Tag: writing skills

COMMON WRITING CHALLENGES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM

Common writing challenges

Writing is not without its challenges. Whether it be working on a personal project or with a team of people, it can be challenging. Whatever your writing niche or preferences, writers face some challenges that can limit their ability to perform.

DEALING WITH THE WRITER’S BLOCK

Every writer dreads writer’s block. This problem can cause you to feel lost, whether working on a new project or trying to think of an idea. It can be stressful not to be able to come up with new ideas. Some people experience it for weeks.

There is a way to overcome this. You need to find another way to put your focus if you feel stuck. It is best to pick up a book, listen to other people’s ideas and get out of your own way. If you keep worrying about the lack of ideas, writer’s block will not be easy to overcome.

NOT FEELING CREATIVE ENOUGH

You can find creative expression in other forms even if you don’t feel your creativity while writing. You can do whatever creative activity you like, whether it’s drawing, painting, knitting, or any other art form. Sometimes we can get so focused on being able to do something that it becomes difficult to see how talented we are at other things.

Creativity doesn’t have to be limited to one idea. There are many ways to incorporate creativity into your writing. You can draw your ideas if you’re not able to express them. Visualizing your thoughts will help you to regain your creativity and give your work a fresh perspective.

NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE ENOUGH

Writing from home can have a negative impact on the work of writers, especially those who are working on larger projects. Writing a book that focuses on one topic can be exhausting. Writing is difficult enough without procrastination. It can sometimes be mistaken for writer’s block.

There are many ways to overcome this problem. You must first organize your workspace. You can focus on your work and keep distractions away. You can also set short-term goals that will encourage you to work harder on your projects. Your productivity can be improved by setting smaller, more manageable goals.

NOT GETTING ENOUGH REST

Last, but not least, a common problem among writers is the lack of rest. Many writers claim they experience a surge of creativity and feel like they can write for hours. Although it isn’t ideal to have writer’s blocks, you shouldn’t be able to write for hours at a time.

You will have more energy and your ability to think clearly if you get enough sleep and eat well. Many writers have trouble connecting their ideas because their minds aren’t well-rested. Your mind will be more open to new ideas, and you’ll be able to expand them.

TAKE EACH CHALLENGE ONE STEP AT A TIME

Whatever your profession, every professional will face challenges in their job. It is important to be able to deal with each issue and make progress in your job.

These tips will help you recognize and overcome any writing difficulties you may face. Although writing can be difficult, it can be rewarding and fulfilling.

We hope that you enjoyed reading about our suggested tips and that they will be helpful to you. We wish you a successful writing career. Be a part of Austin Macauley by sharing your manuscripts here for review. You can also submit online by filling out this Online Submission Form.

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How to Write an Engaging Sci-Fi Book: 7 Super-Tips to Follow

7 Tips to Write Sci-Fi Books

Have you ever read a science fiction book so good you wish you were a part of it, playing the lead role, solving mysteries or battling aliens from outer space? If yes, then all of that is the genius of the writer. They are the ones making those characters, the intricate plot you so want to solve. A well-written science fiction book makes you mesmerized, and it compels you to marvel at the story. A brilliant author creates revolutionary sci-fi characters like Darth Vader from Star Wars, a legendary villain, and Marty McFly from Back to The Future, a charismatic protagonist.

Being an exceptional science-fiction writer requires inquisitive imagination, engaging plot development and extraordinary writing skills. Here, we will be sharing seven tips to enhance your writing skills to write a sci-fi read:

  1. Question Everything in Your Book

Every author has a particular way of planning out how to start a book. Some like to create a world initially and then fill it with characters. Some work on their character’s arc before focusing on the larger picture. You might be tempted to go with either of them. But in fact, it would be preferred to begin with both in parallel. Create your character arcs as you develop your world. Question everything about the characters and the world. Why is my hero sad all the time? Why is my world ruled by Martians? The more you answer your own questions, the better your plot and characters would develop.

  1. Take it One Book at a Time

This point needs to be noted if you are thinking about writing a science fiction book series. You must focus on one book at a time instead of worrying about what to do with the sequel. Develop your narrative logically in a way that maps the whole storyline together. Set small milestones for your book and develop characters, their motives, allies and foes with each stop (if necessary). Stop worrying about your next book because the readers are only interested in the book they would be reading currently.

If you wish to publish your very own book, submit your writing with us today and make it happen.

 

  1. Make the Characters and Story Relatable to the Readers

The best science fiction books have one thing in common: relatability. It shouldn’t mean your characters and story have to be stereotypical and monotonous. The characters should be innovative, have flaws and are not too overpowered. They should still connect to us, in some way or another. The readers can invest more into the book this way, and it makes for a thought-provoking read as well. The best sci-fi book characters like Dave Bowman from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Bo Dennis from Lost Girl, are all likeable and relatable characters.

  1. Unravel Your Main Lead’s Personality and Motives

Show the readers your main lead’s traits, motives and personality. A motive builds a path for moulding a strong main hero. This will, in turn, make for a good sci-fi book. Describe your hero’s every action. If he’s suffering from hysteria, what was the reason behind it? If your character wants to rob 100 million dollars from the bank, what is his motive? Be elaborate, use splendid adjectives and write with flair.

  1. Consistency is Key When Writing Science-Fiction

Consistency is essential when writing a science fiction novel. The gravest sin you could make while writing a sci-fi book would be to deviate from the rules set by yourself. Everything that flows in your story should make sense. You could develop the personality of your characters, change their motives halfway through, or even create alternative worlds if the storyline permits so. But you cannot insert illogical subplots and give irrational justifications for it. Stay within the rules of the universe your book is set in.

If you are confused about how to start your writing journey, have a look at our ‘How to Become An Author’ guide and find all the answers.

 

  1. Explore Different Places in Your Story

Nobody wants to read a sci-fi book set in the same mundane world as their own. Readers look forward to reading the opposite of that, they want to get mesmerized and awe-struck by the sci-fi world. They want to be swept away into the realms of sorcery and madness. Try creating a world a reader has never seen before. Remember Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? I bet you’d never heard about a chocolate factory as huge and remarkable as that. Writing a sci-fi book depends on your imagination. Who knows, you might be the next J.K. Rowling!

  1. Write a Jaw-Dropping Climax

The best science fiction books blow their readers away with a brilliant climax. The climax is the midpoint of the book filled with tension, drama, speculation and thrill. As a reader, the climax is the most remembered aspect of the novel. For a sci-fi book, it’s even more important because the story has already gripped its readers and they are hungry for an impactful end. Some of the best climaxes keep you in a dazzled state for weeks. If the end of the book makes its readers go “WOW,” this means you’ve successfully written an impactful science fiction book.

 

We hope you learned something new to enhance your writing skills from our list of tips to write a sci-fi read. Good luck with writing your latest sci-fi book!

Catch our newly released books on our website and keep yourself updated about our books and authors by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you are an aspiring writer, submit your writing with us and pave way for your dream of becoming a published writer come true. Austin Macauley Publishers has also made publishing your book easier than ever. Through an online submission form, you can get in touch with us and make a submission of your manuscript.

 

8 Ways to Become a Better English Writer

Austin-Macauley-Become-a-Better-English-Writer

We are all aware of the importance of English language and can’t emphasize more on its prominence. Being a global language, it is one of the most read, written and spoken language in the world. English literature has always produced renowned writers and writing is no less than an art.

Let’s discuss some major points that will enable you to better in English Writing and get a hold of this art.

Read, read and read:

This is one of the simplest and the go to step for those who want to excel in English writing. The formula is simple, you need to read, read and read, if you want to become a good writer. Consume as much language as you can, for it is going to serve as the basis of your writing skills.

Read whatever you like, pick up a book, magazine, newspaper or anything of your choice or select any blog posts. Read anything, but make sure that you read a lot.

Write a lot:

You must be aware of the phrase ‘practice makes perfect’, it stands perfectly true for writing. Writing is a skill and it can be perfected like any other skill. Write daily and make it a habit of yours and set goals for yourself to improve every day.

Just enjoy your writing and write about different things, change genres periodically. Initially you won’t be able to come up with lengthy articles and essays but keep on going even if you are writing a few lines. A title and a small paragraph would do it, but never stop writing.

Don’t hustle into things, be patient. Improvement will come with every passing day. Get your juices flowing, think, come up, innovate and throw your thoughts on the paper without thinking about the quality. Just keep going.

Don’t bother learning grammar or vocabulary:

If you aren’t a grammar expert, it can be a blessing in disguise, after all you are still learning. Although, some people may not agree with this idea. When in process, don’t bother about the perfect, error free grammar or trying to use the most polished words as it can hamper your flow and thought process.

What you need to do is to read your favourite blogs, books, eBooks or whatever and note down the phrases and words that attract you. Search for their meaning and pay attention to how they are used in the sentence.

When you start practicing writing, try to use the exact phrase appropriately, doing this a few times will mean that you’ve understood its meaning and know how to use it. After sometime you can write it naturally without even thinking about it.

Just go however you want:

In the initial phases of learning how to write, you don’t have to follow a certain template. Just go however you want and express your thoughts wildly. After sometime, start using some basic writing templates when you start writing something new.

For instance this article, is a list template, which enlists all the important points under headings etc.

Consult friends and family:

Sometimes it becomes hard to judge one’s own writing, that’s where friends and family can help. Everyone has a person in his family or friends list who’s English writing is better than them. Ask them to have a look at your piece of writing and give feedback.

Outer eye perspective is great for your writings and will let you know about your weaknesses and strengths.

Keep in touch with bloggers and writers:

Whatever you are writing, it’s quite likely that someone else is also doing the same. Get in touch with them through emails or social media. Be friends with them and ask for their feedback, tips and tricks to do better.

Most bloggers are kind enough to lend a helping hand and do it quite happily.

Educate yourself:

Apart from all the points discussed above, you need to learn from successful writers who lead the market. Subscribe to their blogs, read their books and grasp the ideas of how they engage the reader. Find out how they put creativity into their work, how they maintain the flow and lots more.

Bonus tip:

One tip that you will really find interesting and which readily improves English is watching movies, listening to English news, watching sports and listening to its commentary. Entertainment and education at the same time. Isn’t it great? You can grasp English language while having some quality time with family and friends.

Try it, it really works.

Conclusion:

If you aren’t a native English writer and reading this article then you know that it isn’t difficult to write well in English. But success doesn’t come over night and you have to wait and be patient until you reach that point where you want to be.

Be committed and give your best, don’t shy away from the challenges and slowly and gradually you will be there, where you want to be, now.