It’s that time of year again when writers around the world prepare for NaNoWriMo – otherwise known as “National Novel Writing Month.” Taking place in November, NaNoWriMo challenges writers of all experiences to write an entire novel (or novella) in one month’s time, averaging about 1,667 words per day.
Read MoreVideo games have so many different things they can teach every storyteller. They can teach them about possibility in a narrative, dialogue options, and how to introduce the player (or reader or viewer) into the story.
Read MoreAs writers embark on their storytelling career, they eventually reach a point where they need to start marketing themselves, be it because the publishing company they are working with won’t do it for them or because they are self-publishing.
Read MoreWithout a doubt, the number one thing I hear discussed amongst writers is the question of how to be productive. I get emails about this constantly. “How do I keep writing?” “How do I finish my novel?”
The answer to these questions has never been a satisfactory one. I always just tell people the age-old adage that if they want to be a novelist or a screenwriter, the one and only thing they need to do is write.
Read MoreOften as novelists, it’s easy to get caught up in all the books we need to read. However, if you’ve ever felt like you were in a writing funk, then it might be a good idea to try mixing things up and reading a play–or seeing one if your local theater is showing any.
Read MoreTo many people, a play and a movie are strikingly similar in how they tell stories. In fact, many plays are adapted into movies almost seamlessly, it’s a wonder the two aren’t interchangeable.
However, if you are someone looking to write a play or a movie and you’re not sure which to pick, just randomly selecting to write a play because you think it will be easily adapted into a movie is not only a poor idea, but will limit your creativity as a storyteller.
Read MoreIf you asked any fellow writer if they wanted to be a “good storyteller” they would undoubtedly say “yes.” Even if it’s not for reasons tied to fame, recognition, or success, everyone wants to be good at what they do.
However, to be “good” at something has many different meanings, especially in the artistic world.
Read MoreFor many authors seeing their work go from fiction to film sounds nothing short of a dream. This appeal is not unfounded – how awesome would it be for more people to come in contact with your story? To see your story brought to life? To hear those biting conversations you wrote and painful exclamations become fully realized?
Read MoreOften one of the most difficult parts of writing a novel is starting. The blank page is known to have intimidated even some of the greatest authors, so it should come as no surprise that no matter how many novels you’ve written – whether it’s your first or your 30th – the beginning is often the most difficult.
Read MoreThe notion of creating an ideal writing life as an unknown storyteller is something that at first feels incredibly far off.
This is because you more than likely aren’t being paid for your stories, which means other things such as work or family are interrupting what could have been a full day of nonstop writing.
Read MoreFor the majority of my writing life, I had been the writer who does a lot of talking, but not a lot of writing.
However, one day during my junior year of college, my boyfriend said to me, “For someone who wants to be writer, you don’t write very much.”
Read MoreAt the heart of a great story almost always lies a great character. While there are of course exceptions in which the setting or the plot carry the narrative, in most circumstances a great story isn’t without a stand-out character or two.
Because of this, all writers devote time to crafting characters with the hopes that they are unique and memorable.
Read MoreCreative Writing Coach and Storyteller | Serving creative writers who want to write novels, movies, plays, and video games – and helping them learn how to write all four.
Hey there—I’m E.M. Welsh and I’m a writer and storyteller based in Texas. In my spare time, you can find me reading books, watching TV and movies, and playing video games. I also cook a lot of food and dabble in a plethora of other hobbies.
I’m currently working on my first book, which I hope to have published in 2024.
This blog is basically a diary of what I’m up to, random musings, and progress updates on my book.
Powered by Squarespace.
