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.

worldbuilding – Rachel Grosvenor Author

Coaching

How to Work with Me When I’m Fully Booked

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date April 4, 2025

If you’ve come here looking for editing and coaching help and can see that the banner above says I’m fully booked, don’t panic! I book up very quickly, between 10 months to a year in advance, but 1:1 is not the only way to work with me. Check out the following:

The Novel Writing Masterclass

This course includes 40 bite-size classes that fit into your busy life, designed to take you from idea to publication.

It’s been created with you in mind:

The person who wants to write but can’t find the time.
The person who wants to create a novel but doesn’t know where to start.
The person who isn’t sure what comes next when writing their novel.

Imagine:

Finding the time in your week to write.
Sitting down and knowing what you should be doing.
Having a programme that keeps you accountable to the written word.

No more writing woes because you know when to write, what to write, and where to go next.

The Fiction Fellowship

Are you a writer looking for your community?

The Fiction Fellowship focuses on fiction writers who are looking to connect with other creatives and hone their storytelling skills. Learning with others and having writing friends can make such a difference to your productivity and motivation, so we aim to provide an environment where you can make those connections and feel inspired to write.

With twice-weekly writing sprints, monthly community calls, and more, we’ll be with you every step of the way to help you develop your writing skills, expand your craft knowledge, and make progress in your writing.

What’s included:

Community Sessions
Writing Workbooks
Q&As
Complete post archive
Video Lessons
Private Community
Twice Weekly Live Writing Sprints
Accountability and Goal Setting
General Support

Run by myself and Isobelle of Inspired Creative Co, and we know that finding your writing community can lead to great things. So far, our writers have written over a million words!

If that’s what you’re looking for, then this is your space!

Connect with us on Instagram:

@rachelgrosvenorauthor

@inspiredcreativeco_

Writing Workbooks

Are you feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of writing? Are you struggling to find the time to write, unsure about creating a writing routine, and undecided about your writing goals?

If this sounds like you, it’s time to invest in yourself.

I have workbooks available if you are ready to:

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
Reach your targets and see a way forward
Take action and plan your writing year in full

Otherwise, make sure you’re on my email list here, and when I have space again, you’ll be among the first to know.

Craft

What Is ‘The Sacred Flaw’ In Writing?

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date April 4, 2025

Have you ever heard the term ‘the sacred flaw’ when talking about writing? It’s a common concept and one that is often discussed in writing groups. So, whether or not you have heard of it, let’s chat about what it is and what that phrase means.

‘The sacred flaw’ is a phrase coined by author Will Storr. In its simplest terms, Storr uses it to explain how to build a story as a brain builds a life. He explains that we understand reality by telling ourselves stories. (As a side note, this is the very origin of Creative Writing, the communication of narrative as a way to frame the world around us.)

Storr says: ‘We experience life in three acts, with a crisis, a struggle and resolution.’ (https://theelementsofwriting.com/storr/)

Storr goes on to explain an idea I wrote to you about weeks ago: the difference between character-driven stories and plot-driven stories. When writing a character-driven story, you begin with the character. Storr recommends doing the same to find ‘the sacred flaw’ of your story and then creating the plot around that character to ‘test’ that flaw. Essentially, we are trying to find your character’s ‘flawed idea about the world’ (Storr).

Here are some questions to help you discover a belief that your character finds ‘sacred’ (if you’re struggling to think of what this might mean, let’s use one of my favourite examples, Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. Scrooge mistakenly believes that money and wealth are sacred. The plot tests this mistaken theory throughout, ultimately giving him a different belief system by the end, where the very meaning of ‘wealth’ changes):

What experience might have given your character their belief? (For Scrooge, it was his childhood.)
How does this cause them to view the world? (Think storyview [how your character sees the world] vs worldview [how the world really is].)
How will you create a plot and series of events that challenge this belief, this ‘sacred flaw’?

At the heart of this concept is an understanding that the story is about the character’s journey and change.

So, now we know what ‘the sacred flaw’ means and how to find it. Tell me, what is your character’s ‘sacred flaw’?

Found this interesting and want to read more about this concept? Check out:

In Conversation with Will Storr

Tags author advice, characterisation, creative writing, dialogue tips, editing, fiction writing, narrative voice, plot development, prose style, sacred flaw, Storytelling, the sacred flaw, worldbuilding, writing, writing prompts, writing tips

Craft

5 Things to Avoid When Writing Setting

Post author By Rachel Grosvenor
Post date May 26, 2022
No Comments on 5 Things to Avoid When Writing Setting

Worldbuilding is such an important part of communicating a story to a reader, and writing setting is an essential element. If a reader doesn’t see a world clearly, they won’t understand where the characters are within it and won’t have that vital interest in the novel.

So, when we are writing setting, what should we avoid?

1) Focusing on sight only.

There are five senses (well, six depending on your outlook), and the reader wants to read about them. It is beautiful to read about how a place looks, but make sure you pull the reader into the story by telling us about the other senses too. We want to know about the cool air on your character’s skin, the scent of bread in the local bakery, the sound of children playing in a far off field, and the taste of autumn in the air.

2) Too much detail.

Your reader is intelligent, so have faith in their vision and ability to imagine the scene before them. Putting in too much detail can be jarring, especially if the detail seems irrelevant to the story. Consider what you can get across to your reader without going overboard with the description. For example, do they need to know about an old chair that doesn’t appear again in the story?

3) Setting information dumps.

Information dumps are a significant amount of text dedicated to filling the reader in. It can pull a reader from a story, so avoid setting the scene with pages and pages of description. The reader will forget that they are reading a story at all.

4) Disconnecting the setting from your characters.

How does your character interact with the world around them? How do they see the world they live in? This can tell us so much. For example, perhaps the steam rising from a chimney makes them think of a dragon. Why would this be the case? Are they a dreamer, an adventurer in a fantasy story? Connect the world with your character and draw your reader in further.

5) Allowing the setting to overtake the story.

Setting is a vital element of your story, but it is not the most important thing about it. Sometimes, we can get wrapped up in imagining a world we have created, and while it is wonderful to read about that place, make sure that your story is still firmly set within it. The reader wants to know about your tale first and foremost.

Ready to create a world that sparkles? There are many ways I can help. Check out my online writing course, It’s Time to Write Your Novel, here. This course takes you through the journey of writing a novel, including worldbuilding and setting.

Do you want to read something similar?
Check out the following:
3 Ways to Ensure Your Novel is Well Paced
4 Tips for Writing in Multiple Points of View