• Home
  • Courses
    • Creative Writing Course
  • Mentoring
  • Retreats
    • Venice Writing Retreat
    • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
    • Karoo Writing Retreat | Memoir & Fiction Getaway in South Africa
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • Free offerings for writers
    • Downloadable writing resources
    • Blog
  • About
    • About
    • Facilitators
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • How to enrol
    0

    Cart

    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
    • Courses
      • Creative Writing Course
    • Mentoring
    • Retreats
      • Venice Writing Retreat
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
      • Karoo Writing Retreat | Memoir & Fiction Getaway in South Africa
    • Shop
    • Resources
      • Free offerings for writers
      • Downloadable writing resources
      • Blog
    • About
      • About
      • Facilitators
      • Testimonials
      • Contact
      • How to enrol

    Archives

    Tag Archives for: "empathy"
     Writing Secrets: It’s good for you – and it’s fun
    2
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Tips for Writers
    Posted July 18, 2018

    Writing Secrets: It’s good for you – and it’s fun

    Reading fiction is good for us – and that’s not one writer’s opinion, but the conclusion of neuroscientific research. Studies have shown that the language of fiction: imaginative metaphors, [...]

    READ MORE
     Writing Secrets: The touchy-feely art of character portrayal.
    0
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Tips for Writers
    Posted March 1, 2017

    Writing Secrets: The touchy-feely art of character portrayal.

    We need to know how your character is feeling, okay? It’s not enough simply to have things happen to him without giving us any sense of his emotional state. Part […]

    READ MORE
     The secrets behind the practice of good writing: Go on, be a sadist
    0
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted October 26, 2016

    The secrets behind the practice of good writing: Go on, be a sadist

    As a novelist, you shouldn’t be too kind. We all know Kurt Vonnegut’s exhortation to put your characters through hell, but do we always heed it where our own beloved […]

    READ MORE
     The secrets behind the practice of good writing: Allow us to walk in their shoes
    0
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted September 14, 2016

    The secrets behind the practice of good writing: Allow us to walk in their shoes

    More than the more visual media of story-telling, reading immerses us in the experiences of others – which is why I particularly fear a society that doesn’t read. It’s my […]

    READ MORE
    INSTAGRAM
    The targets that seem extravagant—writing in a n The targets that seem extravagant—writing in a new genre, creating unfamiliar characters, attempting bold structures—aren’t really extravagant at all. They’re just unfamiliar. And we mistake the unfamiliar for the impossible.

For years, I approached writing with pre-emptive diffidence, already conceding that real imagination belonged to other people—the naturally talented, the real writers.

Then I discovered something: I can write anything. Not because I suddenly became more talented, but because I stopped telling myself I couldn’t.

The diffident writer asks permission. The ambitious writer is already working.

Whether you’re fifteen or seventy-five, the only thing standing between you and the work you dream of creating is the decision to stop asking for permission and start.

Read more on the blog - link in bio.

#WritingAmbition #WritersOfInstagram #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritingAdvice #CreativeConfidence #WritingLife #AuthorsOfInstagram
    We’ve midwifed stories as diverse as paranormal We’ve midwifed stories as diverse as paranormal romance and historical literary fiction, seeing our participants feel their way into a new story or make headway on a longstanding project. We have felt their creative excitement and sense of achievement. What could be more exhilarating. Nice work if you can get it. #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #ponteaccademia
    #amwriting #Venice #amwriting #Venice
    #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #venicewritingretreat #amwriting
    #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #venicewritingretreat #amwriting
    Is there a code of conduct for writers? One of th Is there a code of conduct for writers?

One of the writers at our Venice Writing Retreat posed this question, and it got me thinking.

It seemed to me that there are three fundamental duties we have as writers.

To yourself as a writer: Become the best writer you can be by staying curious about craft, taking creative risks, and remaining true to your vision.

To your characters: Honour their internal logic and authenticity, allowing them to be themselves rather than convenient plot devices or mouthpieces for your ideology.

To your readers: Deliver clarity, coherence, and your best effort while respecting their intelligence – and when writing in a genre, honour the contract you've made with them.

I've written about this in detail here: https://allaboutwritingcourses.com/2025/10/10/code-of-conduct-for-writers/

What duty do you find most challenging to honour?
    #venicewritingretreat #venicewritingretreat
    #venicewritingretreat #venicewritingretreat
    #venicewritingretreat #venicewritingretreat
    Follow on Instagram
    NEWS & TIPS
    • Writing Ambition: Stop Asking Permission and Start Writing
      Writing Ambition: Stop Asking Permission and Start Writing
    • A Code of Conduct for Writers
      A Code of Conduct for Writers
    • Character vs Story: What Should Come First?
      Character vs Story: What Should Come First?
    • Why Your Opening Scene Might Be Killing Your Story
      Why Your Opening Scene Might Be Killing Your Story
    • Self Publishing Revolution 2025: Tips for Building a Profitable Indie Author Business
      Self Publishing Revolution 2025: Tips for Building a Profitable Indie Author Business
    • Why Readers Stop Trusting Your Story (And How to Fix It)
      Why Readers Stop Trusting Your Story (And How to Fix It)
    Get in touch
    Not readable? Change text. captcha txt
    Copyright All About Writing Courses, All Rights Reserved © 2017
    Contact Us

    We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

    Not readable? Change text. captcha txt
    0
    Select your currency
    ZAR South African rand
    GBP Pound sterling