Storyloft · 7 min read Table of Contents 1. Starting Without Any Plan 2. Editing While Drafting 3. Trying to Write a Perfect First Draft 4. Giving Up in the Middle 5. Not Reading in Their Genre 6. Telling Instead of Showing 7. Writing Characters That All Sound the Same 8. Info-Dumping Backstory in Chapter […]
20 Things I Wish I Knew Before Self-Publishing My First Book
Storyloft · 6 min read Table of Contents 1. Your First Book Will Not Make You Rich (and That’s Okay) 2. Professional Editing Is Non-Negotiable 3. Your Cover Is Your Most Important Marketing Asset 4. Formatting Matters More Than You Think 5. Build Your Platform Before You Publish 6. Amazon Is Not Your Only Distribution […]
16 Confidence Boosters for Authors Who Constantly Doubt Their Writing
Storyloft · 6 min read Table of Contents 1. Keep a “Proof File” of Your Best Writing 2. Separate Drafting From Judging 3. Remember That Every Published Author Has Felt Exactly This Way 4. Get Feedback From People You Trust 5. Compare Yourself to Past You, Not Other Writers 6. Finish Something. Anything. 7. Study […]
22 Self-Discipline Hacks for Writers | Stop Getting Distracted
Storyloft · 7 min read Table of Contents 1. Put Your Phone in a Different Room 2. Use a Website Blocker During Writing Sessions 3. Write First, Research Later 4. Start With the Easiest Task 5. Use the “Just Five Minutes” Rule 6. Create a Pre-Writing Ritual 7. Set a Timer (and Race It) 8. […]
18 Mindset Shifts to Finish Writing Your Book | Author Tips
Storyloft · 6 min read Table of Contents 1. “Done” Is Better Than “Perfect” 2. First Drafts Are Supposed to Be Bad 3. You Don’t Need Permission to Be a Writer 4. Consistency Beats Inspiration 5. Your Inner Critic Has a Role — But Not During Drafting 6. Writing a Book Is a Project, Not […]
24 Brutally Honest Truths About Writing a Book No One Warned Me About
Storyloft · 7 min read Table of Contents 1. Your First Draft Will Be Embarrassingly Bad 2. The Middle of Your Book Will Try to Kill You 3. Writing a Book Takes Way Longer Than You Think 4. You Will Hate Your Book at Some Point 5. Nobody Cares About Your Book Until It’s Done […]
20 Places I Go (Mentally and Literally) to Find Story Ideas
Storyloft · 7 min read Table of Contents 1. History Books (the Footnotes, Specifically) 2. Strangers’ Conversations in Public 3. Old Family Photos You’ve Never Asked About 4. Museums (the Small, Weird Ones) 5. The News, Two Layers Deep 6. My Own Worst Experiences 7. Reddit’s “Am I the Asshole?” and “TIFU” Threads 8. Long […]
23 Creative Exercises That Make Me a Better Writer Every Time
Storyloft · 7 min read Table of Contents 1. The Six-Word Story 2. Describe a Room to Reveal Character (Without Describing the Person) 3. Rewrite a Scene From a Different POV 4. Write Dialogue Without Attribution 5. The Constraint Box 6. Flash Fiction Sprint (500 Words, 15 Minutes) 7. Write Using Only One Sense 8. […]
19 Funny but Effective Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
Storyloft · 8 min read Table of Contents 1. Write the Worst Possible Version of Your Scene 2. Have a Full Conversation With Your Main Character 3. Change Your Writing Font to Comic Sans 4. Write Your Scene as a Text Message Conversation 5. Set a Timer for 10 Minutes and Write With Your Eyes […]
27 Ways I Find Writing Inspiration When My Creativity Completely Dies
Storyloft · 9 min read Table of Contents 1. Go for a Walk Without Your Phone 2. Read Something Completely Outside Your Genre 3. Eavesdrop on Strangers (Ethically) 4. Write the Scene You’re Most Afraid Of 5. Change Your Physical Environment 6. Use Writing Prompts as Warm-Ups 7. Ask “What If?” Until Something Catches Fire […]