28 Comments

Thanks so much for writing this. I'm also an aspiring author who has been writing in and off for many years. I really feel that being in a more mature head space is improving my writing and stories also. I might have to look into scrivener too!

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Hi Tania - thanks so much for your comment. Yes to that mature head space!

Scrivner was a game-changer for me. It cost me less than 50 GBP and you pay once and then own it. I tend to write little snippets and then weave them together. If I was using Word I can't imagine the scrolling and files I would have had to work with. Scrivner let me keep all those little files in one larger file and move them around/jump between them. It helped me embrace my non-linear process!

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Sounds great! I feel like I work in a similar way 😆

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A refreshing take on novel writing advice, offering both practical tips and more idealogical considerations.

I especially appreciated this line: "Ultimately my writing container felt like a womb and that was an immensely powerful tool in allowing me to connect to the fictional world I was shaping."

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Thank you Stephanie for your comment. Its so interesting to see which words stood out to you. I strongly believe we all need to find our own routes into writing - there is a lot of power in embracing our tendencies.

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I’m guilty of being too impatient to hold my idea in a sacred container until it’s fully formed, but this has motivated me to try!

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Haha - I mean what works for you! For me it was magical :D

That said, I don't believe in advice, only in sharing what worked for me. I do believe we should embrace what keeps us inspired and creative. Soap boxes or sacred containers both!

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agree with you on advice generally! except that it feels true to me to keep my ideas under wraps a little longer, and this was a great reminder to start doing it!

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I love that Caroline. Especially for a performer like yourself. 🙏🏻💕

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May 5Liked by Catriona Knapman

Catriona, I feel like I have so much to say from reading this post! I love that idea of meandering and seeing where it goes. That is how I wrote as a child, until I saw a speech by Malorie Blackman when I was about 10. She said you needed a road map - so I held this advice as gospel. Later, I read Steven King’s On Writing, which says NOT to plan, just to start with a what if…. So then I tried that. My first novel I didn’t plan and it was a bit of a mess! Now, I do plan - I like the planning, I actually love a synopsis, and I find that a rough plan means that I can show up even if I’m not feeling inspired. Finding time to fit writing into my week, to feel my mind is with it, is a constant challenge/obsession. AND I love writing down the bones, and am curious about Scrivener - I’ve not taken the leap yet as what I currently do does work for me so….. lots of thoughts bouncing around, thanks for sharing this!

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Oh this is fascinating Bonnie. Its curious how those two pieces of writing advice acted like guides for you and in trying them out you found out what works for you. I personally find I could not function without scrivener - but i also currently have around 100 partially drafted substack posts all at different levels of completion. 😂🙈 I am really not linear in the way i writer and scrivener helps me not loose the ideas or go insane. But I am a big believer in everyone embracing their own process. 🙏🏻💕

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Love this. I’m writing non-fiction with personal stories in there and previous book was memoir but I’m all over the place. I’ve looked at Scrivner but think it’s time to take the plunge!!

Thanks for the tips and reassurance as I do a lot of that anyway

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Thank you Jacqui. I have a non-fiction book which I have started too and I am also using a similar approach - so I definitely think this translates across. I know that feeling of having so many files and heading in lots of directions. My experience is that if you keep going, it will start to come clear. I hope that is yours as well!

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I’ll let you know. Going to look at scrivener tomorrow I think

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Catriona, I LOVE this. Such a fantastic article. I, too, am a very non-linear writer. I think that's why I enjoy writing in fragments so much. I can arrange little snapshots of thought-scapes and arrange them into a somewhat cohesive order (hopefully!). It's the practice in doing that (from showing up regularly) that's let me even hold the idea that writing a bigger work (like a book) could be possible for me (the idea I have always found overwhelming!). But when I couldn't find the book I wanted to read, I indeed decided to write it.

Thank you for all of this- there is so much to take from it. I will look into Scrivner too! xx

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So much wisdom here 🙏

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Thank you Angela. So glad to know this!

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I found this very helpful. Especially about exploring creative blockages. Thank you.

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Hello. Sorry I somehow missed this comment. Thank you so much for passing by and glad this was valuable for you!

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Yes, it was. Thanks again.

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I loved reading this because although I’m more visual art than text or writing, there was a lot for me here. I think one of the issues I have is that i tend to focus on what the end looks like, rather than explore through the journey. I need to fin d a way to free myself up for the journey - whatever that may look like or direction that may take me. And I loved reading Big Magic - Creative Living beyond fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - need to read it again and again! Given what I have seen and the ideas I have from our holiday in Scotland, I am feeling inspired to finally tackle some more substantial art projects once I get home. But I’m already playing with some ideas right now. Thank you for sharing this.

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That is great Scotland has inspired you. I look forward to hearing more about the projects you are working on. I do think if we show up and keep at it, things unfold. That has been my experience. Sometimes I still want to reach the end point but I always create better when I get out of that thinking. Wishing you lots of beautiful creative exploration on your journey!

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Thank you very much. Yes, I just need to explore the ideas rather than feel the need to reach an end point straight away.

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I look forward to hear how your journey goes!

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Sep 1Liked by Catriona Knapman

I am a creative wanderer as well. My novel came in 20-30 minute bursts when I was attending a writing group. It wasn’t planned. When I read my just-written first installment to the group, we were all pleasantly surprised and delighted. Having a supportive group helped me keep writing. Hardly any of it was written in a room alone.

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Hey Holly - thanks for stopping by. That sounds like a great environment to write in and I love the community setting. I wrote so much alone so not going to lie - I am a wee bit jealous as I like to talk - I was often a bit lonely in the process and didn't have anyone to share how it was going with ; ). But honestly, I think it was likely what I needed at the time. So happy to know you had a supportive group of people and felt able to tap into your writing with them. What an amazing gift and so happy that you had that to help you along your way.

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Sep 9Liked by Catriona Knapman

There are so many ways the writing gets done. I’m so glad yours keeps happening.

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So true Holly!

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