What happens on a discovery call?

A discovery call is a thirty minute chat about what you need help with. It’s very informal, and is like having coffee with a friend.

What will we discuss on a coaching call?

We will talk about anything you like to do with your writing. I use my experience as a creative writing tutor to both offer possible solutions to issues, as well as coaching you to understand why you are experiencing the issue and how we can move forward. I also set tasks outside of our time together so that you can work toward your goals. All our conversations are confidential.

Can we meet in person?

During Covid I am happy to work with your time zone and meet you on Zoom.

Tag: creative writing

Productivity

How To Set Effective Writing Goals

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date October 27, 2021
No Comments on How To Set Effective Writing Goals

Do you ever feel that you set goals but struggle to move them beyond the act of writing them down? If so, this is the blog post for you.

Setting effective writing goals is the key to moving forward in our writing lives and achieving those literary dreams. So, let’s break it down together.

Specifically define success.

What is the goal? If you want to write a novel, ask yourself what the endpoint is. If it’s to publish the work and promote it, the goal doesn’t just end at writing the novel. Being specific about what success will mean for you is key.

Understand the actions involved.

Yes, we can write down ‘Write a novel’, or ‘Publish’, but that doesn’t really tell us what is involved in the act, and so can mean that success will be harder to reach. To set an effective writing goal, break down the actions that are involved in the task.

How will you achieve your set goals?
What is involved in writing a novel?
What will you need to learn to publish?
Will you hire an editor?

There are lots of questions to consider. If you need a hand with this bit, don’t be afraid to get in touch and ask for help!

Set a Timeline.

Once you know what is involved in your writing goal, you can set a realistic timeline for the process. Be generous and realistic. If you need help with planning your writing week, check this post out here!

Remind yourself.

It’s time to set up that writing habit. Look at your calendar and slot in those actions, setting reminders to help you remember to do the work. If you struggle with finding the time, The Time to Write Workbook can take you through the process. It’s an investment in yourself for the price of a cup of coffee!

Get to work.

Once those effective writing goals are set, the only thing left to do is take action. Getting to work on your goals can be made much easier by setting rewards for each task and keeping that final stage in mind.

If you’re looking for some further help, why not take a look at my Novel Writing Masterclass – It’s Time to Write Your Novel. This course takes you from idea to publication and will make setting those goals so much easier.

What writing goals do you have? Let me know – I would love to help you achieve them!

Found this blog post useful? Share it with another writer.

Want to read something similar? Check these out:

The Time Blocking Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel
Tips and Tricks for Dealing With Procrastination
Ten Tips For Planning Your Writing Week

Tags aspiring author, aspiring writer, creative writing, effective goals, Effective Writing Goals, how to set Effective Writing Goals, how to set goals, i am writing a novel, writing, writing a novel, writing goals

Productivity

How to Get Back Into Writing After a Break

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date October 13, 2021
No Comments on How to Get Back Into Writing After a Break

Sometimes we need a holiday, and our writing breaks are planned, and at other times they creep up on us, and we realise that it’s been weeks, or maybe even months, since we last wrote. When that happens, how can we get back into writing after taking a break? Here are five ways. Oh, actually, I’m feeling kind. Have ten!

1) Be kind to yourself.

It’s okay to take a break from your novel. Seriously – it is. You might have heard about writers who write 1000 words a day with ease and three novels a year, but all that does not matter. Being a prolific writer is how you define it. I try and write 4,000 words a week, but in the last few months, I have had a lot of editing to do as well, so I have split my time between two projects. This means that I’ve been writing more like 2,000 words a week. That’s okay. Whatever your situation, the fact that you are reading this means that you are ready to get back into writing, and that’s great. Be kind to yourself; a writer doesn’t have to write all the time to be a writer.

2) Mindmap.

Get all of those ideas down on paper – whether they are reasonable, excellent, or you’re not so sure. Just the act of allowing yourself to think through ideas for your work in progress will create new inspiration, ideas, and inspire you to take action.

3) Writing exercises.

One of my favourites. I love to partake in writing exercises to get myself in the writing mood! I teach one of my favourite ways of coming up with novel ideas in my Novel Writing Masterclass, so if you’re a fan of exercises too and want a hand going from idea to publication, go ahead and take a peek!

4) Real-life research.

From cooking the meals your characters enjoy to saddling up and experiencing their way of travel, there are many ways to enjoy real-life research. You could even sit down to create a map (I love Inkarnate for this). Doing things that relate to your novel but are not writing can help get those creative juices flowing.

5) Re-organise that routine.

Writing routines change, and that’s okay! It might feel a bit dusty and stilted if you are coming back to an old routine after a break away from writing. Spend some time refreshing that writing routine and working out how you want it to be moving forward. If you want a hand with this, take this fun quiz on my website!

6) Chat to other writers.

Get involved in the writing community. Whether you join a local writing group, a private Facebook group, or the fabulous writing community on Instagram, there are many wonderful places to find other writers. Within them, you will get accountability, warm conversation, and like-mindedness that’s hard to beat. Plus, there will be others who would like to get back into writing too, so you can share your thoughts with them.

7) Read, read, read.

Remind yourself of your writing passion by picking up those books again and digging in! The more you read, the easier it will be to write. Why? Because through reading we get more entertainment. We get an education on what it is to write, on tropes, grammar, and so much more. Most important of all, we get inspiration.

8) Write your favourite book.

Well, no, not the exact same book. But, there’s a lot to be said for writing fan fiction if you want to get back into writing. If your creative faucet feels stuck, then slip into a world that you already know, with characters you already love.

9) Re-ignite your passion with a course.

Writing courses are fantastic for getting us back into the writing spirit. If you are looking for a course to try, give It’s Time to Write Your Novel a go! It’s a 40 class course for only $99 and will take you from procrastination to print.

10) Create an experience.

We don’t just have to be typing to write. You can create an experience based on your book too. From creating a collage on Pinterest to building a beautiful playlist that transports you straight into your world, there are many ways to develop an experience that will deliver you directly to your novel.

Do you have any to add? If so, I would love to hear them!

Found this useful? Please share it with another writer.

Looking for something similar to read? Check the following out.

3 Things I Did to Level Up My Writing Game
T he Reset Week: Investigate Your Writing Process
T he Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Writing Routine

Tags creative writing, Get back into writing, how to get back into writing, how to write, write now, writing, writing after a break away

Productivity

Why My Writing Routine Won’t Work For You

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date September 15, 2021
No Comments on Why My Writing Routine Won’t Work For You

Writing routines and rituals are an important part of the writing process. They are the answer to ‘I don’t have the time to write’ – figuring out a writing routine carefully can help us find available hours in our busy week.

But here’s the critical thing about creating a writing routine…it has to fit in with your life.

I have helped many writers go through the process of creating a writing routine. It can sometimes be lengthy, as the process requires a level of investigation into time, creative data, and a little more. So, it can be tempting to look at other writers and see what they are up to, because there lies the promise of it all being figured out for you.

Following Other Routines

So, let’s say we listen to Stephen King and pay close attention to his writing routine. He writes every day. Awesome!

At first, it goes well. Writing every day can be a bit addictive even, but then, there comes a day when something gets in the way. It could be anything from taking the car to be serviced to forgetting to sit down and begin, but ultimately it means that a day is missed. The overall feeling that comes from this is that it didn’t work, and it may even stop us from having a go at another writing routine.

If we haven’t spent time considering whether writing every day fits with our lives, it can be a rigid and strict rule that must be broken at some stage. Life happens, and if we restrict ourselves to fixed structures not developed for us, it is far more likely that these structures will be broken.

This is exactly why I do not recommend my own routine to anyone else. Finding a routine that works for you is all about just that! It is wonderful to take inspiration from others, but a routine is more likely to work when it takes your personal schedule into consideration.

A writing routine has to fit with your life and your responsibilities, and nobody else’s. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be challenging to work this out because I can share the process of development with you.

Finding Your Own Path

So, are you ready to find your writing routine and fit more writing into your life? If so, I am excited to tell you that I am making it easier than ever for you to do this.

There are three ways I can help you:

1:1 Coaching

It’s Time to Write Your Novel – The Masterclass

And now…(launching 17th September!)

The Time to Write Workbook

For the price of a cup of coffee, I have created a workbook that will help you:

Find time to write
Create a writing routine that fits with YOUR schedule
Identify writing areas you would like more information on
Set and achieve writing goals

If you are ready for a taste of coaching and want to see a way forward in your creative life, this is the workbook for you.

Here’s what Emma had to say:

‘Love the layout, very visual. It’s really useful, and I love how everything is broken down, so you’re not so overwhelmed with the task at hand.’

Here’s what Hannah had to say:

‘This workbook is a great place to start. Knowing what my Creative Data is and using that to structure my time has been eye-opening. There’s real value in providing a structure that makes the seemingly huge (and very intimidating) task of sitting down to write achievable.”

As a writing coach trained by an ICF accredited company with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing, you can trust that this book has been created carefully, using tried and true coaching practices informed by writing knowledge.

So, stay tuned. I will send you an email when it’s launched, and I cannot wait to share this with you!

Are you looking for a similar read?

Check out:
Reasons Not To Write Every Day
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Writing Routine
3 Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable (Writing Edition)