Karin Adams

I’m proud to announce that earlier this year my book The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel was named a Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2024. It received this accolade in the Books for Adults (non-fiction) category. What a wonderful book awards program — and so exciting to see my book listed among these titles – hooray!

The Wishing Shelf made the honour even more special and memorable by sending me a lovely Finalist medal to display. Here it is below proudly fancied-up beside my book and a plant (and now on my bookshelf) – what a super cool keepsake to treasure!! 🙂

You can view The One Week Writing Workshop and the other adult non-fiction finalists here: https://www.thewsa.co.uk/finalists2024/#Category_6

(While you’re there, browse the other categories for reading inspiration, and learn more about the very unique Wishing Shelf Book Awards!)

Thanks again!!

Karin 🙂

If you’re looking for it or needing it, consider this little post permission to jump around in a draft!

When we write a story, we usually set out to write it as it will eventually be read: in order. But there can be value in jumping around, in writing a later scene before an earlier one. I call it zig zagging –  (going back and forth) to contrast it with the flow (heading in a single direction).

Zig zagging is a helpful strategy when you’re stuck. Chapter One churning slowly, but in your mind THE END is crystal clear? Write it! You’ve just grown your manuscript.  Or maybe until you’ve really figured out that scene somewhere in the middle, you’re not sure where your story really begins. Write that middle scene now!

The zig zag technique isn’t limited to your draft either. If it helps you to keep connected to your story, feel free to zig zag among the steps of the writing process as well. Let’s say you commit to creating a storyboard to plan your story before you draft, but paragraphs of prose are banging at the door eager to escape you brain and get on the page. Well…zig zag to your draft and let them out now. Or flip the scenario: you’re halfway through your draft but find your narrative caught in a logistical nightmare that only a storyboard can solve. Stop, drop and zig zag on back to the storyboard step!

The above may be obvious, but I’ve seen many writers whose creative blocks are rooted in not realizing that they can zig zag and jump around. They stay stuck because they think flowing is the only way – and when things aren’t flowing, they’ve somehow fallen short. Meanwhile stepping out of flow and zig zagging is a powerful tool that keeps us going. I’m here to tell you not to forget that this is an option!

You’ve got this, writers!

Karin 🙂

For a complete novel writing method and a bevy of fiction writing strategies, check out my book The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel.

The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel is a Finalist in The SPR Book Awards 2024!

Thank you to Self-Publishing Review for this tremendous honour. It’s absolutely thrilling to find my book here among the other wonderful titles!

I’m so grateful for the chance it gives The One Week Writing Workshop to be spotlighted and discovered by more readers. My hope with this book continues to be to encourage aspiring writers to take a chance on a creative journey – imagine, work, play…then play some more! 😉

You can find out more about The One Week Writing Workshop here: https://www.karinadams.com/books/the-one-week-writing-workshop/

Thanks again to SPR for this exciting accolade!

Karin 🙂

My book The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel is a 2025 IPPY Book Awards Silver Medalist in Writing/Publishing! You’ll find it listed among other wonderful titles here: https://ippyawards.com/blog/2025-medalists-categories-66-92

I’m so very proud and honoured to have this exciting distinction.

Thank you to the Independent Publisher Book Awards for the recognition, and congratulations to all the other nominees and winners!

Karin 🙂

When we’re in the planning phase of writing our novels, it’s the perfect time to remember to play. (Frankly, it’s a good thing to remember at all stages!) Planning doesn’t have to be limited to precise chapter synopses and orderly, color-coded index cards on a board (although even these can be fun to arrange…).

To help you plan and capture the spirit of your emerging tale, why not:

• Draw maps of your story’s settings. Use lively colours, and don’t worry about scale (or get precise if that’s more fun!).
• Sketch your characters in great detail (even if, like me, you’re quite raw as an artist).
• Physically visit a place that evokes a scene in your story, and write what you observe there with your five senses.
• Create a playlist that suits your main character, or that they would put together themselves—listen to it when you go for a walk.
• …And on and on!

The more we allow ourselves to play and be playful as we dream and plan, the more our story comes alive within us, and the more inspired we are to tell it.

My book The One Week Writing Workshop has a lot to say about maintaining joy as you write, and plenty more ideas to make writing a playful experience, too!

Karin 🙂

Perhaps you’ve been caught in the “outline liminal zone” – a place where endless plans and outlines and plotting abounds, but somehow it never leads you to actually begin your first draft!

If that sounds familiar, don’t fight your urge to plan. It’s part of your creative process!

But DO plan to start. Get really concrete about it, too. Mark a date on your calendar when you’ll start drafting. Be sure to pick a date that is reasonably in sight. Honor that date when it rolls around, even if your outline isn’t complete – and even if you only write a few sentences to get started.

You can always zig zag between your outline and manuscript! (Remember, also that a lot of the magic happens in the writing – wonderful creative surprises that could never be planned.)

You’ve got this, writers!

Karin 🙂

Looking for more writing tips? Check out my book The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel