This website will count how many time you've typed EVERY word in your essay, story, poem... whatever you've written. My outcome 'Scrabble Pieces', my 'work in progress', was kinda boring at the top of the word list, but as I got down to the words used less than 10 times it became a much more eloquent list! 

The nerd in me loved this. 

I won't be making any changes given my top 12, but it did make me consider more about which words I choose to use. Interestingly though, my two protagonists (female twins) are  6 spots apart from each other, Rachel having her name 40% more.

If you're writing something at the moment I thoroughly recommend having a play with this tool. You only need ot paste your text body into the text box on the website and it's analysed instantly. 

Lou x

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A friend of mine is running an anthology submission competition and she asked me to contribute. It was on a subject I'd not normally write about - sex - and, being a personal story, I chose to write in disguise under a different name. Initial feedback on my honest piece is more than encouraging, so I hope it makes the final cut of the book. 

​How did I choose my (secret!) pen name? I could have used a pen name generator, but that's so impersonal, I think. I still wanted to hang onto a bit of me, even if I was in disguise.

There is a former footballer with a sexy, strong sounding last name, so I pinched that. I think my married and maiden names were both strong, so that was pretty important to me. I always thought Louise XXXX sounded good, so I've kept my first name featured in my pen name, just changing the surname. It still feels a bit like me that way.  

Other ideas I had: 

1. Something inspired by a favourite film or actor of mine... Perhaps Louise Trinity (The Matrix), L Miller (We're The Millers), Louise Everdeen in homage to the awesome Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games...

2. I'm a country music fan so Louise Cash, Osbourne, Rogers or Swift? 

3. My favourite book for a long time was Rebecca ~ Daphne Du Maurier - I'm not so keen on Daphne but Rebecca  could have worked as a first name. 

4. Maps have always been fascinating to me - a true geographer! - so I considered incorporating something from my local area. The area of Bristol I'm currently living in is called Lawrence Weston, but that would make me a man. A step too far for a disguise??

5. Wildlife inspired - how about using Lark, Wren, Daisy, or Poppy as a first name? I did quite warm to Lark, being another strong sounding name, but I'm not sure how plausible that is, not having known of anyone named that. 

How would you go about choosing a pen name?

Lou x

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I'm looking forward to the editing phase of my novel. I'm still only 40,000 words in, so it's a way off yet, but it doesn't stop me procrastinating and planning how I'll edit!

Here are my top 12 tips for when you reach the editing stage. 

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• If it’s fiction, are the characters plausible? Do they sound real?
• Are the themes working? What is the one big message of your book? How do the sub-themes relate to it?
• Is it tightly written, where every word carries meaning and builds the picture? Or is it full of waffle that needs to be pared down? Make every word count. 
• Double check your spelling. 'Form' and 'From' are both words spellcheck will recognise but they might be incorrect in that sentence. 
• Are there any excessively long sentences you can cut in two?
• If it’s how-to, are the instructions clear for the level of skill you're writing for? i.e. for beginners, intermediate... Do the steps come in the right order? Do you have a contents page? Does the manual have illustrations or photos? Is it inspiring and encouraging as well as informative?
• Is there enough description to create vivid images in a reader’s mind? Is it groaning under the weight of too much description? Show, don't tell, but make sure it's balanced - like Barbara Kingsolver. 
• Is your formatting standard all the way through? If not, make sure there's a reason for this which enhances the readers' experience. 
• Cut 'in order to'. You never need it. If you’re going to the kitchen in order to make a sandwich… Your sentence could be tighter. Because you’re really going to the kitchen to make a sandwich.
• Same goes for the word 'currently'. Cut it. If someone is working as a sous-chef, they are there currently and it doesn't need to be highlighted twice. 
• Are there holes in the plot, or anything you’ve hinted at early and then forgotten to tie up?
• If it’s memoir, is it engaging? Will anyone care what you did, and why? Check out this great blog on writing a memoir people actually want to read from Stand Out Books. 

Don't give up. Editing can seem daunting and tiresome, but it'll make your book so much better if you get a few things a little tighter. Refine it and make it better, step by step. 

Thanks for reading, 

Lou x

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Time to find for writing can be a challenge, we all know that. However, when you do find that 10, 30, 60 minutes you can dedicate to your craft, how can you be sure you're writing efficiently, making the most of your time typing?

In this post, I spoke about 'power writing'. I stand by this tactic; it is great, but are you getting the most out of your precious minutes?

Are you forcing writing when it's not flowing?

When words are not forthcoming, don't try force them onto paper or screen. Take a break (lunch, walk the dog, phone your mum), get some fresh air - you'll feel refreshed when you return to your laptop. 

Do you type inefficiently?

Many people can speed up their typing and make it more accurate with some basic touch typing lessons. Have you considered this? Take a look at Typing Club (free online training) to test and train yourself, or, for a deeper study of typing, check out Typing Study. 

Some pointers might also reduce strains on your wrists or fingers having been sat in an awkward position for stretches of time. A different shaped mouse might make all the difference. 

Are you distracted from your major project by more 'fun' or 'easy' writing pieces?

I am guilty of this. I don't kill my frogs, choosing what and when I want to write. Such is the luxury of an (mainly) unpaid writer! If you find blogging or writing poems easier, for example, save them for a 'warm up' exercise at the start of your time writing, then move on to the heavier work. It'll satisfy your creative brain and start the day with something fun. You can always come back later, when you've done some hard work - best to set a target and reward yourself here. Stay organised and you'll go far. 

Do you find yourself typing slowly, making sure the sentences are perfectly crafted, spelled and structured?

Again, a typing course might help here, but you need to restrain that internal editor of yours. A first draft is exactly that: a draft. You are fine to, nay, expected to return to it and improve, tweak, remove sections at will. Spelling doesn't matter - even if you spellcheck doesn't pick it up, your second draft will. I actually find the second draft more fun, as the bulk of the text is there. I've got it down, now it's time to perfect it. 

Are you a research fiend?

Research is, of course, necessary for any decent piece of writing. This is all well and good, but 'research' could go on and on as an activity. Take stock: what do you have so far? Could you write a few pages or chapters with what you've gleaned already?

Lou x

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Best get straight to it - my number one writing tip is.... *drumroll*

Write a lot. 

Writing every day is a sure fire way to improve. Write every day, or several times a day if you can. And you know you can commit to that. It only needs 10 minutes. 


Writing is like learning a language. The more you use the skill, the more you immerse yourself in it, the more skilled you'll become. 


Write stuff for yourself, write for a blog (I'm always open to guest writers here and over on my travel blog!), write for paper publications. It doesn't matter if you show anyone, just get it down. 

It does get easier, like anything, with practice. 

Go for it this week, see how you get on. 

Lou x

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Latest post here: Recycling in Sweden ("Atervinning i Sverige")

I found this video recently on You Tube (yes, I'm way behind!), and have had memories of it pop back into my mind frequently since. I found it inspirational and encouraging, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Take a look; there's so much advice from how to avoid a cliche from English novelist Martin Amis, to Zadie Smith on faith in fiction. 

Keep writing, 

Lou x

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But blogs should be pithy and have a point. If your blog is 1,200 words long, how many readers will finish it? So learning to say what you need to in a punchy way is a really important skill in advertising yourself online, and trying to encourage people to read what you're about. Set yourself a challenge: write something that you want to tell people about, and then revisit it and see how many words you can remove whilst still saying the same thing. You may find you surprise yourself (or you may surprise yourself - see 2 words out already)!

Don't get me wrong, I am not in any way trying to argue that you only ever want to read short blogs. I have read some great articles online that have taken up a number of screens. And let's never forget that beautiful world of books packed with perfect lines of prose. Each has their place in the world. But in terms of getting your message across on the internet, your message needs to be short, snappy and eye grabbing and if you waffle on you will lose people's attention. Readers online have a much shorter attention span than people in a library or a book shop. People want to find what they're looking for, connect with it and move forward. That's the instant world we live in now.

So the next time you have to painstakingly edit a tweet, look at what words you're cutting out. Can you say the same thing and still lose a word? Or re-frame the sentence and see if you can use less words? No, it's not going to be a novel but you may just find that your tweet or your blog gets more attention and isn't that the point of it?

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Wonderful Louisa, encouraging post. Best of luck with your writing, and thanks for guest blogging for me today.

Want to hear more from Louisa?

Find Louisa on Twitter: @LouisaWhitney She's a keen tweeter on meditation and mindfulness, so go visit!
Don't forget to look at Louisa's blog too: www.louisawhitney.com

Louise x

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No, before you start, I'm not going to blog about Twlight. Or any other vampire literature. And I've never written a piece about vampires. Zombies, yes (check out DAWN OF THE DINERS!), but never vampires... as of yet!

I'm asking you today, are you, as a writer, a vampire?

What am I getting at?

Do you suck the life blood from other writers?

Do you put other writers down? Everyone needs a bit of encouragement sometimes - even the big players! No one writes because they hate to write, everyone is just trying to express themselves. Next time you're at a networking meeting, writers group or contributing to a forum online, try to check if you're being constructively critical (if you need to critique) and be nice!

Are you drawn to myths and legends?

Vampires are often drawn to stories and tales of fantasy occurrences. Being a fan of this genre isn't anything to worry about, but don't let it become a blood-sucking obsession. There's a whole plethora of themes and genres out there for you to explore - don't limit yourself to what you're familiar with. Try romance or comedy, for example. You might find your calling!

Do you close the curtains in your study to keep out the sunlight?

If you're overly sensitive to sunlight, then you might want to take a closer look at your situation. You may not be a fully-fledged vampire, but I'd make sure you are getting some form of light during the day. Hiding in your study or bedroom all day furiously typing or thinking your way out of your current creative block isn't healthy. An absence of natural light can reduce creativity, make your brain work slower, and everyone needs a bit of vitamin A. Get some sunglasses and go for a walk at lunch time - the fresh air will do you good! 

Are you nocturnal?

Does writing at night work for you? Well, I suggest you stay with that tactic, then, if it's how you work best, but I recommend you keep away from garlic. Make sure you are getting enough sleep though as this can affect how productive you are whatever time you sit down to write. 

Check out Gaia Online for tips on how to cope best if you're a nocturnal writer. 

Do you bleed through your work?

There's a famous quote from Ernest Hemingway: "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Put your heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into your writing, and it'll work. Your readers will see the passion you have and connect with the story. It's hard work, exhausting and a long process, but if you really work hard and put all you have into your piece, you'll achieve. 

For more about bleeding in writing, check out this post from Quote Investigator. 

Do you suffer from vampire-like mood swings?

No one likes a moody housemate/spouse/offspring. And writers can be this. So, my advice is, check yourself. Try to write to make yourself happy, and embrace the tough times. Some days you'll feel the muse, others you won't. Try not to take it out on your family and friends - they don't deserve it, chances are, and if they do, subtly put them in your novel and kill them off! 

Have you ever melted in the sunlight?

Oh, ok, time to stop!

I hope you get my point, anyway. You are a writer. So, write! Write your own stuff, get creative and...

For more traits of vampires, visit Real Vampires. Give yourself the full check-up!

If you're disappointed this isn't a post about how to write a vampire novel, check out these tips from WikiHow and another from Inanna Arthen: Think Outside The Coffin.

Lou x

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Image courtesy of Vampire Bibliographica

I’ve been feeling so inspired lately – lucky me!

But why?

I think it was due to a couple of big boosts I’ve had to my writing ego.

First of all, Travel Generation approached me last week, asking for me to write them a few articles for their travel blog. I was more than excited, having enjoyed some previous posts on this website, so accepted immediately. Three articles of mine are due during next month and September, so keep an eye on my Facebook for news of their publishing dates. Totally encouraged, I went on a creative binge, and not just in writing for Travel Generation. Blogs and articles were free-flowing!

Secondly, last week was Towcester Writers meeting for July. The pre-set theme was ‘Pre-Wedding Jitters’ (I wonder why…?) and I read out a short piece of 1200 words I’d worked quite hard on. I wasn’t totally sure it worked, but writing on that theme seemed to come a bit easy. The theme wasn’t true to life at all, and I did get asked how my relationship was with my mother (it's fine!), but the group loved my short story. I have never had such an enthusiastic reception from my fellow writers! Chuffed!

So how has this helped me?

Well, since that successful reception, I have entered my pre-wedding jitters story into a competition. It’s been so long since I’d entered a writing competition and it felt good to be back in the saddle. I can’t share the piece with you until the winners have been announced , but I’ll be sure to post the story on here in September when the deadline has passed.

Why am I blogging about this? I'm not bragging, honest: I think it’s good to formally and deliberately recognise these moments of inspiration. So many times in a writer’s life we struggle with ‘writers’ block’ (real or imagined) and sometimes it can feel like we’re writing the same old stuff on the same subject. But when those precious occasions come along when you feel truly excited and inspired to write, we should grab them with both hands and see where it takes us.

How have you felt inspired lately?

Lou x

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