Creative Writing | The Old Shelter

Story Structure 101 – Act 1 Is The Reader’s Big Why

Creative WritingJune 18, 20244KViews 0Likes 2Comments

The story structure is the skeleton of your story: the more solid it is, the more unputdownable your story will be. The 3-act Story Structure – the more ancient and the more flexible of all narrative structures – is how to build a story that has a strong conflict and a satisfying payoff.

Blog featured image. Title of the blog:Writing Roadblocks: How to Get Your Story Unlocked by Finding Her Voice and Your Direction. Image description: A padlock hangs on a wooden door. Photo by Adam J on Unsplash

Writer’s block: how to overcome it and finish your story

Creative WritingOctober 16, 20235KViews 0Likes 0Comments

How to overcome writer’s block? How do you go past that roadblock in the story that always trips you? In this article, you’ll find tips to overcome writer’s block so you’ll finally finish your story.

Devil is in the Details. That’s why Historical Fiction is Diabolic

Creative WritingOctober 27, 20194KViews 0Likes 8Comments

I like to call it “Small History” because it’s the exact opposite of the history of the big events, but also because it lives in the small details

Story Templates: My Secret Weapon to Conquer NaNoWriMo

Creative WritingNovember 1, 20183KViews 0Likes 2Comments

A solid story starts with a solid story structure. Here are some of the most common and most effective narrative structures and how to use them.

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Reflection – Why the #AtoZChallenge is a perfect method of research

Creative WritingMay 7, 20184KViews 0Likes 29Comments

The AtoZ Challenge, a month-long blogging challenge happening every April, is an alternative opportunity to do research in a different but very inspirational way.

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Writing (Ursual K. Le Guin)

Creative WritingFebruary 19, 20183KViews 0Likes 6Comments

“If you want your writing to be taken seriously, don’t marry and have kids, and above all, don’t die.” – Ursual K. Le Guin (quote)

Why outlines are invaluable tools for pantsers

Creative WritingDecember 10, 20173KViews 0Likes 6Comments

If you’re a pantser, you probably don’t want to even hear about outlines. But what if you could start writing a novel by using outlines in a creative way?

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AtoZ Challenge Reflection Post 2017 – Don’t panic. Plan!

Creative WritingMay 8, 20174KViews 0Likes 41Comments

Plan the hell out of it and share the hell out of it. That’s the essence of the AtoZ Challenge and what the challenge has taught me as a blogger

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Quitting NaNoWriMo and the historical writer’s dilemma

Creative WritingDecember 4, 20165KViews 0Likes 18Comments

When writing historical fiction, what is more important? History or the story?

Plotting Your Novel as a Pantser

Creative WritingOctober 21, 20165KViews 0Likes 14Comments

Is it possible to plot a novel when you are a pantser? Yes, it is!

Blog Evolution: 3 things you may want to change after blogging for 1 year

Creative WritingJuly 13, 20165KViews 0Likes 11Comments

How to start a blog? It’s good you ask, becaue you’ll probably need to know far more than you think. Here’s a quick guide to starting your blog with more awareness.

How to complete the AtoZ Challenge even when life doesn’t collaborate (Reflection Post)

Creative WritingMay 9, 20164KViews 0Likes 38Comments

My second AtoZ Challange is over and let me tell you it didn’t go as I was expecting at all! My plan was to get the best out of the challenge this year. When I entered last year, I thought I knew what I was getting into (insert polite giggle of commiseration here). The truth is,…