Category Archives: writer

📝 10 Things That Helped Me Revise My Draft Novel

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On Friday, I finished revising my latest draft novel. I think this novel has added a few more grey hairs and definitely a new wrinkle or two. I have now sent it to someone important (will tell you more in September – high-pitched squeal), and I can start writing my next book, which is desperate to get my attention.

I wanted to document the things that have helped me get through the revision of my draft novel, because it hasn’t been easy and I need some sympathy….

This book was planned out last year, and I wrote a messy short first draft last year. I rewrote it in April and May. So, the revision I have just done is the third draft.

  1. Feedback. I used a professional novel critique service (Elspells), which is one I have used before. There was a cost, but I trust Ellie, and even though her feedback was painful at times, I know she wants to see my draft novel improve and be the best version it can be.
  2. Post Feedback Emotional Breakdown. This was needed. I had to grieve for the old version of my draft novel, and I had to say goodbye to a character and a few storylines. For this, I needed a box of tissues, chocolate and my dog to hug me.
  3. Pocket Notebook. I found that new ideas for my revision didn’t come to me when I was sitting at my desk. They arrived while I was on the train, the bus or in the car. They appeared in the supermarket or shopping for clothes, and at the coffee machine at work. Carrying this notebook around with me has been useful.
  4. Shelved Novels. I have written 12 complete novels, and I have 6 half-finished, shelved novels. Only 5 of the 12 have been published, so I have a lot of characters, plots, and settings that didn’t work the first time but could be extracted and used in this new book. So, I went on a scavenger hunt through my old files.
  5. Junk Journalling. When I wasn’t writing, I was junk journalling, and this has proved useful as it is a great stress reliever for me. I think my brain needs a few creative outlets to work on. There is something magical about sitting down with glue, journal material, stickers, scraps of junk, and a blank journal.
  6. Kitchen dancing. Dancing whilst revising is a must. The kitchen at night became my dance floor, and let me tell you – I got creative with my arms and legs! A clap combined with a high leg kick is good for writer’s block. Just be careful you have no hot pans on the stove.
  7. Painful changes first. I worked on the painful modifications first. It was tough.
  8. Spreadsheet. I set up a revision spreadsheet, listed all my changes and ticked them off as I went.
  9. Red lipstick. I wore red lipstick as I made the big changes, like removing characters. It’s a power move.
  10. Read a different genre. I switched to non-fiction books while I was revising. I find that if you read the same genre you will find the book you are reading appearing on the page.

Revising your draft novel is tough, and it is a long, dark tunnel but you must keep moving.

Never lose hope and keep writing.

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💔 10 Things Not To Say To A Romance Author Writing a Breakup

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I am currently crafting the emotional wrecking ball part of my draft romance novel – the breakup 💔

It’s a tense and my emotions are all over the place.

This is not the time for witty comments from loved ones who have never written or read a romance novel in their life.

Here are some things not to say to a romance author writing a breakup:

  1. “Can’t you just let them stay friends?”
  2. “Didn’t you write a break-up in your last book?”
  3. “Can’t they break up via text?”
  4. “Didn’t they just get together two chapters ago?”
  5. “Is he based on me?”
  6. “is this based on us?”
  7. “You seem really into this – should I be worried?”
  8. “Why are you crying over something that is made up?”
  9. “I thought romance books were supposed to be fun?“
  10. “You know it is not real – don’t you?”

I am going to carry on writing the heartbreak 💔

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📚 10 Lessons I Learnt With 5 Published Books

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Back in 2017, I decided to write my first full-length romance novel. Before this, I had written a dodgy space rom-com and a romance series, which was written via thirty-four weekly blog posts, called The Diary of Roxy Collins. One day I must turn her into a book.

The thought of being published back then felt like a pipe dream. It was something that happened to other people, not to someone like me.

After much daydreaming and procrastination, I had to set aside the dream of being published and focus on learning how to write a romance novel. This book would become “Instructions for Falling in Love Again.”

My first book was published in 2023 with Bloodhound books.

Here I am today, with five published books behind me, and I am ready to share the lessons I have learnt.

  1. Every book teaches you something different. It could be plot, character, setting or something about yourself. Book ideas don’t always come to you because they are meant to be turned into books. Most ideas come to teach you something.
  2. Every book will break you in some way. It’s true. They will either break you emotionally or mentally. At some point you will want to lie down by your desk, curl up in a ball and weep. Every book of mine has done this to me. Some break me at first draft stage, some second draft however most break me when I have to make harsh changes like deleting characters, large chunks of my plot and my book no longer feels like the one I first wrote.
  3. Editors are wonderful people. They are the unsung heroes of the book world,
  4. A book is never finished. I still think about my 5 books and what I would do to improve them.
  5. Promoting books never gets easier. To be an author you have to find new ways of promoting your book and you will have to be okay when your carefully crafted social media posts don’t perform.
  6. Reading is your rocket fuel. If you can’t write – read!
  7. Writer’s block is more likely to be due to tiredness/exhaustion/stress/burnout. Always try resting or taking a break first before you try and alleviate your writer’s block.
  8. Honest beta readers are invaluable. If you can find honest beta readers you are onto something good.
  9. Rejection never goes away. This is true. Rejection still happens even when you are an established author.
  10. Conflict. It’s all about the conflict. This is the secret sauce for any book. If you want to write a good book – add a good spoonful of conflict,

And I still feel like a beginner when it comes to writing a book 🤣

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📝 10 Things Not to Say to a Writer When They’re Editing

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Editing – that magical time when a writer transforms their messy, overcaffeinated draft into something extraordinary.

It is not for the faint-hearted. A writer will journey to hell and back during a book edit.

Please treat your writer with care as they are performing a miracle and don’t say any of the below. I have added my thoughts alongside each one.

  • “You’re still working on that book?” – if you want to be really annoying place emphasis on the word ‘still’ and combine this with a look of concern.
  • “How long can it take to fix a few typos?” – the person who says this knows nothing about editing and deserves to have a cushion thrown at them.
  • “Didn’t you already write this?” – this deserves another cushion to be chucked in their direction.
  • “Can I read it?” – definitely not!
  • “It can’t be that bad.” – For top tier annoyance – follow this up with – “When I eventually write my book I will get it right first time.” Make sure you have been threatening to write a book for years but never got round to doing it.
  • “You don’t need to do all this editing. You’re being dramatic.” One of my favs. Usually spoken by someone who knows 0 about writing / editing.
  • “Tell me again what your book is about? – No!
  • “Why don’t you just write one draft?” – because we like to cause ourselves pain!
  • “Just make it up.’ No comment.
  • “I thought you said you would take three months to write and edit it?” The only response to this is to laugh hysterically.

Editing is hard and it requires a different skill to writing. You also need to be tough enough to delete the bits you think are good which are usually naff.

Be nice to your writer during their editing stage.

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📚 The Lies I Am Telling Myself About My Recent Notebook Purchases

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My lifelong notebook addiction is over, readers (Lie 1 🤣). I thought I’d pop in here and tell you that I won’t be buying any new notebooks from now on (Lie 2).

I have purchased two new leather notebooks. One pocket-sized, which can go in my handbag, and one A5-sized, which will be my writing notebook. As these notebooks contain refills and they also allow me to insert other refills, I won’t need to buy any new notebooks.

Ignore my judgy Harris – the brass hare, in the photo. Harris knows nothing about my notebook addiction.

These notebooks whispered to me, ‘You’re the kind of woman who writes important thoughts.’

With these beautiful notebooks I won’t have that worry about spoiling them. I mean, I have had them a week or so, and both are still empty, but the ideas will soon start flooding, and they will be well used in no time (Lie 3).

I don’t need lots of notebooks in life. I can work on 2 maximum. (Lie 4).

Up until now buying a new notebook has been my go-to response at the sign of a life problem. Whenever my life has chucked a curve ball at me I will pop out and buy a notebook, These new notebooks will stop this. (Lie 5)

Big ideas are coming, readers. My new notebooks and I are ready for them.

I can’t wait to update you all on….my failed attempts at not buying anymore new notebooks 🤣

Harris the brass hare needs to stop giving me judgy looks as I sit here and stroke my new notebooks.

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😳 Sliding Door Moments: How To Nail Alternate Reality Plots

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Have you ever wondered what would have happened if… You had turned down that job, stayed with that love interest, gone travelling instead of going to university, or taken a different life path?

Would you love to glimpse at what I refer to as the road not taken?

I am reflecting on the crossroads in my life and the roads I didn’t take;

What would have happened if, at seventeen, I had stayed with the handsome lifeguard who was great to look at but didn’t talk much? When he did talk (not that often) it was one maybe two word type answers. I couldn’t cope with the lengthy silences…

What would have happened if I had not gone to university and remained a till girl in the teenage clothing department of C&A?

What would have happened if I had self published my first ever novel – a space romcom which defied the laws of science but was like – Bridget Jones in space – and I had become famous because of it? Plus the famous scene where they are doing saucy things whilst passing by the rings of Saturn would be like a legendary film clip.

My mind is boggling.

There are lots of good examples of alternate reality stories. In one of my favourite books, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Nora steps into a library filled with books representing different versions of her life. She gets to glimpse at the roads she didn’t take in life. In the film Sliding Doors, Gwyneth Paltrow’s character misses or catches a train, leading to two different life outcomes.

I love how small moments can have a profound impact on your life; the text message you didn’t send, the bus or train you missed, the party invite you declined or the notebook you didn’t buy – the one which you would have taken to a writer conference and as you proudly waved it about you would have caught the eye of someone significant (my notebook addiction coming through here – sorry).

Can you imagine being able to see what would have happened if you had got on the bus or gone to the party?

Why do we love these types of stories? I suppose they tap into deeper emotions, such as regret and curiosity, and they make us ask whether there is such a thing as destiny? Or is everything down to chance?

Here are some things to consider when writing stories where the character gets to see an alternate reality:

  • What lesson is the alternate reality TEACHING your character? It’s not about how things could have been; it is about what the character needed to LEARN.
  • Think about why your story needs alternate realities. It is a tool and it must be used to explore a character’s inner journey. It’s not just a gimmick.
  • Think about what your character will think by the end? How has it changed them?
  • Don’t go alternate reality crazy. Limit the number.

Good Luck …

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🪞 Writing About Magical Mirrors

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Mondays have become a lot more interesting for me now that I can share my writerly thoughts on cool topics like time loops, curses (future posts), and now, magical mirrors.

I need a magical mirror in my house. One that guarantees me a reflection where I look 10 years younger and two stone lighter – ha! Waking up and gazing at my reflection would be such a wonderful experience. There would be no more groans, sighs, counting of new wrinkles, grey hair spotting, gasps or screams (when I am in my allergy season).

Let’s talk about magical mirrors and adding them to your stories.

Mirrors can bring tension, symbolism and wonder to your tale. With a sprinkling of creative magic you can do all sorts of fun things using your magical mirror. It can distort reality, explore a mysterious part of the person gazing into it, reveal hidden truths or act as a doorway to another world.

If you looking at add a magical mirror here are some things to think about:

  • Decide the mirror’s primary function is: is it a portal or a doorway to another world? Does it reveal hidden truths about a person’s character, or does it show something about the future?
  • Use it to explore interesting things: Shame or regret (oooooh!) or who I could have been? (Oh gosh!) Characters who are lying to themselves are so much fun to write. Use the mirror to show them things they don’t want to see or accept.
  • Cracked mirror fun: Let the mirror crack to signal the end of something or someone – gasp! For me, as a romance writer, it could signal the end of a relationship. Cracked mirrors are so unsettling as well so you will be building tension.
  • Shake things up a bit: Maybe it could show someone else? Or another place or time? This is a common theme amongst magic mirrors generally: mirrors don’t lie – well maybe your mirror could lie?

💖 Now I do love a spoonful of romance so here’s some considerations:

❤️ Does the mirror show a future love?

💔 Does it show a romantic betrayal (oh gosh!)

👰🏼 Does it show their wedding day but they are not marrying their love interest

🙈 A mirror that shows what your love interest dislikes about you (enjoy! 😜)

😱 It cracks to show the love is over

Get those magical mirrors in your stories 🪞

I am off to search for a magical mirror which makes me look like a supermodel – sigh!

I am going to add the link to a fascinating post from my friend Icy Sedgwick – called Spells & Scrying: Mirrors in Magic, Mythology & Folklore. The Mirror Superstitions section is fabulous!

⏰ Groundhog Day But Better: How to Craft Time Loops In Your Fiction

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I am a fan of books and films where characters get stuck in a time loop and are forced to relive the same moments.

My love of time loops probably stems from watching the movie Groundhog Day. I can still remember sitting on the sofa, shovelling popcorn into my mouth and watching that 1993 comedy with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It is a story of a man, Phil Connors, who lives the same day over and over again. Initially, he is a cynical and selfish weatherman, but by the end, after reliving the same day repeatedly, he begins to help and connect with others.

I love time loop stories because the characters get to learn from past mistakes, see the consequences of actions and immediately put that knowledge to good use.

Over the years I have read some great time loop stories:

  • The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. Every time Harry dies, he’s reborn into the same life.
  • Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. The character relives the day of her death over and over again until she can rewrite her legacy.
  • The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds. The character keeps reliving the moment his girlfriend dies.
  • In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren.
    Her character is stuck reliving the same Christmas holiday until she figures out what (and who) she really wants.

As I am in my speculative writing era, here are some things to think about if you are writing a time loop:

  • Time loops are not gimmicks. They are clever tools for character transformation. It took me a while to see this, but it is true. The time loop forces a character to change. The character isn’t in charge of the time loop and this is what makes it cool. The only control they have is their reaction to the loops and doing unpredictable things to find a way of breaking it. You need to think about what sort of transformation you want your character to have. Is the time loop a tool for helping your character process grief? Facing an emotional truth? Or fixing a broken relationship? Think about Groundhog Day and the transformation Phil Connors goes through.
  • Make the repetition feel fresh. There is a real danger with time loops that readers will get bored of the repeated moments. Don’t replay full scenes unless something significant changes.
  • Make your character relatable and interesting. The reader is going to go through a lot for this character.
  • The stages of your character accepting they are in a time loop and getting out of it. 1. repetition / confusion. 2. Fun experimentation. 3. Frustration. 4. A new hope. 5. Resolution.
  • Rules of the time loop are key. You need to establish these early on: when does the loop get reset (examples might include death, midnight, or a specific decision)? Who remembers the time loop? Is it just the main character, or are there others who also remember it?
  • It’s all about the exit strategy. How does your character break the loop? This is so important. To break the loop do they need to have learned something about themselves? Have they decided to change themselves? Or have they decided to forgive? This goes back to the purpose of the time loop and the transformation it is giving to your character.

As a romance author here’s some of my thoughts on how we can use time loops:

  • ❤️ Exploring -The One That Got Away.’ Fate gives your characters a second chance at a break up they never got over or a confession they need to have made. Love this!
  • 💔 To let someone go. Think lost love or processing grief, perhaps. Yes please and I will bring my box of tissues.
  • 🔥 Forced proximity. Trapped with your ex in a time loop – yikes! This has great potential and the stakes are high if enemies to lovers.
  • 🙈 Choosing the wrong person. The time loop forces them to see the error of their ways. Yes, yes, yes!

Enjoy writing your time loops.

Learn more about me here

🔮 Speculative Concepts and Themes

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I am obsessed with writing romance with a speculative twist. They are so much fun and a joy to write.

I have compiled a list of speculative concepts and themes that might be helpful for other writers considering similar projects. They may also prompt you to think of books you have read that incorporate these concepts or simply spark your imagination.

I only have to read the list below, and my fingers start to itch.

Time and Memory

  • Time loops. This is where a character relives the same day, date or event until emotional growth occurs.
  • Selective Memory Loss. This is where a character forgets a person, relationship, or a single emotion.
  • Memory sharing/transfer. This is where a character can touch an object/person and that lets them access someone else’s memories.
  • Reliving alternate outcomes. This is where you explore “what ifs” from past decisions.
  • Borrowed time. This is where a character is loaned moments from another’s life or timeline.

Parallel Lives and Multiverse

  • Split reality decisions. This is where you explore different reality outcomes. What would have happened if I had stayed or left?
  • Finding a portal to a version of life. This is where you find a portal to a life you have lived differently.

Magical Realism and Objects

  • Mirrors, clocks that replay parts of life.
  • Locked boxes or letters that open at the right point in life.
  • App generared relationships that change something about reality.

Romance Spec Themes

  • Second chance romance under impossible conditions
  • Chosen love versus destined love
  • Emotional amnesia and rediscovery
  • The love that waited.
  • Can you fall in love the same way twice?
  • Undoing a mistake

I have no idea where this era will take me. All I do know that I can only write what I enjoy and what excites me.

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💻 Let’s Start a New Blogging Chapter

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This little blog has been trying to get my attention for sometime. For months it has been tugging at my virtual coat tails. It is persistent, I will give it that, and it was not put off by my excuses: too busy, too tired, have not consumed enough sugar and need to wait for blogging inspiration . It didn’t care about those.

So, here I am at the start of a new blogging chapter.

What’s been happening in my creative life? I had five contemporary romance books published, and then… something beautiful (see below) came into my life and I wrote a funny and heartfelt romance novel with a speculative twist (enemies to lovers in the afterlife). It didn’t go anywhere, but it unlocked something inside me.

I got so much enjoyment from writing that book (I even enjoyed editing it) that I decided to write more of these sorts of romances. These are love stories where I add a sprinkle of fantastical, supernatural or futuristic subplots. In simple terms my new stories couldn’t exist in reality, as something about the world I have created is fundamentally different.

I have tried to get my writing brain to return to contemporary romance, but it refuses and keeps serving me these weird but delicious love stories. Writing has become a joy again, and I have found a part of me that I never knew existed. There’s something liberating and satisfying about this new journey.

I blame my new antique Gothic writing bureau. Isn’t she beautiful? My husband found her on a second-hand church furniture website.

She’s giving me strong female energy and has done so since she arrived in a van…during a thunderstorm. She is such a diva and I love how she made a dramatic entrance into my writing life.

Ever since she arrived, all these fabulous wild and wacky new love story ideas appeared in my brain. I can’t write the stuff I used to write. It’s as if she slammed the door shut to contemporary romance and yanked opened a new one.

So, if you have ever wondered where I am, I am sitting at my antique Gothic bureau writing love stories which combine my love of all things weird. I am also hiding secrets in all of her little drawers.

I do wonder whether my Gothic writing bureau is possessed and is channelling all sorts of weird stuff through me. If this is the case you need to remember this blog post 🤣

Oh, and I am going to start blogging about all things weird and wonderful. I am going to write about things that blow my creative mind: time slips, synchronicities, special gifts (not the type wrapped up in pretty paper and a bow) and the unexplained.

My Gothic writing bureau and I both say hello and thank you for reading.

Until next week 🙂

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