Amelie's Writer Room

writing tips & tricks

hello! welcome back <3

today I am going to answer some of the questions I received about writing tips and tricks! these are general questions, but in a couple weeks I will be answering questions specific to Wattpad.

let's get started!

Question No. 1: What's your writing schedule and how do you stay motivated?

So about the writing schedule part....I don't have one. Not with publishing on Wattpad nor in my writing process. I typically write either in the morning after I wake up or in the evenings before bed, but it varies based on what else I have going on. And also my motivation.

I find that I am most likely to stay motivated if I am consistent with my writing. Even if that means writing just a few words a day. That doesn't always happen, but I know the longer I go between writing sessions, the more detached I begin to feel from the characters and the project, and I am going to be less motivated to continue. Sometimes if I'm not feeling motivated to write, I will do something else involving the story to stay connected to it. This might include editing, reading and replying to comments, or rereading the previous chapter!

Question No. 2: How do you find inspiration for certain scenes?

Lots of things give me inspiration! Sometimes it's a picture that I see on Pinterest or I song that I stumble onto. Sometimes it's a favorite trope that I'm excited to get to bring to light in my own way. Sometimes it's something my husband says (but don't tell him that - it will go to his head). But many times, it's just that little voice in the back of my head that never seems to shut up.

Question No. 3: Do you ever experience writer's block?

Definitely! I am a very visual writer, so if for some reason I'm not able to visualize the scene in my head or hear the dialogue in a way that feels natural, then I tend to get very stuck.

Sometimes I also just lack the motivation to write, which I think is different than having writer's block. Sometimes I know what I want to write, but I struggle to get myself to...do it.

Question No. 4: How do you overcome writer's block?

If I can't visualize a scene or decide what is about to come next, the only thing that really works for me is to close my eyes and listen to a playlist that fits the mood that I am going for in the book or part of the book.

I've always been a big daydreamer. Growing up, I was one of those readers who liked to recreate endings to my favorite books. Or, at night when I forced myself to stop reading and go to bed, I would close my eyes and predict what would happen next. Now that I am a writer, I basically do the same thing to help direct my own stories.

If I am struggling with motivation or focus, sometimes I use writing sprints to set distractions aside! Or I start with just a shell of a chapter, like the dialogue, to get things moving. Then it typically gets easier.

Question No. 5: How can you describe someone's physical traits?

There are many ways to include a character's physical traits, but I think the most important part is for it to feel natural in how it is incorporated. Instead of using a paragraph to describe everything about what a character might look like, drop little bits of the description into places where it feels relevant to what the character is doing or saying. It isn't always necessary to paint a clear picture of a character's appearance immediately upon being introduced to them. Think about when it is important for readers to have that image in their mind and paint it then to emphasize the moment.

To look for more words to use in character traits, there are a lot of good Pinterest boards that include a plethora of descriptions to help you make sure you're varying word usage!

Question No. 6: What is your #1 tip for editing?

My number #1 tip for editing is to take the time to read your work aloud, especially the dialogue! Does it sound natural? Do your sentences alternate in type and length? Do you repeat a word a lot? Are there any inconsistencies with character names or descriptions? Any typos that you didn't catch when writing? Reading aloud helps to catch a lot of those things.

Question No. 7: How do you approach writing a new project?

I'd say that I lean toward writing character-driven stories. Because of this, I typically start a new project by really outlining my characters. I sit down and determine who they really are - what drives them, what their hobbies are, their backstory, their strengths & weaknesses. At what sort of place do I want them to be in at the beginning of the story versus the end? This helps me to really flesh out some of the major points of the book that are important to include, and it also starts to give me ideas for scenes and dynamics within those scenes.

Question No. 8: Are you a planner or a pantser?

I am a plantser! Aka somewhere in between. I find that I need some sort of outline before I get started on a story to make sure that I have a plot and character arc that includes a beginning, middle, and end. But I don't tend to have anything detailing what happens in each chapter, for example. That typically develops as I start writing, but I don't take the time to do it before I begin that first chapter.

Question No. 9: Any go-to writing tools?

I have found the Save The Cat beat sheet to be really helpful when looking at plot. You can find the beat sheet online, along with information about it, but there's also a book that really walks you through it. It's amazing for framing character arcs and making sure they drive your plot.

Other than that, editing tools, such as Grammarly, are really helpful at catching those mistakes that I often read right over when proofreading. Many websites offer free editions even if premium version cost money.

Lastly, I have an abundance of pretty journals that I say I am buying for "planning" even though I have an unused pile already at home. ;)

Question No. 10: Any last advice?

Take all writing advice with a grain of salt! (Pretty ironic thing to say after giving a bunch of my tips, huh?). Between all the rules and the suggestions and everything else, you have to find your own voice and your own style. Rules can be broken! Suggestions can be tossed aside! That's the beauty about writing. Just make it yours. And make it something you are proud of. That is what really matters.

as I mentioned, my next round of tips and tricks is specific to Wattpad.

let me know if there's anything you want me to cover!

xoxo amelie