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Everything you need to know about NaNoWriMo in the UK

Finding motivation to write and others to write with can be a bit of a struggle in the UK, especially if you live outside of major towns and cities. While there are many writing groups online, nothing quite compares to NaNoWriMo. A worldwide writing challenge, NaNoWriMo is full of writers striving for a major goal: to write 50,000 words in a single month. Popular with novel writers, the challenge was initially set up to make a big start (or even to fully complete) a novel manuscript. Primarily based in the United States, NaNoWriMo is becoming more popular every year. So… Read More »Everything you need to know about NaNoWriMo in the UK

17 alternatives to NaNoWriMo to help you write more

National Novel Writing Month was a writing challenge, word tracker, and writing community all in one. While there are no alternatives to NaNoWriMo that encompass all three, I’ve put together a list of websites and ideas to help you write more. NaNoWriMo doesn’t work for everyone, whether because you simply don’t have to time or you’re not writing a novel. These alternatives will help you meet whatever writing goal you want to set for yourself. Never heard of NaNoWriMo? Check out everything you need to know about NaNoWriMo. 2024 update: I wrote this before safeguarding issues with NaNoWriMo were highlighted,… Read More »17 alternatives to NaNoWriMo to help you write more

What does a proofreader do in the self-publishing process?

Self-publishing a novel requires a lot of planning, money, and, let’s face it, stress. Taking on everything yourself isn’t impossible, but it isn’t for everyone either. Even once you know about the different stages in the self-publishing process, more questions come up… like what does a proofreader do? Proofreading is one of the final steps when self-publishing a novel, and finding the best proofreader for the job can be overwhelming. Especially when you have to look at so many other publishing services too. Knowing how proofreading fits into the self-publishing process, what it entails, and how to find a proofreader… Read More »What does a proofreader do in the self-publishing process?

Horror writing prompts

Are you looking for inspiration for your next horror story? These horror writing prompts are guaranteed to get your heart racing and your imagination brewing up a storm. As a genre, horror can encompass so much: fantastical elements, scientific monstrosities, psychological thrills, monstrous humans, and more. Ghosts, vampires, serial killers, stalkers, and all kinds of villains lurk in the shadows. Whether you’re looking for horror story writing prompts or scary writing prompts to challenge your friends with, you’ll find 22 horror prompts and some horrific character ideas below. Any acknowledgement or credit for using any of my writing prompts is… Read More »Horror writing prompts

NaNoWriMo creative writing prompts: ideas to energise your inspiration

Do you need some ideas for your NaNoWriMo project? Whether you’ve already got an idea and want some extra ideas, or you want to prepare for writing exercises to warm-up each day, these NaNoWriMo creative writing prompts can help you this November. Each November, National Novel Writing Month takes place with thousands of writers striving to write 50,000 words. For some people, this is to make headway or start on a novel manuscript, but for others they try to write multiple stories. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if this is your first introduction to NaNoWriMo. Writing prompts can help… Read More »NaNoWriMo creative writing prompts: ideas to energise your inspiration

LGBTQ+ writing prompts for every genre

LGBTQ+ fiction has had a massive boom over the years. MLM, WLW, sapphic fiction, gay romance, reverse harem and polyamory… It’s a good time to be queer. But we could always do with more, so I’ve created a list of LGBTQ+ writing prompts to facilitate the creation of more. A lot of LGBTQ+ fiction comes under the genre of romance or erotica, but more and more we’re beginning to see representation throughout any and all genres. Whether you’re more into fantasy, horror, crime, romance, or anything else, there’s always a place for LGBTQ+ characters and themes. The prompts I’ve compiled… Read More »LGBTQ+ writing prompts for every genre

78 unisex character names to use in your stories

Naming characters can be a big struggle for writers, and many people find it even more difficult to name non-binary, queer, gender non-conforming, or androgynous characters. How do you find the perfect unisex character names? Have no fear, you’re in the right place. I’ve compiled a list of 78 unisex character names for writers to use in their novels, stories, and anything else. That’s 3 names for every letter of the alphabet. If you want even more, try my gender-neutral name generator. No matter whether you’re writing an LGBTQ+ character or just want to try something different – maybe you’re… Read More »78 unisex character names to use in your stories

Romance writing prompts for short fiction

Romance fiction is always craved, whether for an easy read or to delve into fantasies that just aren’t possible. There are millions of romance fans out there, always looking for something new to read. Excite and intrigue your readers with these romance writing prompts. Writing prompts are great for submitting to writing competitions and magazines, of which many ask for cosy romances. Romance short fiction is also massively popular, with short stories, novelettes, novellas, and anthologies published by prolific writers. Explore something new with the writing prompts I’ve compiled below. Any acknowledgement or credit for using any of my writing… Read More »Romance writing prompts for short fiction

Fantasy writing prompts

Struggling to write? Take a step into my virtual prompt shelter and find all kinds of fantasy writing prompts here. Fantasy is one of the furthest-reaching genres out there, with all kinds of sub-genres to explore. Whether you prefer to incorporate magic into a modern world, worldbuild an endless continent of your own, or go even bigger and better, there’s lots to explore in this genre. Find some prompts below to get your creativity flowing. Any acknowledgement or credit for using any of my writing prompts is always appreciated, whether it’s linking to my website from yours or a social… Read More »Fantasy writing prompts

The value a website proofreader brings small businesses

A website proofreader find errors on websites and recommend corrections to their client to improve their website. For many small businesses, the idea of hiring someone to tell them everything wrong about their website isn’t something they’re particularly keen on, but the service can actually bring a lot of value. Impressing potential customers and ranking high in search engines are essential for getting the most out of a small business website. By hiring a website proofreader, you can increase your chances of convincing customers to contact (and pay!) you. Why websites matter so much for small businesses Every bit of… Read More »The value a website proofreader brings small businesses