Hydropreneur Program: Beginnings

Wow, we're half way through the Hydropreneur Program (HPP) and it's been a heck of a roller-coaster ride so far. I think the "carriage" is still building up to the apex which is the Water Week. It's getting hot in here. Hot! But, I want to take a step back to review how it all...

How to write a book in 30 days

I found a very useful resources for writers who want to get a book written but have no idea where to start. There's a wonderful series How to write a book in 30 days that resembles a mini-course with worksheets that go hand in hand. The worksheets require you to sign in with Facebook/Google+ though....

The Little Engine that Could

I was reading a book on Sales this week and he recommended the story of "The Little Engine that Could". It's a simple story but so deep. Not just for children. Try reading it in the library and see if you get funny stares! Anyway, the lesson learnt would be excellent for writers and every...

2 Tips to Show Who’s Talking

Ever forgot who's talking in a story? Ever seen tons of dialogue lines and you have to count if it's even or odd numbers to trace who the original speaker was? I have. To solve that problem easily, just slot in the person's name every few lines so we won't forget who was speaking. But that...

Taking your story to the next level

Ever wanted your story to rise out of stagnation or to kick it up a gear? Read this article by Carly Sandifer. She outlines four fantastic techniques to do just that. My favourite one is: "Write about something weird." We tend as writers, including myself, to restrain ourselves when writing or generating ideas. We let the good guys do...

Learn how to write from painting

I found an interesting article by Joe Bunting on how he learnt how to write from painting! Joe compares sketching to free writing. To let yourself go and write loosely. It's not the final work but just a practise towards the final one. He adds an important point about sketching and painting. "When you sketch,...

6 steps on how to get solid advice from the pros

Getting advice is critical for success in all parts of life. The Bible says that when there are many counsellors there is success. So be bold and ask! It all started after my brother introduced me to Tim Ferriss' bestselling book "The 4 hour workweek" which is the smart lazy man's guide to riches. Anyway,...

Writing Tips from Ken Follett

Here is a great resource by thriller master Ken Follett. His books are really long but you don't need to read his books to learn from him. He has generously provided lessons and videos on his page: Masterclass and The Art of Suspense. The Masterclass is quite brief but really essential backbones of a story. He usually writes...

3 ways to fictionalise a person you know without getting caught

I'm going to vomit out some super short posts with just the bare essentials so it makes for light reading and instant application. Here we go. So you want to transport your irritating uncle Bob or talkative neighbour as a character in your story. He/she seems to fit your desired profile perfectly but you don't...

How to overcome writer’s block

A great article by Laurie on overcoming writer's block here. I especially like her fifth tip about paying yourself to write! You start by giving your friend some cash and every time you write a page, you are paid a fixed amount of cash back. Money, a great motivator of people. I would like to add on my...