Since I’m writing with purpose again, I have been creating new worksheets. Quite a few of them are versions of worksheets already posted here tailored to my own specific quirks, but here is one that may be more generically useful (i.e. one that doesn’t have fields relating to the specific by-laws of my city).

Setting Reference Sheet

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I hadn’t realised I had been away from my blog for so long. That just goes to show what full time work does for you… Anyhow, I am still here and still writing (just about). And I once again have a new worksheet for you… Well, perhaps worksheet is the wrong word, but it’s certainly a useful resource.

Character Reference Sheet

How to Preview the World

Cover art? Check. Blurb? Check. Words for the inside of the book? Check! It’s all coming together nicely – and here’s a sneak preview of the cover, just for you. The release is currently scheduled for October with the pre-orders coming in September. If you liked my worksheets, please check it out – it’s got even more resources to help you with your work.

It’s been a busy year for me so far with a lot of deadlines, but I’m really looking forward to this one. Stay tuned for more news soon!

It’s Coming Soon… I Promise

I posted a while back about the Worldbuilding book I planned to release. It still hasn’t happened yet as things came up that made me delay (and I was so close!), but I’m hoping to have it out before November. The current release date is October 15 and I’m hoping to get the pre-orders up at the beginning of October. Why November? NaNoWriMo, of course! I’m writing this book with you guys in mind and I’m hoping it will give you a bit of inspiration for your advance planning.

Of course, the book isn’t aimed solely at novel writers. It’s for any writer who needs a world built from scratch. Fiction in all its guises – prose, script, screenplay, games – and in whatever genre you write. While people might think “worldbuilding” applies only to the sci-fi and fantasy worlds we create, the same principals can be relevant to other genres too. Have you ever read historical fiction where the author has got a fact spectacularly wrong (for example, mentioning their Tudor-era peasants raiding the fridge)? That’s bad worldbuilding (and poor research). It’s not just about the fantastical and the futuristic. It’s about making all the elements of your story stick together. Worldbuilding is the glue that binds. It’s the waterproofing that rejects the unbelievable. It’s the tiny details that give your story a soul.

I’ve been quiet for a while, but I promise I’m still alive. And even though it’s Tuesday, I have a new worksheet for you!

Ally Worksheet

I’m getting there… Slowly…

So, in the spirit of the now not-so-new year, let’s develop our characters a little.

Reaction Worksheet

So, I just finished NaNoWriMo and those lovely people have given me some goodies for winning. Yay! The less great bit is that I don’t really need all the prizes – which is good news for you, dear reader. Instead of letting these codes go to waste, I’m going to share them with you and if you’re fast enough, maybe you can use them instead! If they don’t work, then someone else beat you to it, sorry!

• Free printed copy of your novel from FastPencil:

  FreePrint15 [Expiration: January 31, 2016]

• 70% off wide distribution from FastPencil:

  70_Off_NaNo15 [Expiration: June 30, 2016]

• 50% off Storyist for Mac:

  IROCKEDNANOIN15 [Expiration: January 15, 2016]

• 40% off Aeon Timeline:

  NANOMASTER [Expiration: December 15, 2015]

• 50% off Scrivener Writing Software:

  CAMPWINNER15-F5SV2JAL [Expiration: December 31, 2015]

• 1 year free at Upliterate:

  NANOWRIMO2015 [Expiration: January 1, 2016]

Good luck and enjoy!

Although NaNoWriMo is now over, the story is not. But at least now, we’ve got some time to polish it.

Dialogue Worksheet

Ever struggle to visualise your settings? Try do a little planning for each place your characters need to visit.

Settings Worksheet

So I had this brilliant idea for a story. There was a girl and a rival, this little village and some monsters. I knew what the shopping centre looked like. I knew where other people lived. But I had no idea what I wanted to happen in the story. I did a little research and here are my results.

Premise Worksheet