novel writing – ellekirks

How to edit your novel using Fictionary.

When I finished writing my novel, Brew Books, I knew there was a HUGE task of editing in front of me. Honestly, where do you even start? When you’re staring at that big, messy manuscript, I bet you’re wondering, how do you possibly edit a novel? Are there any secret tips and tricks for editing your manuscript?

Editing a novel is definitely a big job, but let’s remember, you’ve already written it, so you’ve already done an amazing thing! So now that you’re ready to edit, I’ll let you in on the secret of how I edited my novel, using a tool called Fictionary.

Continue reading “How to edit your novel using Fictionary.”

How to create a NaNoWriMo plot.

How is it November, already? I know it really doesn’t need to be said, but where is this year going? Wasn’t it just Spring five seconds ago? But the temperature is dropping, the trees are brilliant shades of gold and bronze, and Stranger Things is back on Netflix. And with November comes NaNoWriMo, the event writers are looking forward to and dreading in equal measure all year. But it doesn’t have to be so scary. I’ve put together a novel outline template for you to help plan your novel.

Continue reading “How to create a NaNoWriMo plot.”

How I’m making time for creative writing.

When I first moved to Berlin the one big difference to London that I raved about to my friends was how much more spare time I had. In London I was working long, intense days, spending a lot of time rammed onto the central line, spending a lot of money meeting up with friends, and getting home late and exhausted, to make a quick stuffed pasta meal from Tesco and then veg out in front of the TV. In Berlin, my hours are flexible, I cycle to work in 20min, and with social gatherings tending to start later in the evening, I have a lot more time and creative energy to write in the evenings after work.

This week, that’s all changed.

Continue reading “How I’m making time for creative writing.”

Read Reprise.

So I write this blog for fun, but the main thing I love to write is young adult fiction. My completed novel, Reprise, follows 16-year-old Emily in her final year of high school, when she discovers the reality of her father’s 80s band.Continue reading “Read Reprise.”

Reprise – my first novel.

A few years ago I first started publishing my novel, Reprise, on Wattpad, while I was writing it. I found the whole process of publishing while writing so encouraging – people were reading my book at the same time I was writing it, giving encouragement, and begging me to continue! It led me to finishing the novel, and I’m so happy I did! Since uploading the original book I have done some major edits, so I’ve now uploaded the new and improved version of Reprise to Wattpad. If you want to read my novel (completely for free) you can!