without really knowing what I was going to write. I not only smashed my word count target, I got another plot twist out of it that I didn’t know was going to happen.

Hooray for me! 🙂

The magic of writing without a plan

So, you might be asking – how does a breakthrough happen in the story you’re writing? How can you get that lightbulb excitement of realisation… ‘That’s what she’s going to say/do/have happen to her!’ 

A certain amount of planning, certainly. It has to come out of your head, after all. But it’s not about cudgelling your brains until you force it out of the logical bits of the grey matter. A great deal of the work is done using the bits of your brain that handle subconscious thought. In other words, relax a bit.

The most important (and the most successful) thing you can do to write a story or a novel is to write. Put yourself into the situation where your brain is able to give you the ideas. That means relaxing and just writing.

Let me tell you a secret – Every writer feels the same way. It’s natural to care about the opinions of others, but it’s not healthy to stress over them.

This fear is common amongst writers. Even those who are published authors feel nervous about sharing it with others. But they have overcome it by practising how to craft their story. They improved their draft with each revision and rewrite, until they reached the end. It required hard work to produce a novel that they hope will captivate avid readers, and the most rewarding outcomes always come from diligent effort, don’t they? Something worth having takes consistent work. 

Although a novel is the creation of its author, it often benefits from broader influences; a team of experts, a community of peers, and lots of feedback that shaped their creation.

We crave the validation of our peers, but this also has a drawback. It ties our self esteem to their opinions. When our loved ones don’t give us the thumbs-up, it hurts our sense of worth. Writers know this pressure well, but we also have a responsibility to share our stories with others. That’s the ultimate destination for our creation. Why create something new and keep it hidden from other human beings? But the craving for validation often makes new writers hide their work from critical eyes. This is especially devastating to a new writer who has dreams that are not understood or supported by their loved ones.

Why would a fiction writer fear sharing their work with others? 

There are many possible reasons, but one of them is the fear of rejection. Writing fiction is a creative and personal process, and it can be hard to expose your imagination and emotions to the world. You might worry that people will judge you unfairly, criticise your writing or misunderstand you. You might think that your work is not good enough, original enough, or interesting enough. You might feel vulnerable and insecure about your abilities and your identity as a writer. 

These fears are natural and common, but they can also be overcome. Sharing your work with others can be a rewarding and enriching experience, as you can get feedback, support, and inspiration from other writers and readers. You can learn from their perspectives, improve your skills, and discover new possibilities for your stories. 

Connect with other Writers

You may think that other writers are more confident and experienced than you, and that you have nothing to offer them. But this is not true. Many writers face similar challenges and struggles as you do. You have a common passion for creativity and expressing yourself through words. By reaching out to other writers, you can benefit from their support and feedback, as well as offer your own. They can help you overcome your fears and doubts, and inspire you to grow as a writer.  

One way to connect with other writers is to join my online community, where you can share your work and get constructive criticism from peers who understand your journey. It’s a safe and friendly space to learn from each other and improve your writing skills. If you need some support and encouragement to bring out your hidden works, Storytellers Elite is the place for you. You can join our next online group session and participate in lively discussions about writing and see how we can help you achieve your writing goals.

Support, guidance, accountability and community for new writers

Fiction Academy is an end-to-end programme to help you get a novel into the world. It is ideal for new writers and those who have written short fiction.

Long-form fiction writing – typically novels – requires particular knowledge and skills. You also need support, guidance, accountability and a community that wants you to succeed.

You also need honest feedback so you know when you’re ready to publish. Then comes the challenge of publishing – cover design, manuscript formatting… and the tech side, such as adding categories to KDP.

I have teamed up with Authors & Co., a fabulous partnership publisher. We would like to offer you Fiction Academy to take care of all those needs.

First, you will learn all the essentials of writing a novel through a full digital course. How to write a scene, character creation, plotting, narrative perspective and voice are some of the lessons you will get to grips with. This will give you confidence and a whole range of lightbulb moments to help you begin creating your novel.

Then, you receive twelve months’ membership in my Storytellers Elite group. This is a supportive community based on hivemind learning and support, including monthly group sessions and one-to-one sessions, writing challenges, feedback and writing sprint sessions, all with the aim of keeping you focused on making progress with your project.

How to have more time to write

I don’t have time to exercise. I’m far too busy running the business, taking care of the household stuff, and all the other things in life. I’d like to exercise more, of course. I know it would be good for me and it would help me gain that sylph-like figure I want. I just don’t have time. Life keeps getting in the way. Plus, I’m not naturally athletic. I don’t have what it takes. Genetics and all that.

Yep. Bulls**t.

The real reason I don’t exercise as much as I know I should is because I can’t be arsed. As a result, I’m not going to achieve a goddess physique any time soon.

Making time to write

When you really want something, you will make the time for it. Not One Day – it’ll be Today that writing becomes your priority. You don’t have to commit hours and hours all at once to it. But if you’re new to writing longer pieces, like a novel, you need to find time to hone your skills. It won’t happen overnight, but small bits of time writing all mount up.

When you choose to make writing your priority, I can help. I’ll teach you solid techniques for writing a great story without red-faced bootcamps or quick fixes. Instead, you’ll be motivated to make new writing habits that become part of your busy life.

Together, let’s make those habits easier, quicker, and more fun. I’d love to know about your ideas and support your dreams to write a novel. Get in touch and say hello – it’s the first step to you becoming an author!

Some people are born knowing they are a writer. Others follow suggestions made by friends and family to write more. Some fall into the job ‘by accident’, with an idea that dominates their thoughts until they express every last word. More confident writers attempt bigger projects that end up as articles, short stories and novels. However, just like any tale, there is a tragedy. Some of these creative minds never reach their potential. What holds them back from becoming a writer?

We’re all storytellers.

We seek connection with others by sharing our thoughts with others – to make them laugh, make them sympathise with us, or make them feel our outrage. We recount events with edited highlights which make our tales more entertaining, funny or memorable. If we can speak about these things, why not write them too? If ‘Writers Block’ does indeed exist, here it is, holding a potential writer back from exploring their skills. This fear is not of using an incorrect word, or dodgy spelling – that can only be considered for something actually written. Not writing is the first hurdle. Perhaps it’s the fear that they won’t do it well enough for someone else to connect with their story. This is also common to new writers, who keep their early works hidden away from judgemental eyes.

Perhaps the main differentiator between a writer and non-writer is the action of writing itself. The former unleashes their words onto a page or screen, and the latter keeps those words locked up in their imaginations. Without writing, they may think like a writer, but they can’t call themselves one. Yet.

To be a writer, one must write. Instead of a spoken conversation, it can be likened to a written account of a story – words that convey a story to a reader.

Dream of being a writer?

If you are new to writing, position yourself as a hero, just like any would-be hero of a story. A hero’s path is never straightforward, but they rise to the challenges. Before a hero can reach greatness, there are villains to defeat and problems to solve. Remember that the fear of committing words to form your first story is one of these challenges, but one you can overcome.

Also understand that you won’t get it right the first time – or the second, or even the third – because you are learning a new skill. Just like riding a bike, there’s a few grazed knees before we find balance. Experienced writers take lots of attempts to get story ideas out of their head, into some kind of order. Crossing out, re-writing, killing off characters and introducing new ones for the reader to root for. Follow the same route and your story grows, along with your writing skills. 

And your story? It can be anything you like. Inspiration can strike when you’re watching tv, or chatting with friends, or washing the dishes, or walking the dog. Since ideas can pop up at any moment, the vast array of story plots can be overwhelming – which one should you choose? Just choose one to start. Make a note of that idea, however crazy or outlandish, or seemingly ill formed. Then sit at your desk and explore that idea more. Begin by putting words together which expand on your story. Keep at it and the story unfolds, word counts rack up… and now you’re a writer!

Of course, you might find that your story has new problems. Holes in the plot, or its characters need different personalities, or scenes need a more dramatic ending. But that gives you something else to work with – heroes always find a way through, don’t they? As a writer, you’re moving forward. Aim for progress, not perfection – now you’re learning to write well. Even the most admired authors began their career in the same way.

If you want to develop your story idea into your first short story, you’ll be interested in my online course. In it, I teach the fundamentals of keeping the action building in your story to engage your reader.

My course is delivered in three easy stages which offers practical advice on getting ideas out of your head into words on a page. It can save you when you lose the story thread, or run out of steam, too.

So – to be a writer, you must write.

To write a story, you have to start putting words down which tell a story. And you can learn to tell a story well, if you practise. That’s the secret to becoming an author. Time invested in writing is a gift that helps you become a better writer. What is stopping you from picking up a pen today?