Writing — Blog — Kate MacRitchie | Author of Fireside Fairy Tales

How To Write A Novel Fast (The Gentle Way) in 2024

After spending years writing my first novel (and shedding plenty tears) I vowed to do things differently next time. Writing books is my passion, surely it didn’t have to feel so hard?

WritingKate MacRitchieSeptember 19, 2022write a novel fast, how to write a novel, writing advice, how to plot a novel, gently plot a novel, one page novel

How To Find A Calm Writing Routine

Ironically, I felt stressed writing parts of this blog. As in, my teeth literally went numb.

I remember a time when writing didn’t come with a heap of expectations or mental resistance. Somewhere along the line what should be simple and joyful has become source of stress and judgement.

And that’s why I’m writing about how to find a calm writing routine.

WritingKate MacRitchieMarch 31, 2022writing life, writing affirmations, writing tips, calm writing routine Comments

How To Write a Complete, Coherent Novel For NaNoWriMo 2024

I will cut to the chase. Eva Deverell’s One Page Novel is a course that changed my writing life and right now you can get 10% off using the code KATE10.

WritingKate MacRitchieOctober 17, 2021nanowrimo prep, nanowrimo, win nanowrimo2021, how to win nanowrimo, how to plot a novel, how to plot a novel fast, the one page novel, eva deverellComment

Novel Writing Secrets For Slow Writers

Being a slow writer is hard. I was never sure if it was perfectionism or not having the ‘right’ writing process that held me back. Maybe I was just a slow writer, end of story.

WritingKate MacRitchieAugust 29, 2021slow writing, writing tips, how to finish a novel, plot a novel on one page Comments

How To Enchant Your Readers With A Rock-Solid Setting

Setting is perhaps more important to Fantasy writers than any other genre.

WritingKate MacRitchieJune 26, 2021writing hacks, writergram, writing tips, writing, writing advice, write rock-solid settings, how to write immersrive fantasy settings, how to write fantasy, how to world buildComment

Publishing Under My Real Name

Hasn’t it been a while? Winter and lockdown wove a web of quiet days, book reading and nurturing creative seedlings. Now those seeds are nudging their way out of the snow, it’s time to come out of hibernation…

WritingKate MacRitchieMarch 9, 2021writing life, writers of instagram, writing, self publishing, indie author Comments

Why You Need Writing Affirmations

Do writing affirmations really work? Yes, I’ve concluded, to a spooky degree. I took an interest after discovering that one of my key love languages (as a Scot, my toes curl writing that sentence) is Words of Affirmation.

WritingKate MacRitchieNovember 23, 2020writing, writing tips, writing affirmations, positive affirmations, new writers Comments

Last Minute NaNoWriMo Prep

It’s the last weekend before National Novel Writing Month. Before you write off participating, I’m here to tell you there’s still time to prepare. 2020’s been rough, might as well get a novel out of it!

WritingKate MacRitchieOctober 28, 2020nanowrimo, nanowrimo2020, nanowrimo prep, win nanowrimo, preparing for nanowrimo, preptober, writing advice, eva deverell, rachael stephenComment

Catch-up & Autumn Writing Goals

I’m going on an overdue adventure to the edge of a dark forest, where limbless horsemen canter in ghostly procession…

WritingKate MacRitchieSeptember 25, 2020writing, writing goals, path to publication, author blog, writing blog, creative lifestyle Comments

Plot A Novel - On One Page!

I’m euphoric! I’ve just finished the first draft of Against the Sun, my latest novel, and it only took four months. Scenes are (mostly) in the right place and my protagonist’s arc is solid. There isn’t a spare character in sight and I’m confident this book will take less time to edit than my last. I owe it all to Eva Deverell and her One Page Novel course.

WritingKate MacRitchieAugust 26, 2020writing, writing advice, writing blog, writers lifestyle, authorpreneur, author blog, eva deverell, one page novel, novel plotting, how to plot a novelComment

How To Edit Your Novel When You Don't Know Where To Start

Why can’t first drafts be perfect? I knew I wouldn’t get away scot-free, but wasn’t quite prepared for the mountain of revisions. Where was my Zadie Smith moment - grabbing a bottle of champagne and having a introspective moment of satisfaction and emptiness in my garden? Instead I’d reached a false summit, the way forward shrouded by mist. I didn’t know where to go next.

WritingKate MacRitchieAugust 17, 2020writing, editing, editing a novel, novel magic kit, writing tips, writing advice, writers blog Comments

Keeping A Writer's Notebook

On Monday I asked via Instagram Stories whether you’d like a post on searching for literary agents or how to keep a writer’s notebook - as you can see, the writer’s notebook won!

WritingKate MacRitchieAugust 4, 2020writers lifestyle, writing habits, writing hacks, writing advice, writing process, writing life, writing, writing blog, writers of instagramComment

Using Word Counts To Achieve Your Writing Goals

I have a rocky relationship with word counts. They go down when I want them to go up, and soar out of control when I’d rather be concise. I’ve found word counts motivating, stifling, an uplifting measurement of progress and a way to disguise floundering as progress.

WritingKate MacRitchieJuly 31, 2020writers lifestyle, writing habits, writing, creative lifestyle, word counts, writing goals, writing tips, writing advice Comments

Balancing Writing & Instagram

Last week I took a social media break. Specifically, an Instagram break. I’ve done media deprivation in the past as part of The Artist’s Way, but this time my Instagram retreat came from within. On Sunday night I disabled the app with a rush of breath and relaxing shoulders. Since when did a stupid app feel heavier than my novel?

WritingKate MacRitchieJuly 22, 2020writergram, writers of instagram, instagram for writers, how to use instagram as a writer, social media and writing, social media tips, instagram tips, creative instagram tips Comments

3 Words That Describe Me As A Writer

I’ve been many different types of writer. Aspiring. Pantser. Plotter. Bad. Solitary. Slow. Multi-tasker. Recently my writing has shifted into a new phase. I’ve never felt more in tune with the way I write and what I want to write about. It made me realise I’ve changed a lot from my teenage, Tolkien-inspired scribbles…

WritingKate MacRitchieJune 22, 2020novel magic kit, writers blog, writing advice, writing hacks, writing process, writers lifestyle, writing life, writing, writing inspiration Comments

The Novel Magic Kit

Do you remember me hinting in a recent blog post about a Novel Magic Kit? Well, after months of work - it's here!

WritingKate MacRitchieJune 2, 2020novel magic kit, writing kit, writing tips, writing blog, editing a novel, writing hacks, author blog, authorpreneurComment

My Writing Process

Today I want to show you what my writing process looks like - from first idea to finished story. I’ve avoided creating these types of post in the past because, being unpublished, I don’t feel like a ‘proper writer’. But you don’t spend the majority of your life writing without developing some kind of process. I like to think mine is pretty foolproof by now, so I thought I’d outline it here for anyone who might find it useful.

WritingKate MacRitchieMay 9, 2020writing advice, writing tips, writing, writing life, writers blog, writing blog, writing process Comments

Pine and Birch

Nearly seventy years ago, I travelled east to west to guard the great pine tree at Loch Ewes. Every Sunday I row to the island in the middle of the loch and splash a drop of ale under its branches, for the tree’s fate is linked to the fate of my family. Where the Ewes Pine stands tall, no Loughty shall fall.

WritingKate MacRitchieApril 8, 2020free short story, flash fiction, dark folkore, scottish folklore, original short story Comments

World-Building With Eva Deverell

I draw endless inspiration from my immediate surroundings, but every so often I like to escape. Usually, I do this by reading a book. I’m sure you do, too. But what if you don’t have a book? Or the worlds therein aren’t to your liking? What if you could escape to a world of your own invention with just a piece of paper, a pencil and your imagination?