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Plot Twists and Postcards: What Morocco (and My New Job) Taught Me About Writing
Spoiler alert: I didn’t go to Morocco to find myself. I went to escape British drizzle, overcooked pasta, and the particular chaos of trying to write a novel while also juggling jobs, life admin, and a vague sense that I should probably own a succulent or something But as it turns out, Morocco had other…
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What Writing Historical Fiction Taught Me About Research (and Rabbit Holes)
I used to think I was good at staying focused. Then, I started writing historical fiction. It began, as these things often do, with a single image. A girl in a forest, clutching something powerful and strange. A sense of time and place—muddy boots, wooden walls, a silence filled with birdsong and tension. I knew…
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An Incomplete List of Things I Will Never Apologise For
As a writer, I’m no stranger to edits, second drafts, or the temptation to soften the edges. But some things? They don’t need reworking. They just need declaring. So, here’s a working list of things I’ve stopped apologising for—quirks, boundaries, and oddly specific behaviours included. Call it character development. Call it low-stakes rebellion. Either way,…
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Top 10 Things I’ve Done to Avoid Editing My Book (Number 7 Is Worryingly Specific)
Look, editing is hard. Writing is hard. Thinking about writing is hard. So instead of being a productive, disciplined author, I’ve honed my skills in the fine art of creative avoidance. Here are ten things I’ve done recently that, while deeply unhelpful to my manuscript, have somehow felt very urgent at the time. 1. Reorganised…
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Messy Chapters & Better Endings
If the last few weeks were a novel, I’d be sending it back to the editor with some strongly worded notes. “The pacing is erratic, the character motivations are questionable at best, and frankly, I’m not convinced by the antagonist’s arc. Also, too many ridiculous twists in too short a time—unless this is satire?” Alas,…
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Re-Potting Myself: Why I’m Choosing Growth Over Shrinking
Some plants thrive no matter where you put them—cracks in pavements, office windowsills, even in environments laced with just enough toxicity to keep them weak but not quite dead. I am not one of those plants. I need space, proper soil, and an environment that doesn’t make me question my own existence at least once…
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Ali Riley 