The Author’s Gauntlet: 10 Writing Hurdles and How to Smash Them

Writing a novel is a major undertaking that can take months or even years of dedicated effort. Along the way, almost every author hits a wall that feels impossible to climb.

Here are ten of the most common difficulties with writing a novel and practical ways to move past them.

1. Managing Motivation It is easy to get stuck in a rut when you feel like you aren't making progress. Instead of looking at the whole mountain, try setting small, achievable goals for each session. Rewarding yourself for hitting these milestones can help keep the momentum going.

2. Breaking Through Writer's Block This usually happens when you are trying to edit while you write. To get through it, try taking a break to clear your head. Write down any ideas that come to mind, even the ones that seem unrelated to your story. Often, just getting some words on the page is enough to jumpstart your creativity.

3. Overcoming Procrastination It is tempting to put off writing when you are distracted by other tasks. The best fix is to set aside a specific time each day for writing and treat it like an appointment you can’t break. If you prepare your notes beforehand, you’ll have fewer excuses to stop once you start.

4. The Perfectionism Trap While striving for excellence is important, it can be harmful if it prevents you from moving forward. If you find yourself revising the same few pages over and over, give yourself a deadline to finish the chapter and move on. You can always refine the prose during the editing phase; for now, the goal is to finish the draft.

5. Handling the Fear of Judgment Worrying about what people will think can be paralyzing for an author. It helps to remember that you are writing for yourself first. Not every reader will connect with your work, and that is perfectly normal. Focus on satisfying your own creative vision.

6. Navigating Unfamiliar Genres Writing in a genre you don't know well can make the story feel inconsistent. The best way to overcome this is to read extensively in that field. Pay attention to the themes and tropes that define the genre so you can use them effectively in your own work.

7. Fixing an Unclear Plot It is hard to finish a story if you aren't sure where it is going. If you feel lost, try creating a high-level outline to map out your story arc. Scrivener is particularly helpful for this because it lets you view your research and plot notes side-by-side with your manuscript, making it much easier to stay organized.

8. Crafting a Satisfying Ending Many authors struggle to tie everything together in a way that feels right. To avoid a confusing finish, ensure the ending follows the logical progression of the characters' choices. A good ending should feel like the natural result of everything that came before it.

9. Filtering Too Many Ideas Having an abundance of ideas can be overwhelming and make it hard to focus. Try writing down every idea you have, then narrow them down to the one that is most essential to your current project. Save the others in a separate file for your next book.

10. Strengthening Character Development If your characters feel flat, your readers will have a hard time staying engaged. Spend some time writing down backstories, motivations, and personality traits for your main cast. When you understand your characters deeply, they will start to drive the story themselves.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

9 Ways to Write a Killer Sequel (Without Ruining the First Book)

Writing a sequel is often harder than writing the first book. You have the pressure of expectations and the difficulty of keeping the story fresh without repetitive plot points.

Whether you are plotting the second book of a trilogy or extending a standalone novel, these nine tips will help you expand your world without losing what made the first book special.

1. Create a "Series Bible" first Before you write a single word of the new draft, you need to organize your facts. You cannot rely on your memory of the first book. You need a dedicated document that lists every character's eye color, every location rule, and every timeline event from book one.

If you made a promise or set up a rule in the first book, you must stick to it here. Readers will notice if a character's backstory changes. If you are struggling to keep track of it all, tools like Scrivener are industry standard for a reason—they let you keep your research side-by-side with your draft.

2. Break your characters In the first book, your protagonist likely overcame a major flaw. In the sequel, you cannot just reset them to who they were at the start. You must explore the consequences of that victory. How has the trauma of the first book changed them? Are they more cynical? Are they overconfident? A sequel should test the new version of your hero.

3. Avoid the "Rehash" Trap A common mistake is simply repeating the plot of the first book with a bigger villain. This feels cheap. Instead of doing the same thing again, try to flip the genre or the goal. If the first book was about "getting the team together," make the second book about "the team falling apart." Give them a completely new type of problem to solve.

4. Deepen the themes If your first book was about "Loyalty," your sequel should challenge that theme. Show the dark side of loyalty. Show what happens when loyalty is betrayed. You don't need to invent brand new themes, but you should look at the original themes from a more complex angle.

5. Raise the personal stakes "Saving the world" is actually a boring stake because it is too big to visualize. To create suspense, you need to threaten something personal. Threaten the protagonist's relationship, their reputation, or their home base. The audience cares more about the character losing their best friend than they do about the character losing a generic war.

6. Plant seeds for the future If you are writing a trilogy, the second book is the bridge. You should use this story to drop hints and clues that won't pay off until book three. This rewards your loyal readers. When they get to the finale, they will look back at this book and realize you planned it all along.

7. Stuck? Use the "What If" Engine The middle book is often where writers hit the dreaded "Sagging Middle." This is where you need to throw a wrench in the gears. If you are staring at a blank page, try using a brainstorming tool like Sudowrite. You can feed it your current scene and ask it to generate five different plot twists. You don't have to use them, but they will almost always unstick your brain.

8. Expand the world We have already seen the locations from book one. Use the sequel to take us somewhere new. If the first book was set in the city, go to the wastelands. If it was set in the palace, go to the slums. Exploring new corners of your world keeps the sense of discovery alive.

9. The Polish Matters More Now In a first novel, readers might forgive a few clunky sentences if the story is good. In a sequel, they expect you to have leveled up. Before you publish, you need to ruthlessly edit your prose. I recommend running your manuscript through ProWritingAid to catch repetitive sentence structures and "glue words" that human eyes often miss.

Writing a sequel is a balancing act between the old and the new. If you focus on deepening your characters and challenging them in new ways, you will write a book that stands on its own.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

9 Tips on Writing a Multi-perspective Novel

 

Writing a multi-perspective novel can be a daunting task for any writer. It requires the ability to craft multiple characters and stories that are interwoven in a way that readers will find interesting and engaging. But if done right, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both the author and the reader. Here are nine tips on how to write a multi-perspective novel with detailed descriptions.

 

1. Start by sketching out the overall plot: Before you dive into writing the novel, take some time to sketch out a rough outline of the overall plot. This will help you visualize how each character’s story fits into the larger narrative, as well as how to transition between different perspectives.

 

2. Flesh out each character: Once you have an idea of the overall plot, focus on developing each character in detail. Think about their backgrounds, motivations, values, and conflicts. It’s important to make sure that each character is distinct, so that the reader can tell them apart and empathize with them.

 

3. Establish an interconnection between the characters: Think about how each character’s story affects the other characters’ stories. It’s important that there is an interconnection between them, as this will help keep readers engaged in the story.

 

4. Write from each character’s point of view: When it comes time to write, try to stay in each character’s point of view for as long as possible. This will help bring out their unique perspectives and make the story more engaging for readers.

 

5. Incorporate dialogue: Dialogue can be a great way to add depth to characters, as well as create tension between them. Try to use it often throughout the novel to give readers a better understanding of each character.

 

6. Make sure the transitions are smooth: When transitioning between characters, make sure it’s done in a way that is natural and doesn’t disrupt the flow of the story. A sudden jump between perspectives can be jarring and can break readers’ immersion in the novel.

 

7. Include detailed descriptions: Detailed descriptions are important in any novel, but they are especially important in multi-perspective novels. Make sure you describe each character, setting, and event in detail, as this will help readers better visualize what’s happening in the story.

 

8. Use symbolism: Symbols are a great way to connect different perspectives and add depth to your story. For example, if two characters are connected through a particular object, you can use it as a symbol throughout the novel to show their relationship.

 

9. Give your readers closure: End each character’s story with closure, so that readers don’t feel like their journey with that character was incomplete. This will help give readers a sense of satisfaction at the end of the novel.

 

Writing a multi-perspective novel can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding if done right. By following these nine tips, you can craft an engaging and immersive story that will captivate readers from start to finish.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

9 Character Building Tips for Authors

 

Creating well-developed characters is one of the keys to writing a great novel. A strong and memorable character can capture a reader's attention, drive the plot forward, and even inspire readers to take action in their own lives. In this post, we'll explore nine character exercises to help you improve your characters and make them more compelling.

1.         Create Character Bios

A character bio is a detailed background story that helps you understand your character's motivations, personality, and backstory. When creating a character bio, you should consider the character's history, family life, relationships, and even their likes and dislikes. This will help you create a character that is fully fleshed out and believable.

2.         Use Character Worksheets

A character worksheet is a tool that helps you organize information about your character. Worksheets can include details such as physical attributes, personality traits, and backstory. Using a worksheet can help you stay organized and make sure you've covered all the essential information about your character.

3.         Give Characters Flaws and Strengths

Flaws and strengths are essential components of a well-developed character. Flaws can make a character more relatable and realistic, while strengths can make them more heroic or admirable. When creating your characters, make sure to give them both flaws and strengths that make them unique and interesting.

4.         Consider Your Character's Voice

A character's voice is their unique way of speaking and thinking. When creating your characters, consider their education level, background, and personality. These factors will influence the way they speak and think, and can help you create a character with a distinct voice.

5.         Develop Relationships Between Characters

The relationships between characters are crucial to a novel's plot and can add depth to your characters. Consider how your characters interact with each other and how their relationships change over the course of the story. This can help you create more well-rounded and believable characters.

6.         Use Character Arcs

A character arc is the journey that a character takes over the course of the story. A well-developed character arc can add depth to your character and create a more engaging story. Consider how your character will change and grow throughout the story, and make sure that their actions are consistent with their character arc.

7.         Consider Your Character's Goals

A character's goals are what drives them and gives them a purpose in the story. When creating your characters, consider what their goals are and how they will achieve them. This can help you create a more engaging story and make your characters more interesting.

8.         Give Characters Unique Personalities

A character's personality is what sets them apart from other characters in the story. When creating your characters, consider their likes and dislikes, their sense of humor, and their temperament. This can help you create more unique and interesting characters.

9.         Use Character Dialogue

Dialogue is a powerful tool for developing your characters. When writing dialogue, consider how your character speaks and what they say. This can help you create a more distinct voice for your character and make them more memorable.

In conclusion, creating well-developed characters is essential to writing a great novel. By using these nine character exercises, you can create more complex, interesting, and memorable characters that will capture your reader's attention and drive your story forward. With time and practice, you can use these exercises to create characters that are unique, relatable, and unforgettable.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Nine Ways to Improve Worldbuilding for Authors

 

Worldbuilding is an essential element of crafting novel fiction. It is the process of creating an imaginary world that is distinct, believable, and engaging. It is the foundation of any good story, and its importance cannot be overstated. To help you create an amazing world for your novel, here are nine ways to write and improve worldbuilding with detailed descriptions.

 

1. Establish a setting – The first step in worldbuilding is establishing a setting. This includes developing an idea of the terrain, geography, and climate of the world. Describe the landforms, rivers, mountains, deserts, and other features in detail. Consider the flora and fauna of the land and how they interact with each other and their environment.

 

2. Create a timeline – To create a believable world, it is important to establish a timeline. This will help you determine the history of the world you are building and how it affects its current state. Consider the events that have taken place in the past, how they have shaped the culture, and how those events have impacted the people living in the present.

 

3. Develop characters – Characters are the heart of any story, so it is important to develop them in detail. Think about their backgrounds, motivations, beliefs, and goals. How do their experiences shape their world view? How does their culture affect their decisions?

 

4. Establish a government – Governments play a major role in any society and help to shape its laws, economy, and culture. Think about the structure of the government and its impact on the people living in it. How does it affect their day-to-day lives?

 

5. Develop a language – Language is an important aspect of any culture, so it’s important to create a unique language for your world. Think about the sounds of the language, its grammar and syntax, and how it conveys meaning.

 

6. Create a history – Every society has a unique history that shapes its current state. Think about the major events that have taken place in your world’s history and how they have impacted its people. Consider how different cultures interact with each other and how they have changed over time.

 

7. Develop a religion – Religion plays a major role in any society, so it’s important to develop one for your world. Think about the beliefs of your religion and how they shape the culture of your world. How do they affect the laws and government?

 

8. Establish customs and traditions – Every society has unique customs and traditions that help shape its culture. Consider rituals, holidays, marriage ceremonies, burial rites, and other traditions that are important to your people.

 

9. Describe everyday life – To make your world feel real, you need to describe everyday life in detail. Think about how people dress, where they live, what they do for work, how they interact with each other, and other aspects of their daily lives.

 

By following these nine steps to improve worldbuilding with detailed descriptions, you can create an immersive and believable world for your novel. With enough creativity and effort, you can create an amazing place for your characters to explore and grow. 

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

10 Pro Tips for Writing Sharp, Realistic Dialogue

 

Dialogue is the heartbeat of a novel. It is the fastest way to show who a character is without relying on long blocks of description. If your dialogue feels stiff or "written," your readers will put the book down.

Here are ten ways to sharpen your dialogue and make your characters sound like real people.

1. Read Your Dialogue Aloud This is the most effective way to find "clunky" writing. If you find yourself tripping over a sentence or running out of breath, your readers will too. Reading aloud helps you identify awkward phrasing that looks okay on paper but sounds unnatural in a conversation.

2. Lean on Contractions Real people rarely say "I do not know" or "We are going to the store." They say "I don't know" and "We're going." Using contractions makes your dialogue feel conversational and authentic rather than formal and robotic.

3. Apply the "Mutant Gene" to Clichés Clichés are the death of originality. Instead of using a common phrase, look for a "lateral" way to express the same feeling. If a character is angry, don't just have them yell; have them say something unexpected that only someone with their specific background would say.

4. Use a Dialogue Checker It is hard to keep track of every character's unique voice across a 90,000-word manuscript. This is where technology helps. I recommend using the dialogue reports in ProWritingAid to scan for repetitive sentence structures or "glue words" that slow down your pacing. It helps ensure your characters don't all sound like the same person.

5. Keep It Short In real life, people rarely give long-winded speeches unless they are politicians or villains. Keep your dialogue concise. If a character needs to say something long, break it up with "beats"—actions like pouring a drink or looking out a window—to keep the scene moving.

6. Master the Art of Subtext Characters should rarely say exactly what they are thinking. If two people are arguing about a burnt dinner, they are usually actually arguing about their failing marriage. Allowing the reader to infer the "hidden" meaning beneath the surface creates much more tension than being direct.

7. Show, Don't Tell Instead of having a character say "I am very sad," show their sadness through how they speak. Maybe they stop using contractions, or they start giving one-word answers. Use the dialogue to reveal the emotion rather than labeling it.

8. Brainstorm Better Hooks If a conversation feels boring, it is usually because the "spark" is missing. When I hit a wall with a scene, I use Sudowrite to brainstorm five different ways a character might react to a prompt. You don't have to use the AI's words, but it often gives you a "lateral injection" of an idea you never would have thought of on your own.

9. Eavesdrop on Reality Go to a coffee shop and just listen. Pay attention to how people interrupt each other, how they leave sentences unfinished, and how often they talk over one another. These "messy" real-world habits are what make fictional dialogue feel alive.

10. Let the Dialogue Evolve Your characters are not the same people on page 200 as they were on page 1. As your story progresses and the stakes get higher, the way your characters speak should reflect that change. If a character was shy at the start, they should speak with more authority by the finale.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

9 Secrets to Crafting Authentic Relationships in Your Novel

 

When it comes to writing novels, intimacy is a necessary component for creating believable relationships between characters and making readers feel invested in the story. Intimacy in a novel can be conveyed through physical or emotional connections between characters, as well as through detailed descriptions of moments of intimacy. Here are nine ways to write and improve intimacy in novels with detailed descriptions.

 1. Make use of sensory details

When writing scenes of intimacy, it’s crucial to evoke a sense of physical presence. Sensory details like sound, smell, sight, and taste can help readers experience the emotions of a moment. For example, describing the soft texture of a character’s skin or the warmth of their breath on another’s neck can help readers to really feel what’s happening between them.

 2. Show, don’t tell

Rather than simply stating that characters are feeling connected or intimate with one another, show it through their interactions and behavior. For example, instead of saying “they were in love,” use dialogue and body language to portray how they feel about each other.

 3. Use metaphors

Metaphors can be used to illustrate the depth of a connection between two characters. For example, a character may look at another and see the sun setting in their eyes or feel like the ocean when they are in their embrace.

 4. Describe physical contact in detail

When writing intimate scenes, it’s important to go beyond simply saying that characters are “hugging” or “kissing.” Describe the physical contact between them in detail, such as the pressure of a hug, the warmth of their lips, and the way they move together.

 5. Show emotions

It’s not enough to just explain what’s happening between two characters; you also need to show how they feel about each other. Show the emotions they experience by describing their facial expressions, body language, and inner thoughts.

 6. Describe the atmosphere

The atmosphere surrounding a moment of intimacy can be just as important as the physical contact taking place. Describe the lighting, the music playing in the background, and any other details that will make the scene feel real.

 7. Give characters space to react

Allow characters time to react to intimate moments and to process their emotions before moving on in the story. Showing how characters react to an intimate moment can help readers understand how meaningful it is for them.

 8. Use dialogue

Dialogue can be used to communicate deeper levels of emotion than description alone. For example, a character may say something sweet or meaningful to their partner during an intimate moment that helps to illustrate their connection.

 9. Show vulnerability

Intimate moments often involve a certain level of vulnerability, and showing this can help readers understand why a character would open themselves up to another person. Showing vulnerability can also make a relationship feel more real and help readers relate to it more deeply.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Tips on Plot Development for a Novel

 

How to Plot a Novel 

Writing a novel is a daunting task. It requires a lot of planning and hard work, and it can be difficult to know where to start. But it doesn’t have to be so hard. With the right approach and tools, you can easily plot out your novel and get started on turning your creative vision into a reality. Here are ten ways to plot your novel:

 1. Outlining: Outlining is a great way to plot your novel. Create an outline of the main plot points, characters and settings that you want to include in your story. Make sure to include all the major plot points that you want the reader to experience.

 2. Brainstorming: Brainstorming is an effective way to come up with ideas for your novel. Take some time to sit down and think about your characters, plot points, and settings. Write down all the ideas that come to mind, and use them as a jumping off point for creating your outline.

 3. Character Profiles: Create profiles for each of your characters. This will help you to better understand who they are, what motivates them, and how they will interact with other characters in the story.

 4. Scrivener: Scrivener is a great tool for plotting out your novel. It allows you to easily organize your notes, outlines, and drafts in one easy-to-navigate program.

 5. Storyboards: Storyboards are great for visualizing your story. Start by sketching out a basic outline of the plot, then add details as you go along. This is a great way to get an overview of your plot before getting into the finer details.

 6. Plot Diagrams: Plot diagrams are a great way to make sure that all of your plot points tie together in a logical way. Start by mapping out the beginning, middle, and end of your story, then link them together with major plot points.

 7. Scene Cards: Scene cards are great for keeping track of your scenes. Write down a few sentences describing each scene and its purpose, then order them in chronological order to create your plot.

 8. Timeline: Create a timeline for your story. This will help keep events in order and make sure that everything makes sense within the context of the plot.

 9. Three-Act Structure: The three-act structure is a great way to structure your story. Start by laying out the setup, conflict, and resolution of your novel in three distinct acts.

10. Writing Software: Writing software such as Scrivener or Final Draft can be invaluable tools when it comes to plotting out your novel. They provide features such as outlining, character profiles, scene cards, and more that make it easy to plan out your novel before you start writing.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon