Using Solo Role-Playing Games as Writing Inspiration

Last year I decided to do something different for NaNoWriMo and I can't stop using this technique whenever I'm stuck with my writing. I always wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo but never had the right idea at the right time. As chance would have it I discovered A Thousand Year Old Vampire by Tim Hutchings....

Yes, but – The Easiest Storytelling Formula to transform your writing

Spoiler warning: This article analyzes the narrative of the first season of Bridgerton. I didn’t expect much when I started watching Bridgerton. But I was surprised by the storytelling, especially since it relies on a simple but very effective formula which I call the “yes, but”. Although, I must admit that I didn't read the...

ChatGPT vs. Submission Grinder – What’s the better tool for your magazine submissions?

Back in 2020, I was discouraged by getting rejections from literary magazines. I never knew why. Was it because my cover letter was off? Did I not read the submission guidelines properly? Was it because I thought my writing didn't fit the journal after all? There was no way of knowing because most literary magazines...

From Standalone to a Series – What Could go Wrong?

What could go wrong when extending a finished (even published) standalone into a series? Basically, everything if you continue without giving it much thought, and by much I mean a lot.  If you didn't originally plan on creating a series of books and planted various hints for the future narrative I'd suggest you leave your...

Instagram For Writers: How to Create a Great Feed

Instagram is a very visual platform. A good feed is all about symmetry, color schemes, and aesthetics. No wonder the platform is home to so many beauty and fashion influencers. But writers and bookstagramers have also been claiming their space on Instagram. The Basics I've seen many authors on the platform simply posting random photos...

Project Update #2

Hello there, it's been a while. I could blame the pandemic for my lack of productivity but I'll spare you the whining. I'm sure everyone has been going through some stuff. The good news is that I'm back to writing. I wouldn't have thought that in-person meetings were such a big factor for my creative...

How To Stay Creative

Ever since COVID-19 started it has been difficult to concentrate on writing. Other things than the lives of fictional characters or upbeat blog posts occupied my mind. Fueled by the uncertainty of others, negativity on social media, and increased workloads, creativity did no longer just flow out of me. It had to be tapped in...

Why You Shouldn’t be a Writer

When I was little, one of the many things I wanted to be when I grew up was a writer. Then life did what life does and I wandered in one direction and many others but writing stayed at my side. Always near me, hiding in many various forms. The funny thing is, I was...

The Rejection Loop – Optimizing the Submission Process

Submitting your work to literary journals feels like talking to the gods sometimes. You read the stories the magazine publishes, you check the guidelines, you follow them thoroughly, you edit your story to fit and then you submit it to the editor gods. You wait and then you wait some more. Constantly hoping that tomorrow...

How to Write the Perfect Novel

In my last book club session we discussed "A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine which won this year's Hugo Award for best novel. To my surprise, the sentiment of the group was less positive than I had expected. Some of the people in our group were disappointed and criticized the novel for having plot...