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.

i am writing a novel – Rachel Grosvenor Author

So, you’re writing a novel!

It’s a bit like baking a cake, in a roundabout, not very much but I’m going to run with the metaphor for this post, way. You need to make sure you add in your ingredients before you put it in the oven. Otherwise, the cake won’t rise. But what are the correct ingredients? Let’s see…

Your main character / protagonist:

The person/creature/individual we are going to follow for the rest of this book. Who are they, what is ‘life as normal’ for them, what do we need to know, what do they want, why can’t they have it, and why are we joining them to read about their amazing story?

Your world:

What is home to your protagonist, or where are they, and why are they there? Who do they live with?

Tone:

Think about the difference between Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Soul Music by Terry Pratchett. Or even, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. You may not have read the books, but you may be aware from promotional material that they have a distinct tone from one another. The first act is where you set this up. Are we reading something that’s amusing, with wry wit, in the style of Pratchett? Or, something serious and literary, in the style of Mantel?

An inciting incident:

Something is needed in your first act that pushes your protagonist out of their ‘life as normal’ and into a new decision/life/world. This is the thing that galvanises your character to act, the thing that forces your reader to want to read on. This is the moment that sets the stakes for the novel.

Now you can put your cake in the oven, and watch it rise! Or, you know, write the first act of your novel successfully.

Looking for an editor and writing coach for next year? Get in touch now, and see how I can help you.

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.