creative writing Archives

Author Jules Horne on How Writers Can Use Deliberate Practice to Build Skills and Confidence

I'm more of a pantser—someone who figures things out on the page rather than planning every move. But when I heard that Scottish author and writing coach Jules Horne had applied the concept of deliberate practice—something musicians and athletes have used for generations—to writing, I was intrigued. Her book, Deliberate Practice for Creative Writers, argues that focused, bite-sized exercises can help writers build their skills more efficiently than just grinding through another draft. In this Q&A, I ask her how it works, how she uses it herself, and how writers like me might apply it without giving up spontaneity.

What is Writing Rhythm?

Rhythm is an obvious element in poetry but it’s just as important in stories, novels, even essays. As timing is to the sportsman or comedian, so rhythm is to the writer. Today, Bill Kirton ALLi author member, examines writing rhythm across literature.

Self-Publishing Poetry Books: Why More Poets Need To Make More Digital Books and Chapbooks

If you're a poet, you should be self-publishing poetry books in multiple formats: ebooks, print on demand (POD) and audiobooks. Here's why.

September 2, 2019
Orna Ross
Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution
65 Comments

National Cozy Mystery Day

There are hundreds, possibly thousands of niche categories in publishing and understandably, we all love the genre we write in. But as hardened niche writers, it gets a little frustating when no one knows what you're talking about. Author member Sarah Weldon, has taken matters into her own hands and created a national Cozy Mystery day to celebrate the genre she's so proud of.

August 30, 2019
Sarah Weldon
Business & Planning, Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution
4 Comments

The Secret Diary of a Recovering Plotter

There are a handful of fundamental debates that cycle through the writing community: indie vs trad, wide vs exclusive and plotter vs pantser. Some of these debates have obvious answers, others less so. Where writers may flip between indie and trad or wide and exclusive depending on where their business model sits, there's less movement in our methods of creating the stories themselves. Writers tend to fall somewhere on the spectrum of plotter or pantser and sit there. But ALLi blog manager Sacha Black tells a different story.

Writing: How Indie Authors Can Use Their Creative Writing Skills to Build an Extra Income Stream through Copywriting to Supplement Sales from Self-published Books

Ever wondered about ways to boost your writing income to supplement what you earn from your self-published books? Read Jules Horne's advice about why freelance copywriting could be just what you're looking for.

Writing: Setting Good Creative Habits from Orna Ross’s Go Creative! Show

Once a month Orna Ross’s Go Creative! Show focuses on Creative Writing, and this week Orna and Dan Blank talked about how you can Set Good Creative Habits.