Amy-Alex Campbell
Home of The Miscreant and the Marsden Park Series
Paperback Clearance!
I’m clearing out my current stock of paperbacks!
The Lowest Realm – now $18.00 (33% off)
The Darkest Realm – now $18.00 (33% off)
Beneath the Grandstand – now $18.00 (25% off)
Only available here at amyalexcampbell.com/shop until sold out.
I don’t participate in sales events often so this is the best opportunity to purchase your copies at a greatly reduced price.
* Plus postage & handling.
Note: If you are outside of Australia and wish to take advantage of this offer, you can still purchase at this price HOWEVER the books will not be signed. You can purchase a signed bookplate which will be shipped separately and can be stuck inside your book.
Free Reads
Hi everyone! Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.
My 2023 Christmas Reflection has been uploaded to the Free Reads page so make sure you check it out! You will need to create a simple account here to access these mini stories.
Much love,
Amex <3
Fantasy Maps and Seasons
When working on a fantasy story and map, we need to consider so much more than just forests and the story; we need to take into account science while we’re at it.
Regardless of your type of fantasy world, it is likely to exist on a planet and have a sun. Therefore, you need to consider seasons, time zones, hemispheres and an equator. Basic rules of physics and astronomy still apply, so we have to consider the planet’s rotation in relation to the sun, etc.. Once you have these penciled in, you can start to consider which biomes to use.
I use our own Earth as a reference so that my climates and biomes are more realistic. For example, I wouldn’t find a scorching desert right next to the southern pole…unless it’s caused by magic!
In The Darkest Realm, my characters crossed the Lorendian Desert and entered a savanna, which is roughly where South Africa would be in relation to Australia. This prompted me to look into seasons and weather patterns. It turns out that the African savanna tends to have a dry and wet season instead of summer, autumn winter and spring. Since my story crosses several kingdoms, I drew a rough scribble and made notes so I could visualise the change of seasons.
As my characters head into the south / west hemisphere, I flipped the seasons around and give them appropriate weather and climate. These things may sound minor, but to me they can be the difference between being totally immersed in an alternate fantasy reality, or being jolted out of the experience thinking ‘Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right!’
There are some really useful guides online. Gardening and farming guides are good such as the one below. My dad was a farmer for years before retirement, so I learnt to always trust gardeners and farmers when it comes to the true seasons. Also, check out this video on YouTube to see how our Earth experiences seasons and why.
The final thing I want to add in is the use of a calendar. I know that every writer does things differently, so it may not be your cup of tea. But for my fantasy stories, I have a calendar and track every single day of their journey. That way can keep track of the seasons and ensure travel times and speeds are realistic, etc.
My next step for this calendar is to flip seasons as they prepare to head into the northern hemisphere.
One final point to mention. For those who enable long distance travel in their magic systems, remember that if your person is way up in the north and it’s lunch time, if they teleport to the opposite side of the world, chances are it will be dark there. Or, if they have some method of long-distance flight, remember the climate is going to change during the journey. Even just flying from Hobart to Sydney is a vast shift in humidity and sun rise/set times, so don’t forget to factor this in.
I hope this helps in your fantasy work!
Much love,
~ Amex <3
Where Do I Start?
One of the main questions I get asked by new writers is, “Where do I start?”
You have an amazing story idea in your head that you just KNOW is a best seller, and you’re dying to get it down on paper. But when you sit down at your laptop / computer / notebook, your brain freezes, and you have no idea how to proceed.
One of the first things to consider is whether you are a plotter or a pantser.
A plotter is someone who sits down first and plots out their story. You have a clear beginning, a middle and end, and each chapter mapped out. All you have to do then is sit down and actually write the story. This method is (in my opinion) important for genres such as sci-fi and fantasy where world building is a must. You need to know your backstory, your magic or tech systems, and if you’re a dick-head like me with characters over 1,000 years old, you need your timeline!
A pantser is someone who has an idea of the story, but sits down and just writes it as it comes to them. I used to be a pantser when I was younger, but as I started getting serious about fantasy, it ultimately led me to hitting a brick wall.
There is no right or wrong way. It is a topic that is debated amongst writers, but ultimately, we are all different, our brain processes all work in different ways. You do you.
What software or device should I use?
There are some great software packages out there that some writers swear by. Here are just a couple options to look at before you start.
Scrivener is popular as it allows you to organise characters, scenes, objects etc., but it does come with a price tag. It was primarily built for Mac, but it can be installed on Windows. It comes in at $77AUD, which might be out of some people’s budgets. I have never used it, but I have heard lots of people talking about it. Check out the website here.
yWriter is something I can only assume is similar to Scrivener. I dabbled with it for a while, and it is pretty cool, but I didn’t like that it’s not actually a word processor. I started organising my word count, characters and scenes, but after a while I grew tired of copy & pasting. But still, it’s free, so if you want something to help you stay organised, give it a crack. I do like this program, and will probably use it again in the future for a not-so-epic fantasy. Check it out here.
OpenOffice is a free package that is similar to Microsoft Office. This package by Apache is fantastic if you don’t have the luxury of Microsoft, but need something that is useful and powerful. I have used it many times over the years in workplaces and on spare PCs that didn’t have Microsoft. The UI is probably different, but it pretty much gets the job done. You can download it here.
Word is my go to. I am lucky enough to have a free subscription through my university, so I have the full package installed. This means I can log in on any of my devices and access my files instantly. I have my files stored in Dropbox, which means I can write some of my story on my laptop, save it, then go into the lounge room and open it on my iPad or phone and pick up where I left off. Good old Word is still (in my opinion) the most powerful word processor, and it will always be my go-to.
Dropbox? Why bother?
I am going to point out right now that you need to BACKUP YOUR WORK! At least once a week, I see writers have lost their entire book or collections due to catastrophic hard drive failure, fire, or theft. While I am still not 100% sold on cloud technology, I use Dropbox to keep up to date copies, plus I email myself my draft on occasion just in case. I also back up my work files to an external hard drive – this includes my book interior setup files, covers, artwork, and anything important. Some of these files are expensive, for example book covers, and if you lose them you may have to pay for a whole new one. So BACK UP YOUR WORK!
Ok, what now?
I’m not going to go into actually writing your book. That’s up to you. You will find that at first, your writing my be stiff and not flow as well as you’d like. Don’t worry. As you progress through your story, your writing will develop and you’ll get into the hang of things. Don’t do what I do and spend hours trying to edit one paragraph – if it doesn’t work, highlight it and move on. Eventually when you go back over it, you’ll be able to fix it up and make it amazing. Focus on getting that story written down, worry about fixing it up later.
I’ve finished my draft. How do I publish it?
There are a number of things you need to do from an admin perspective. Once you finish your manuscript, you need to go over it with a fine tooth comb and check that it’s ok. If using Word, do CTRL F and do searches for and and, to to, they they etc. Also do one for two spaces – you’ll be surprised how often we leave gaps in our work. When you are 100% sure it’s ready, it’s time to look for an editor.
Editors are expensive, but given the amount of hours they pour into our work, it is justified. However, it can be hard finding an editor within our budgets. I spent $200 on one on Fiverr, and that didn’t go so well. If you have read The Lowest Realm, you will see that first hand. I now have my amazing editor/ typo hunter going through it to prepare for a re-release.
You can ask around in writing groups or on Twitter, and most will edit 1,000 words for you so you can see how they work. But choose wisely. If you honestly think your writing is super good and doesn’t need an editor, skip this step for now. We’ll come back to it.
Beta Readers are like test readers. You may prefer to engage with betas before an editor, or after. I go with them before, so if there is a major issue, I can catch it before I waste the editor’s time. You can find betas on Facebook in dedicated groups, or on Twitter using the right hashtags. More recently, I’ve been working with readers who I have built up relationships with, so I get honest feedback from them.
Don’t ask your friends or family to do this! Friends and family think we are amazing, and no matter how crap our work might be, they will say it’s good. You need someone who will be honest and point out the plot holes and parts that don’t make sense.
This also brings me to another point: be prepared for negative feedback. You are a first time writer, not Stephen King, so be prepared to take on the feedback. This doesn’t mean all of it – I collate the feedback, then pick and choose which points I’ll change. I usually have around 3 betas, but the more the merrier.
If your beta readers point out some major issues, or even small ones, go back and fix them. Read your story again with fresh eyes, and make sure you’re happy with it. My number 1 hot top for this stage is to invest in a text to voice app, and spend time listening to your story. I use an app called Natural Reader (on my iPhone). It cost a few $$, but was totally worth the investment. I can catch any typos as they come through as weirdly pronounced words, and catch any double-typed words.
Once you have beta’d and edited, it’s time for a proofreader. Even if your typing is immaculate and you skipped the editor, I highly recommend you hire a proof reader. This is soooo important, a step I missed on my first book (hence why I’m doing it now). I have a friend who I hire for mine (whom I met on Twitter). You can find someone online or check out Fiverr, but make sure you vett them first and are sure you work well together. Be careful.
While you wait for your proofreader, it’s time to sort out admin and publishing options. I’m going to speed ahead and assume you are publishing ebook with Amazon, and paperbacks with IngramSpark. I don’t use LuLu or any of the others, but I highly recommend Ingram. Ingram (again, my opinion) are THE most professional self-pub option out there. Some writers don’t like the strict setup options, but if you want your books in the local bookstore, it’s the way to go. This is what you need:
- Your blurb. This thing is the most horrid thing to write, but you need to write it.
- ISBN. In Australia, buy them from Thomas Bowker. Get yourself a 10 pack, and DO NOT BUY THE BARCODES!
- Book cover design! I highly recommend thebookcoverdesigner for pre-made covers. You pick one you like, buy it, and the designer will work with you to add your title, blurb, etc. Check with them what attribution they will require (they should be credited on the copyright page of your book),
- Internal setup. If you are handy with inDesign, great! get yourself over to IS and download their file specs, and have your way with it. If not, you will need to hire someone to do it for you. There is so much to consider here, so check out this post for some design considerations. You can also contact me at my publishing page if you wish to hire me for this. The best way to contact me is via email. Once you have this file including your trim size, you can relay this information to your cover designer (along with your ISBN).
- Uploading files is where it might be a bit confusing. You need to create an account with IngramSpark and do your paperback there. DO NOT use their ebook conversion service, this was a $300 mistake I made. You will only upload your paperbacks here. Check to see if IS are running any promo codes at the time – sometimes they have free setup and/or free revising of files. There are enough video guides on doing this, I’m not going to post the how-to’s here. You will need to fill out tax forms and financial stuff too.
- For ebooks, you will need to create an account with Amazon KDP. There are lots of forms to fill out for tax purposes. I also recommend using a major bank account such as the Commonwealth so you are not charged transfer fees for royalties. Download the software called Kindle Create, and import your clean manuscript into the software. This will create your Kindle file for free. The file output is what you upload to KDP.
Congratulations! You’re now a published author.
The hard work doesn’t stop there. You will get some sales for the first month of publication, but after that, your sales will flatline. You will need to promote your work at all times to ensure people will see it. No matter how many times you post your links to your social media, your friends will rarely buy your work. You now have to start building your brand – you, as an author, are your brand (especially if you write under a pen name). You will need:
- Author website. Build it in WordPress and pay to upgrade to the $10 a month option (charged annually). This removes WordPress branding and gives you your own domain. The commercial option which I have for this website is closer to $300 a year so I can have my own web store.
- Social media. At minimum, Twitter, Facebook Page, and Instagram. Some writers have reported success on Tik-Tok, but that’s not for me. (Ok ok I have a Tik-Tok, but it will be used for booky-type vids and my maps.)
- Amazon Author Central profile. Make it here. This is tied in with your KDP account and is important to maintaining a professional image on Amazon.
- Jump on Goodreads and create a profile there as well. You will need to go to the author section and apply to be a Goodreads author. Once approved, you can then add your cover work and book details, so readers can find you and leave reviews. Hot tip: NEVER respond to reviews! It is poor etiquette and frowned upon in the community. Reviews are for the readers. You can use the feedback to improve your future work, but never confront a reader.
There is so much more I could say, but for now I think I have covered the basics. If you want to learn how to market your work and make money, you can find the group 20Booksto50k on Facebook. They have some amazing tips on there, but be sure to do the readings first.
Other groups worth joining:
Writers helping Writers
Fiction Writing
Writers group Australia
Australian Self Published Authors
And of course, make sure you follow me on Facebook, my blog, Twitter, everywhere. I’ll be making more guides on writing soon, so stay tuned for more! if you have ANY questions, please reply to this blog or shoot me off an email (or message me on FB or Twitter).
Final note of the day: You are NOT an aspiring writer. You ARE a writer! Remember that, always.
Much love,
AAC
A Year on… From Flames to Rain
Seeing all my friends post their wrap-ups on 2020 on Facebook has put me in a somewhat reflective mood. Along with posting my own goals and achievements, I’ve been looking back at this time last year.
One of the photos that jumped out at me was a photo of my nephew and his cousin, both decorating a cupcake at a Lions Club stall. There are several bowls of sugary decorations and icing, that any of the kids can put their hand in, not to mention lack of social distancing. There are kids from different families, all just mingling and having fun. The virus was nothing but a news mention at that time.
Another thing that prompted my reminiscing was a comment I wrote in last year’s notes for work. Over the last couple of weeks (last year), we were facing a thick, choking, blanket of toxic smoke here in Sydney. The smoke was coming into the shopping center where I work, and was making me feel sick.
I vividly remember calling center management and telling them about the smoke. I told them I was feeling ill and my customers were complaining. I also made a call to my company’s health and safety team and let them know. After around an hour, the smoke finally cleared. I presume center management eventually turned on the exhaust fans. Seriously though, I never should have been forced to make that call.
Funny thing to add here. Yesterday, a year after that disaster, I received a memo stating an upgrade to those very fans will be taking place over the next few weeks. I guess it’s the old prepper saying: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
I went through my photos from December 2019, and found some of the ones I took of the smoke. Earlier, I went outside and recreated those images so you can see the stark differences. Last year we had smoke, heat, and bushfires, this year we have clearer air and rain.
Below, we have 2019 vs 2020. The images are 100% unedited – note the lack of birds and the sepia tones – this is how everything looked. Now, the air is clear and the birds are back with a vengeance.
We had bushfires, covid, lockdown, more covid, and in some areas, floods. Overseas, we’ve seen volcanoes, earthquakes, cyclones, explosions, conflict, and uncontrolled spread of covid. To say in the very least, it has been a challenging year for humanity.
Many people believe that 2021 will be the end of all that misery, but I for one will reserve judgment until I see improvement with my own eyes. It will be a long time until the vaccine has been tested enough to be deemed safe – as in for those on complicated and strong medications that haven’t been tested whether or not will clash with the vaccine.
It will be an even longer time until there is a cure for covid.
2021 is just another year, which will bring in a new set of challenges that we must face together. Maybe this will be the year of the mighty bin chickens becoming our bird overlords.
On that note, may 2021 be your year. Make it the year you want it to be. Be kind, be positive, and let’s all make the world a slightly better place. Together.
Much love,
AAC 💜
A Christmas Story
‘Twas six more sleeps before Santa arrived, to distribute all the material objects that seem to make children so happy. The shopping centers were filled with frantic folk, doing the last of their Christmas shopping, and buying up as much toilet paper as they could. Another Covid cluster, growing by the day, had people nervous and on edge.
For some, work is over for the year, granting them two weeks off to enjoy the season and their families. For those in retail, though, shit is just about to hit the fan. The last few days, with extended opening hours and more and more stressed customers, was less amusing than a boil in the butt crack. You see, while Christmas is magical and blessed for some people, for those behind the register, it’s a nightmare. Retail sucks what little magic is left from the soul, and leaves one feeling both exhausted and resentful.
This year was no exception. With the news of the fresh cluster and borders being slammed shut, she knew she would not get her one Christmas wish. For all she wanted this year was to see her family, to hug her parents and rekindle her love of the occasion.
Each and every day, she would hear customers’ plans for Christmas. Most of them were grumbles about seeing family and having to cook, or grumbles for going to so-and-so’s for Christmas day. Very few people seem to appreciate their family; for them, Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts, and eating a big meal. Whatever happened to the true – non-religious version – spirit of Christmas?
She found herself pondering daily. Is retail really worth it? Is slogging one’s guts out for the company’s shareholders really that rewarding, when the only day we get off is Christmas day? Where’s our magical Christmas?
Thankfully, not all customers were horrible. There in Western Sydney, she was used to serving people from different cultures and religious backgrounds. With a smile, she remembered fondly a conversation she had with a customer a few years back.
“My family and I moved here from India a few years ago. While we still celebrate our cultural holidays and traditions, I make it a rule in my household to also celebrate Australian holidays and traditions. This is our home now, so we must become a part of the community. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
Meanwhile, an older couple, perhaps in their seventies, walked into the store. She watched as the man gazed around in arrogant wonder, before glancing at her behind the register.
“It’s so good to hear Christmas carols playing in a store!” This man looked as though he wanted a pat on the back.
“To be honest, the same three albums on loop are tedious after a day or two. The same songs every few hours. I wish could blend them with some other music.” She sighed.
“No, it’s good to hear the carols. Every other store is too afraid to offend anyone!!” He proclaimed.
She stared at him.
She looked across at the Muslim lady wearing a full covering, humming along to ‘Jingle Bell Rock’.
She looked at the Indian family picking out Secret Santa gifts.
She looked at the Bangladesh lady struggling to read a sign to determine what on earth the item was in her hands.
She looked back at the arrogant old white man before her, and stared at him blankly.
With a start of realisation, he turned around in a huff and dragged his wife and his racism from the store. Like, seriously?!
Before she could even shake her head at the stupidity of the man, the Bangladeshi lady approached the counter. She could not speak English, but made hand gestures to indicate that she wanted to know if the item was for boy or girl.
“This one is for boys, it’s a lunch box. $24.95, after discount, $19.95.” She tried the explain.
The woman stared, the words clearly meaningless. Her eyes reflected her confusion, the dimness of misunderstanding within.
“Buy this one. Ten dollars. Much better gift for boys,” she offered instead, pointing at a more appropriate gift. She could see that the woman was still confused, but smiled and nodded.
The woman paid and managed a thank-you.
There. Was it really so hard to be nice to people from other countries?
The next person in line looked purposefully at the other woman leaving, then plonked their items on the counter.
“How did you know that gift was more appropriate than the one she brought up to the counter?” They asked curiously. “I don’t mean this in a racist way, but I couldn’t understand her at all.”
“Mate. I have been in retail for 18 years. This is a kid’s store, so:
“A. She’s here for a kid’s gift. This brand is well known all over the world, even in her country. So she knows she’s in the right store.
“B. When you have been doing this job as long as I have, you learn the international sign language that indicates boy, girl, roughly how old they are, and so on. She was shopping for six year old boy for his birthday, but wasn’t sure if that lunchbox was right. She thought it was a pencil case, so I suggested a more suitable option.
“C. She may not speak English, but we were still able to communicate. Just because we don’t speak the same language, it doesn’t mean she’s stupid and can be taken advantage of. I treated her just as I would treat any other customer.”
“You can really tell all of that just by a few hand gestures?” The customer looked awed.
“Yep. Just like I can see that you are buying for a boy and girl, presumably around 5 or 6 years of age.”
“Oh wow, you’re good!”
“In that case, I have these balls here on special for $4 each. They are so much fun, you should get them one each. They’ll love playing with them.” Her eyes glinted mischievously.
“Oh ok, sure thing.”
The customer paid for their goods, and she packed them in two separate bags and handed them over with the receipt. The customer was oblivious to her sly upsell technique; anyone who works retail knows about KPIs and such.
“There you go. Have a Merry Christmas, and make sure you spread the kindness around. The world needs as much kindness as possible right now. Bye bye.”
As the customer left, she leant on her elbows on the counter and stared out of the doorway. Sure, Christmas sucked for her, but she would not be grumpy about it and spread bitterness amongst her customers. She knew that her own attitude, and the way she treats others, has the potential to make or break someone’s day. The least she could do was serve them with a smile, and give them the best experience possible. Maybe, just maybe, she could be the magic that gives someone a very special, merry, Christmas.
Christmas is here
Another bloody Christmas is here.
I know I should feel excited, and show my festive spirit or whatever it’s called. But this year, I’m being a grinch. There is only one gift I want this year, and it’s not some cheap junk, a dvd or electronic device you can buy in a store. It’s expensive, or should I say priceless?
All I want for Christmas this year is to have a few days off to visit my family interstate, and be able to wake up on Christmas day to spend it with them. Due to Covid and lockdowns in Victoria, I haven’t seen them since March, just before NSW locked down. I had planned a trip there in November, but the border was still closed. To say I felt isolated was an understatement.
I know some people had it worse, and my hearts go out to them. It has been a trying experience for us all, and I am not trying to gain sympathy here. Even were the border open, I still would not risk exposing my family to Covid.
Family is the most important thing to me, and always will be. Working in retail, our soul gets drained as we are blasted with 9 hours of non-stop Christmas carols on loop. There is very little enjoyment, getting screamed at by Karens in the queue, having kids mess up the displays we did two minutes ago, and people trying to steal whatever they can get their hands on. After a few years the magic dissipates, and it’s sad. The only magic for me is spending time with my family, those who love me for who I am, and whom I love back. Christmas is about being together with those we love, not fighting through crowds just to get presents for people they probs won’t even use.
I’m barely ok this December. It’s been hard these last two weeks, a real struggle if I’m honest. I won’t go into details, but life happens and my mental health suffers as a result. Once again, I know some people have it much worse. These things are temporary, we will get through it (just hopefully sooner rather than later).
So whatever you do to celebrate this year, please try and do a random act of kindness every day, be it in the supermarket or shopping center, or wherever, and try and spread some true Christmas spirit. Because you never know what someone is going through, especially at this time of year.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to the other religions also celebrating at this time of year. Much love to you all <3
~AAC
From Bathurst to Kandos to Mudgee
Hello!
It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Given the ramp up in retail as Christmas approaches, I’ve been having a small break while trying to keep my sanity.
Thankfully for relaxed Covid restrictions, we were able to get away and head out West for a few days during November, and do some site-seeing. It was such a nice break after the crazy year we’ve had.
I must admit, after the release of Beneath the Grandstand, I’ve been feeling a little uninspired. I have ideas, but after the success of BtG, I feel like I need to step up my game a bit. This short trip has certainly given me some fresh perspectives (and air!), and I have been able to start outlining my next project.
But I digress. During the trip, we visited Bathurst and Mudgee, and stayed with family in Kandos. For anyone who doesn’t know, Kandos and surrounds are just south-westish from the Blue Mountains, and is absolutely beautiful to visit. There is a lot of history out this way, and so many old buildings that have stood the test of time.
I was also super lucky that Mother Nature put on a spectacular storm while we were visiting Mudgee! And so I shall add all of my photos below for a treat.
As many people know, I love storms (so long as I’m under cover), and I love tracking them via weather maps. I was tracking them this day, and managed to capture a cyclone that didn’t quite touch down! It was right in the middle of Mudgee, so luckily it didn’t fully form. The sudden icy-cold and strong winds that hit just before we ducked inside was freaky – it was an almost instant change.
We got to see a lot of old buildings too. We visited the tiny historic towns of Sofala and Lue as well, which didn’t disappoint.
And, as always, I love taking photos of flowers and nature.
And finally, no trip is ever complete without photos of an old train station.
All up, we travelled 342.3km / 212.7 miles. Every time I come here, I get to see something that I haven’t seen previously. This area is truly a hidden gem.
As luck would have it, as we drove home through Capertee, we spotted another old train station down a side street, so we back tracked and went to have a look. A photographer from the local paper was there, and I realised an old historical train was due to pass through. We hung around for a bit, and were not disappointed.
I’m not sure when I’ll be releasing my next book. I’ve briefly outlined a plot which didn’t grab me, so I’m still tweaking it and mulling it over. Eventually, it will hit me and I’ll be able to start writing. I’m also rebuilding The Darkest Realm from scratch, and might even redesign the map. It’s such a lot of work, but I know it will be worth it when it’s finally done and released.
Take care everyone <3
~AAC
Dealing With Writer’s block
As a writer, if you haven’t already, you will one day inevitably experience the phenomena that is known as Writer’s Block. In a way, it is a right of passage in the literary world; it’s something we love to complain about on Twitter and use as an excuse for procrastinating.
Here is what Wiki has to say:
Writer’s block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. This loss of ability to write and produce new work is not a result of commitment problems or the lack of writing skills. The condition ranges from difficulty in coming up with original ideas to being unable to produce a work for years. Writer’s block is not solely measured by time passing without writing. It is measured by time passing without productivity in the task at hand.
Wikipedia, 29/8/2020
The above article goes on to mention a number of factors that can stop a writer – physical injuries, little or no inspiration or new ideas, distraction from writing and so on. While these are all valid reasons for not writing, I wouldn’t class these as writer’s block; these are barriers to writing. Several writers I follow on Twitter have struggled to write due to the pandemic and the nightmare that 2020 has wrought upon the world, which shows that our environment and stressors also play a role in productivity.
I’m not talking about barriers though. I’m talking about when a writer is some way into their WIP (work in progress) and hits a wall. Hard. There is no way to move the characters, no way to back track, or to twist and turn. You’ve hit a brick wall and broken the proverbial axle, and now you can’t move.
So what should you do when you come across a crudely drawn wizard blocking your path, and you can’t progress your story? Here are a few methods I use. Note: this is what works for me. Every writer is different. The trick is to find what works for you. I don’t think it matters whether a writer is a plotter or a pantser; either way, the creative flow has been blocked and needs a good flush.
1. I Question Myself.
It’s not like we don’t already question ourselves every sentence, right? When I hit a wall, I sit back and ask myself questions like:
“Did I just add in drama that wasn’t necessary?”
“Was that even remotely realistic?”
“Am I rambling on about nothing?”
“Is this chapter working, or do I need to scrap 5k words and start over?”
“I’ve already written 50 traveling scenes. How can I make this one different without going over the top?”
I spent almost 2 days writing a chapter set within the city of Karatha in The Lowest Realm. In the original scene, a militia patrol rode through the town and searched the inn where my heroes were staying. I had them make this totally ridiculous getaway from the city, involving a large explosion and lots of unrealistic magic use.
I hit a wall. I walked away and came back to it, then deleted the whole thing. The entire scene was turned into an R&R scene (complete with some love-making wink wink), and paved the way to the next chapter. It also gave me a chance to delve into a little backstory.
2. Plot Check
Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, you still need to have some idea of the story in mind, and a way to keep it on track. Some people choose to write scenes out of order and all over the place (which is fine if that’s what you like), but at the end of the day, the scenes/chapters need to be connected to each other and be relevant. I like to make a chapter list with a one or two word prompt for what will happen, and make sure I’m not straying from the path.
Ch 1. Visit the king.
Ch 2. Library.
Ch 3. Drama
…etc.
Whatever keeps you grounded and on the right track. This can also help with identifying plot holes.
3. Muse Check
This probably sounds ridiculous, but check your muse!! For me, my muse is music. I can randomly stumble upon a song which makes my brain explode, and I am suddenly able to write for hours, days, weeks, months, with just that one song on loop. I found this cover of Springsteen’s I’m on Fire by Mumford & Sons, and it pretty much gave me the super powers needed to write The Lowest Realm. Without this song, it still would not have been published.
Right now, my muse is broken. I have used her up, drained her soul, and I have been at a loss. I have found a 30 minute mix that has been keeping me focused, but to be honest, it has been a struggle. I have been listening to all sorts of music to try and find my new muse, but it could take a while.
This last week, I’ve been faced by my wizard scribble, and to be honest, I was once again hating where The Darkest Realm was at. I managed to cheat my word count goal by restoring around 3k words that I had removed in the rewrite, but after that point, I was stuck.
What do we do if we have lost our muse – or don’t yet know what our muse is?
Inspiration comes from the strangest places. Yesterday, I was beta reading a story for a friend. As soon as I read the words “leather jerkin”, I had a powerful wave of inspiration – that has nothing to do with leather jerkins, mind you (10 points for thinking ‘jerkin in the jerkin’ lol). I have totally just created a new element to The Darkest Realm, that ties in with my back stories, my forward stories, and the overall story as a whole.
I still can’t write!
If you have seriously hit the wall so hard that you’ve given yourself a concussion and can’t write, that’s when I suggest you put your project aside for a day or three, or maybe a week. Watch some movies, read a book, go for a walk. Give your brain time to air and reset itself. If you have looked at it from all possible angles, asked all the right questions, maybe your story idea is just not ready to be written yet.
I got to 20k words in the follow-up of Catalogue of Disaster, and hit the wall. After doing all of the above, I realised my idea didn’t have enough juice to make it a full story. When I sat back and thought about it, the plot does have potential, but it really wasn’t strong enough to write an entire book. I still have that half-written story, and will probably make it into a free short story in a member’s only section of my site down the track. But for me, I realised it was time to let go and sit it aside. I did this 18 years ago with The Lowest Realm, before I had my awakening.
TL;DR?
Writer’s Block is being unable to write due to issues within the writing, such as a blocked muse pipe, or issues in the plot plumbing. They can usually be fixed by analysing one’s work, and diagnosing that problem.
Barriers are things such as stress and the environment around us (AKA pandemic), physical barriers such as illness/injury, broken laptop, lack of inspiration.
Whatever is stopping you from writing, just know that you can (and will!) overcome it. Remember that writing is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes it just takes a bit of time to get the pieces aligned the right way so they slot in perfectly.
Happy writing, my frens xx
~AAC
