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Welcome to Ally's Blog
Here you can find all the thoughts bouncing around in Ally's head as well as skills and techniques she has learned from her studies at Taylor University. Check out the categories or search for things that you might be struggling with in your writing.
The Creation Series: How to Make Your Novel World
In this first installment, I will cover everything your need to know to build a world for your characters.
Ally MacDonald
Sep 19, 20226 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #6: No One Told Me I was a Necromancer
You rush into a church to stop the love of your life from marrying the wrong person. Not paying attention, you shout "I OBJECT" at a funeral
Ally MacDonald
Sep 14, 20225 min read
Five Ways to Get Writing Knowledge and Know It's Factual
As we talked about a few weeks ago, it is important to feel comfortable in your writing skills before letting someone review your writing...
Ally MacDonald
Sep 12, 20224 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #5: The Night the Moon Disappeared
The moon doesn't exist. It's a hologram put there by beings unknown. One night it says 'Error 404' where the moon should be.
Ally MacDonald
Aug 31, 20226 min read
Eight Main Narrative Conflicts (with examples) for Your Novel
There must be a conflict working against your protagonist for the story to have momentum and build to the resolution.
Ally MacDonald
Aug 29, 20225 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #4: Did I Break the Class System?
I realized that the titles of these were somewhat confusing, so from here on out, the titles will be for the prompt answer from the week...
Ally MacDonald
Aug 24, 20225 min read
Do You Need Writing Knowledge? What to Know Before Writing
There's an age-old adage that you are never too young to be a writer. However, it is completely normal to feel like you don't know enough.
Ally MacDonald
Aug 22, 20226 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #3: How I Accidentally Joined a Coven
You picked up an injured cat and patched it up overnight. The next morning, you woke up to see witches standing beside your bed...
Ally MacDonald
Aug 17, 20227 min read
Three-Act Structure vs. Seven-Point Structure: Which is Better?
If you've been in the writing world for any period of time, you probably know that the three-act structure is a way to plot your novel.
Ally MacDonald
Aug 15, 20229 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #2: Exploring the Unknown
Everyone knows it's too dangerous to swim in the ocean. However, sitting at the end of the docks or peering over the edge of a boat, you've
Ally MacDonald
Aug 10, 20228 min read
Where to Find Writing Inspiration and Get Creative
As mentioned in my previous post, The Three Types of Writers, it can be difficult for writers to find inspiration, especially if they are...
Ally MacDonald
Aug 8, 20225 min read
Writing Prompt Wednesday #1: Vacation Déjà Vu
You're vacationing in a city you've never been in before when you suddenly find yourself in a place you've seen hundreds of times...
Ally MacDonald
Aug 3, 20228 min read
The Three Main Types of Writers and Their Pros and Cons
Now that you know why you should write from last week's blog, we can begin to talk about writing styles and techniques. The first thing I...
Ally MacDonald
Aug 1, 20226 min read
Meet Writing Prompt Wednesdays!
Every Wednesday, I will post a writing prompt on my blog and you can write your own response to it.
Ally MacDonald
Jul 27, 20222 min read
Why You Should Be a Writer: Ally Mac's Writing Journey
I follow the subreddit r/writingadvice on Reddit, and Redditor u/Paxwin_25 recently asked if writing just to write was worth it.
Ally MacDonald
Jul 25, 20223 min read
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