Whether you're a seasoned writer or an aspiring author, you'll know that the physical act of writing is only one part of the work that goes into creating a novel. The other aspects can be just as time-consuming, and arguably more difficult, than actually sitting down and typing out the story.
When it comes to creative writing, I tend to struggle with having a strong plot outline ready to go before I start writing. Invariably, that ends up with me getting stuck in the dreaded middle section and having to edit the finished manuscript extensively. So, imagine how excited I was to discover a treasure trove of writing resources available on Eadeverell.com.
Created by creative writer and writing tutor Eva Deverell, the blog has an incredible amount of helpful information. There are articles, worksheets, video workshops, and tips on virtually every single aspect of writing a novel or story.
Let's take a look at just some of the exciting resources available:
Free novel outline
One of the main draws of the blog is the free novel outline that you can claim by signing up to receive emails. Signing up with your email address gets you access to even more writing hints and tips, so it's a win-win situation. Make sure you add them to your safe sender list because this newsletter is most certainly not junk!
What you receive is a clearly laid-out outline that gives you the skeleton for writing an entire novel. Even the most die-hard pantsers among us could benefit from having this resource. I'd encourage every creative writer to get this free resource and give it a try. Even if you think outlining is not for you, I suspect this easy-to-use formula could change your mind.
The outline includes character details and motivations, as well as a complete list of scene summaries suitable for an entire 80,000-word novel.
Resources for creating a great plot
EA Deverell's blog contains one of the most amazing and comprehensive free resources I've found on plotting, The One Page Novel formula. The spreadsheet provided helps you to plot out the story using an incredibly effective story arc. There are also word counts for each stage, and you can easily track your progress.
It's created with a 50,000-word novel in mind, but it's straightforward enough to adjust this to accommodate a different word count. The spreadsheet is incredibly simple to use, available in Google Docs, and is something I think every creative writer should be using.
If you want an even more intensive look at how to plot a novel with ease, there's also The One Page Novel course available for enrollment. The course is self-paced and consists of 17 audio/video lessons, plus access to exclusive pdf content to help you plot and write your novel.
Here are some course details from the enrollment page.
- How to create the core plot for your novel on 1 sheet of paper (and in under 2 hours).
- How to use the one page layout to generate endless story ideas.
- How to resurrect, troubleshoot and revise your stagnant or abandoned stories, so you don't waste your hard work.
- How to add, extract, and interweave subplots into the main plot (so you can add depth to your characters and your story).
- How to use internal and external motivators to guarantee you finish writing your novel.
- The most common plot problems and how to fix them as you write (so that you don't get stuck in an infinite rewrite loop).
- How to fix broken plots methodically.
- How to fix broken characters without breaking your plot.
- The #1 simple trick for solving plot problems that will allow you to overcome blocks and come up with answers that work.
Plot a story in under 2 hours? Troubleshoot and fix broken plots and characters without extensive rewriting? Sign me up!
Given how good the free resources are, I expect this course will be mind-blowing.
Creative writing worksheets and author resources
Of course, once you've nailed your outline, plot, and characters, it's time to start writing. You'll need to choose a point of view, come up with creative metaphors and similes, and set the scene. There are plenty of resources here to help with those elements of writing too.
The creative writing worksheets are outstanding and cover pretty much every aspect of being an author. There's a large collection of them addressing every topic you could think of. From writer's block to developing your author platform, there's help and advice available.
The emphasis in each worksheet is on you doing the work to find out the best way for you to tackle an issue, with a little guidance. I find this a much better approach than the prescriptive 'my way or the highway' attitude that some writing teachers and coaches can adopt.
If you're looking to ramp up your productivity–certainly something on the mind of most writers, The Novel in a Month Notebook is an excellent, and free, printable resource. You can use it to support your NaNoWriMo project, or use it any time to help you produce great quality writing faster.
If you're planning on completing NaNoWriMo, there's a comprehensive NaNoWriMo resource list available on the blog that has everything you could possibly need to complete your novel in record time.
If you want a little extra help, but aren't ready to buy an entire course yet, there are some paid worksheets and eBooks at very reasonable prices. My personal favorite is the 40 page eBook The Fool's Journey for busy writers. This eBook uses the Tarot as the basis for teaching how to write a great story. It includes advice on adding appropriate conflict and archetypal images and symbols to add depth to your writing.
There's also an interesting novel named Alemmia available.
Here's the blurb from the website:
Summer on an Edenic Mediterranean island. What could go right?
For little Lucia, everything, though she doesn't know it yet.
For us, the resolution of conflict, the accomplishment of desires, and the beginning of another beautiful season.
Alemmia is a tale of childhood adventure and the potential of the Law of Attraction
There's an accompanying set of worksheets to help you make the law of attraction work for you. I'm a huge fan of the law of attraction and the power of a positive mindset. I've read lots of law of attraction books and articles, and this is one of the most creative approaches to the law of attraction that I've seen. If you're looking to attract more good things into your life, this is certainly worth a look.
Memberships
Providing your email address gives you a code for exclusive access to The Coterie. Behind this closed section of the website, there are yet more free resources, including the One Page Novel workbook that supplements the free materials beautifully.
Purchasing any of the courses will gain you lifetime access to the course. For those craving membership to a welcoming writing community, you also receive lifetime access to The Lady Writers League. The League is a supportive community of fellow writers which is open to ladies & gentlemen of all levels of writing ability. You can find a writing buddy or critique partner, join in with a challenge, or share your successes and challenges on the Lady Writers League forums.
Plus, you receive access to yet more resources to support your creative writing, including:
- a growing library of free ebooks, printables, and tools
- a growing archive of free training, including challenges and mini-courses.
- Receive special discounts on any future writing courses you decide to take.
- $5 of every order goes towards supporting our favorite non-profit writing event, NaNoWriMo.
You can also join the list to be informed when the other courses How to Be The Heroine of Your Own Story and How to Lose Yourself in a World of Your Own Invention are available for enrollment.
The takeaway
Eadeverell.com is a brilliant resource for writers at every stage of their journey. It's easy to navigate and jam-packed with informative articles and hands-on writing exercises.
For a beginning author, it's an almost foolproof collection of resources. I certainly wish I'd found it sooner. Even as a seasoned creative writer, there are dozens of worksheets, tips, and tools to make sure I'm on top of my novel-writing game.
Some of the best articles and exercises on the blog are:
- Writing quotes to make you feel like a writer
- Write with me
- How to write a novella
- How to grow as a writer
What I enjoyed the most from the articles and resources on the site was that the advice given is practical and not dogmatic. Rather than a 'this is how you must write' prescriptive tone, the tools and guidance provided are designed to help you come to your own creative conclusions.
If you've not discovered the site yet, then what are you waiting for? Head on over and check out the amazing creative resources that eadeverell.com has to offer.