We all have our reasons for finding writing discipline challenging, often more than one. Maybe it’s the fear of writing badly, of being a failure; irregularities in mental health or simply spinning tales in the mind without wanting to ruin them on the page. Fortunately there are things we can do to soften the blow….
Author: janed
Choosing a Character’s Name
If there’s one certainty about characterisation, it’s that names don’t exist in isolation. It’s tempting to think: do they really matter all that much? After all, our parents chose our name simply because they liked it. Isn’t it enough to do the same with our characters? While this is true to an extent, fiction is not…
5 Dreamy Writing Prompts and Exercises
Dreams have always fascinated me. Why do we dream? Are they meaningful? Why do they form certain patterns? And how can we use them to tap further into our creativity? While I can’t answer these questions, I thought that writing some good old-fashioned prompts and exercises around this topic might help us gain further insight…
Anatomy of a Monstrous Antagonist
Archetypes in fiction are not always clean cut. For example, a villain is an antagonist but an antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be a villain. A monstrous antagonist like Frankenstein’s monster can be compassionate; or conversely inhumane like Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Today I’m going to focus on the latter. By delving into the anatomy of these…
5 Ways to Improve Your Grades as a Creative Writing Student
I hope I find you well! For those of you continuing with their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to share five tips I’ve learned over the course of the year to keep improving my grades during this difficult time. Concentration is challenging (I’m finding I’m reading sentences in module texts over and over;…
How Writing Can Help You Through COVID-19
Hi everyone, I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a few weeks! Normally when I talk about writing on janedoewrites.com, I’m referring to prose fiction. During the current circumstances however, any kind of ink on the paper counts, and I’m finding myself trying out new things. So whatever kind of creative writing interests you, whether that be fiction…
How to Get Fiction Inspiration From Your Family History
As I write this article I’m holding a hairdryer, trying to melt a block of frozen soup away from its non-microwavable container. I’m sure my ancestors had a better system, but then again they didn’t have freezers. Often unconscious of the fact that Caveman Joe, Erik the Beardless and Sophie Hairdryer Soup Queen are the…
5 Ways Writing Poetry Can Improve Your Prose Fiction
Part way through the film Chocolat, Judy Dench gives a poetry book to her estranged grandson. He reacts in the way many children (and adults) would. Says thank you with a glazed expression, wishing the present was a new puppy or the next Assassin’s Creed. His grandmother notices this of course, and replies ‘It’s not that kind…
The Breakfast Club Writing Routine
As I mentioned in my last post, my 2020 writing goals have fallen by the roadside; with cackling, smug weeds growing through the cracks! Although realising a while ago that simple routines are more effective, the amount of writing I’ve been expecting from myself this year has probably been too hot to handle. I sometimes…
A Personal 10 Step Reading Program to Improve Your Writing
Hello everyone! I hope 2020 is going well for you and that you’re managing to keep up with your writing goals (disclaimer: I’m not). The other day I was thinking about how certain novels have a big part to play in developing our writing, and wanted to share my personal list with you, including specific…