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February 13, 2019

Writing Wednesday #2: Creating BFFs in Literature

Hello book lovers! Welcome to the second edition of Writing Wednesday! I’m so happy you could be here for this topic today, which is:

Creating BFFs in Literature

I know what you’re thinking. Writing best friends should be a piece of cake. Easier than anything! But alas, that’s so not true. A true friendship, one that a reader will feel a deep connection to, is not something you can just fake. Your characters that are BFFs should:

– Care when the other is hurting
– Have inside jokes, things that they only do/see/know
– Not show up just for kicks in a scene that doesn’t require them
– Doesn’t always have to be/agree with everything the other does
– and so much more

I’m going to help you write the best friends you’ve ever written in these few easy to follow steps and advice that I use myself, and that I’ve learned from years as a Book Blogger and Creative Writing lover. I’m not saying I’m an expert at all, or that these are musts in writing, but these things will help you (or at least be a guide) to creating BFFs that readers will also love.

BFFs aren’t like they used to be:

When we think of best friends from movies, they aren’t always like the ones we know now. How often does your best friend come over to your house and gossip about school, flipping through magazines and throw rocks at windows in the middle of the night for adventures? Not a lot anymore. So, unless your novel is set in the early 00’s or 90’s, your novel BFFs should recognize that:

– Technology is a huge part of modern friendships

– Friends can be boy/girl, girl/girl, boy/boy, or anything they identify as

– BFFs don’t always have to fall in love or be jealous of the others partner

– Friends fight, it’s normal, and they don’t always get along 100% of the time

– Stereotypes are over-hyped. Don’t make your one BFF a goth and the other a princess, just to show how different they are. Friends don’t have to be from other sides of the track to be close, and vice versa.

– BFFs don’t always come in twos!

– Never forget that friends these days don’t always have to live in the same country to be friends

Famous best friends in literature:

Have you got a favourite friendship group in literature? Maybe you’re a Harry/Ron/Hermione fan. Or maybe you like the PLL girls. Or maybe you adore Simon/Leah’s friendship. What ties all these different characters together? When you break apart the friendships, for example, the Harry/Ron/Hermione friendship, we have a trio. Some scenes that you write aren’t going to include all three characters, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t as close as the others. Sure, Harry/Ron probably have more scenes together, but that doesn’t mean that Harry cares more about Ron than Hermione. It’s just how the story goes. Don’t focus on the amount of screen-time (metaphorically, book time) that the characters spend together, and build more on the amount that they care, or mention the friends/do things/protect/care for the friend, even when they aren’t around.

What makes a best friend their *best* friend, though?:

Sometimes there’s no BFF in a novel. Sometimes a character has a few friends, but they don’t know them like that. And in that instance, it’s other characters like family, or their love interest, that they find that connection with. But say that you’re writing a story about a girl called Clare. And Clare really likes a boy named Evan. Clare’s best friend, Freya, is the closest person to her. They’ve been friends forever. Just because Clare might start/starts dating Evan, and develops a major connection to him, it doesn’t mean that the friendship connection she has with Freya is gone. I see this happening so often in novels that when the love interest comes along, they forget about the friendships. They push them aside for love: and that’s not true to life (in most cases).

Fancy reading with your BFF? Check out this article!

Best friend name ideas that sound awesome together:

Sasha + Patrick

Riley + Nolan

Mimi + Lydia

Sebastian + Audrey

Remi + Bonnie

Kai + Dylan

Willow + Ashlie

Penny + Sage

I hope that you’ve loved my few tips for writing BFFs in Literature!

Join me next week for:

Opening Lines!

happy writing!

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March 6, 2018

How to Become the Blogger of your Dreams

When I first started blogging, I never thought that I should be any way. My love of Books just turned into wanting to express my thoughts through this platform, but an idealistic “blogger of my dreams” had never crossed my mind. That was until I delved further into the Blogger world. Then I saw so many big names that had made their blogs EPIC and here I was, with a little blog no one had heard of and only a few blog posts to my name.

So I made a plan. And it took a really long time to get to a place where I didn’t feel like my blog wasn’t worth reading. It’s dawned on me that a lot of other people might feel the same way as me; totally overwhelmed by all these big-name Bloggers while we’re still trying to find a way through the crowd and be noticed. I compiled a few hints and tips that I’ve learned over the last few years that I wish I had known a few years ago! I’m hoping that even if this only reaches a few of you, you’ll get one step closer to being the Blogger of your Dreams.

One: Forget Design, Focus on Content

The first thing to remember when you’re just starting out blogging, or even a few years down the line, is that Design? It’s not everything. Sure, a pretty header is nice to look at, but are you going to care about a header when you’re reading the content of the blog? Not really.

You want to remember that content is your best friend. Everyone will come to your blog for your writing, your voice and most of all, the personality that you radiate through the content. Try to type like you’re talking to a friend. Want to use cap locks? GO AHEAD. I do it all the time! It’s endearing. Want to use Gifs to express a feeling? YAS. They are a huge plus for me. What I’m trying to say is just come across as you. Because you’re pretty darn magical.

Two: Friends not Foes

If you’re making enemies in the Blogging world, you’re going about everything wrong. Yes, not everyone is going to like you, or your brand/beliefs, but making enemies isn’t the right thing. What you should be focusing on is making connections, including: like-minded blogger friends, brand connections, finding your audience, and most importantly, finding people you can talk about the highs and lows of running a blog with. Find your friends, not your foes. There’s enough bad in this world, and surely enough drama, already. I live for three rules of engaging in any confrontation: keep it classy, keep it friendly, keep it vague. So, if you’re going to tweet about a topic that’s going to cause drama, try being vague about the topic, so it’s not totally obvious. (But think about it a lot before ever sending anything that’s going to be harmful, and never tweet anything offensive.)

Three: Social Media = free publicity

Have you ever thought about it that way? That social media is basically free publicity for your brand? Well, it is, kinda. Tweeting a link, using hashtags, taking an Insta pic, basically anything, is free publicity for your blog/brand. You can use this to your advantage! Want to reach a particular audience? Use a hashtag. Want to make an image that’s versatile across all platforms? My go-to is Canva. It’s a free site that allows you to create stunning pictures for your posts. Do you want to go that little bit further and invest in your blog? Try using a call-to-action post on available social media platforms, or purchase an Ad. But basically, all in all, our free social media accounts are the best free publicity you’ll ever get.

Four: Start and Finish your Goals

There’s nothing better than a #GirlBoss notebook to get your goals written down. But if you’re one of those people that makes a lot of goals but doesn’t finish them (I’m kind of guilty of this myself) then I have the perfect solution! Every time you complete a goal, reward yourself. So, if you’re needing to write five blog posts about Fashion, reward yourself with something at the end of that task. Or if you want a new book but haven’t read your TBR, try reading five books and then reward yourself with that book you wanted! A reward system is the best system, I mean, it works for kids, right? The whole gold star thing might not be your thing, but taking your goals one step further surely is.

Five: Listen to your heart, and your head

There’s a saying about that, right? Do you choose your heart or your head more? I personally prefer the method of heart over head, except when it’s a life-changing decision. Your heart basically makes 90% of your emotional decisions, whereas your head is more of the logical thinker. But when it comes to your blog, it’s both your job and your hobby, so the wires between heart and head thinking and choices can get super messy. I live by the rule that if it’s a big decision, go with the choice that scares you the most. Another saying I’ve seen on Pinterest is that being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave, and that’s okay! But if it’s a business approach, involves a lot of thought and is long-term, I always go with my head. It’s not because it’s always right, or anything, but because it’s going to have that edge over your emotional-based decisions. But what I’m trying to say is listen to both, because more often than not, you’ll know which is right.

Six: Never forget where you started

I will never forget that teenage girl that felt like books were her only friend, starting a blog, barely a shot in the dark. You have to remember where you started, because there will be thousands more people just like you who are desperate to be a blogger, who are struggling. Maybe they look up to you (which is honestly an amazing thought). If anyone ever asks for a little guidance, never turn your nose up. Remember where you started. Ask yourself if that person who started out would turn away from someone who wanted a little help. That’s why I have a HELP page on my blog dedicated to new bloggers. It’s because I know how stressful it can be when you don’t have a big following or any blogger friends. So never forget that you were once someone with a ten followers to their name, who still didn’t know what HTML meant. Trust me, the best things in life come to those who help other people.

So, maybe you haven’t become the Blogger of your Dreams yet. But can I tell you a secret?

I haven’t either.

But we’re all in this Bloggers boat together, boosting each other up and reaching for the stars. And I’m hoping my little words of wisdom have given you a bit of inspiration today.

happy blogging!

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January 10, 2018

Bookstagram Hacks #1 | How To Become A PRO at Instagram

Bookstagram Hacks #1

Bookstagram is hard. It’s a lot of hard work, dedication and the amount of skill
that goes into every picture is limitless. Whether you’re a book blogger,
author, or just a book lover, you’ll know the pressure of making every single
picture flawless. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs when it comes to
photography and books, whether it’s feeling like a bookish failure or not
knowing what filter is going to match my feed. When I was starting out, I wish
I had known some of these hacks and tricks that I’ve learnt along the way. So I
put together this post in an effort to help out anyone who wants to be a little
better at Bookstagram! I’m in no way an expert, but I hope these tricks and
hacks will help! This is part one of a new series I’ll be doing on Bookstagram!

Filters

It’s difficult to know what filter is perfectly
suited to you. I personally use VSCO, a free app (with in-app purchases for
upgrades, which I don’t use) and have a custom-made one adjusted that I
copy-and-paste onto all my pictures to make them fluid and match up. Below are
some custom filters that I’ve put together for you!

First up we have Rosehip, a rosy-tinted filter
with stunning elements.

Second, there’s Cocoa, a warm-and-golden
filter that screams autumnal.

And third, I made one of my favourites called
Fireflies. It’s bright and clean and everything you could want if you’re into minimalism.

These filters are completely free to use and make
on the VSCO app. I used only free elements so that anyone can create it for
themselves! If you do make it on one of your pictures, do let me know! I’d love
to see it. But please, don’t claim these filters as your own. No need for
credit on any posts, just a little consideration.

Hashtags

Hashtags make all the difference. It’s how
people on Instagram find your posts if they’re not following you. For example,
it can connect two people who both use the hashtag #bookstagram and connect
them, so that they like each others posts or follow each other. It’s how I
found a lot of my Instagram friends by following the certain hashtags. By
tagging certain ones in your post, it can also attract a lot of attention. That
way, your likes and followers can go up and you can feel satisfied that your
hard work has paid off! Remember, it’s always nice if you do like a picture in
return. That’s the community of Bookstagram in a whole—they support each other’s
posts.

Below, I’ve pasted some of the most searched
for and highly sought after hashtags. Feel free to use these to boost your
posts!

#books #book #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #reading
#booknerd #instabook #bookaholic #bookporn #read #igreads #bookish #bookaddict
#booklove #instabooks #booknerdigans #bookphotography #love #currentlyreading
#yalit #bookshelf #reader #booklovers #vscocam #ilovebooks #goodreads
#literature #ya #BookTitleHere

Interaction

Finally, if you’re expecting fans and followers without
any effort or interaction, you’re definitely not going in the right direction! Bookstagram
is a community full of book lovers that want
you to reach out, share your thoughts and comments! It’s always lovely to
meet new people and discuss books. Sharing a like and comment can lead to further
opportunities for your own Bookstagram and boosts others. These small
back-and-forth actions over time can work out amazingly in your favour.

Comment ideas if you’re stuck, can be:

Beautiful
picture!

I
loved this book! What did you think?

Simple
emojis: 😊😍💜

I
haven’t read this book. What is it like?

Thank
you for sharing this picture!

Where
did you get ____ from? I love it!

Join me next month for my Bookstagram Hacks #2 when I’ll be discussing props, follower apps and how to plan out your feed using my favourite FREE apps!

happy reading!

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September 22, 2017

Paperless Post: the chic & modern take on tradition

At some point in your life, you’ve probably written out a card, sent out invitations or planned a party of some kind, either for yourself or someone else. But nowadays, for the modern lifestyle, everything is online. It’s a blessing at the end of our fingertips, just a tap away. I knew you could buy cards online for a few years and I’ve used a few services over the past few months to send birthday cards to friends in various countries across the world without having to go to the Post Office.

But then I was introduced to Paperless Post. The name was bewildering. Paperless, I thought, surely that doesn’t make sense. How will they get the cards – and what will the quality and options be like? At Paperless Post, sending cards for any event, making invitations to parties or even for your business, is all digital: completely paper free – endless designs, colours, fonts and occasions and can be organised easier than you think. I was asked to test out some of their designs, cards and various and vast services they use and let you all know what I thought!

Designers are your new (and affordable) best friends

There are many things in life that I get heart-eyes for, and one of them is Kate Spade New York. I have a few Kate Spade items myself and seeing her designs in card format are so gorgeous. Here, there’s a card that I sent to my sister, Sophie. There’s something awe-worthy and beautifully seamless about it. When it came to designing, it was super simple. The designer collection of birthday cards are gorgeous, but they also include more than just birthdays, but branches into events, save the dates and occasions to fit your life!

The attention to detail is incredible

Many of my Pretty Little Memoirs readers will know that Halloween Week of Horrors is a yearly theme on my blog for Halloween; one week of scary reads and awesome giveaways. So, I thought that maybe using the events section and sending out test invites to close friends for my Halloween event could be different to creating something myself. Just see for yourself the eerie and magical holiday cards they have! I am so excited to create more.

The possibilities are endless

When I was designing my Halloween invitation, I was surprised at just how creative you can get! Of course, being a cat lover, I had to pick one with a cute kitten on it! But even the envelopes are customise-able (sometimes for free, or for an extra coin, which I’ll talk about what coins are later). The fonts are quite unique and pretty and below, you can see that you can alter the size, shape, spacing and more as well, to fit your design. I created this particular card on my iPad using the Paperless Post app from the iTunes store, which is free to download.

I wanted to test out some designs for the upcoming Christmas season, so I chose this gorgeous, chic design by the creator Jessica Hische. You can also buy some of these designs in paper form. Shipping is more expensive if you don’t live within the USA, so digital cards are probably better for those who aren’t looking to splash out too much for a card. This card, for example, starts priced at 2 coins, but additions including the envelope, custom stamps for the front of the envelope, can cost extra coins from 1 to 3 extra. A full list of how much the coins cost can be found here, but I’ll also add a snapshot of the prices below for those interested!

What can you get for free?

Actually, a whole lot! On my travels through Paperless Post’s website, I found many of the free cards (minus envelopes, which cost, but the card itself is free – so those who don’t want to pay anything can delete the envelope option and pay nothing) and they were just as striking as some of the cards that cost coins. But it is nice to add that extra little touch that costs a coin or two, but you can buy a lot of coins for a small amount of money if you want to save up them for the year.

Above is one of my favourites I made. I love the option that you can upload an image – and edit it too, plus add a filter. Adding a picture to a card that you can have pictures on doesn’t cost any extra. This combination looks so professional and it’s perfect for sweet sixteens, twenty firsts, or any big birthday celebration where you want to send out invitations to close friends and family! Especially since opening the email, clicking RSVP attend, is as easy as it comes. Anyone could make a masterpiece.

As you can see, buying coins isn’t as expensive as you would think. Just 20 coins can get you a little stack of cards, or you can splash out and keep a little stash of coins in your account for the year as birthdays and events come up. I think for the quality of the cards, service and design options, the prices are well worth their money. The user interface is such a seamless process, so it’s honestly so much easier than having to go out and buy a card, if you’re in a hurry or someone who likes to keep things digital and save some paper!

I was kindly gifted some coins by Anagram Interactive and Paperless Post to showcase and review their items to you, but you know that I will always 100% be honest with you. You will never see me lie about any book, website or post for anything in the world – honesty is what I’m about, wholeheartedly.

Overall thoughts

I was unsure what Paperless Post would be about. But now that I know everything there is to know about the site, it’s safe to say I’ll be going back for more! There are so many options for different occasions, and if there’s not the option you want, you can create your own! It’s so awesome. I truly love everything about it and I’m so surprised I haven’t heard of the website sooner! Everything about it is gorgeous. So if you’re the modern kind, or you want to reduce your paper for the environment, or even if you’re running late and forgot a birthday, Paperless Post is your new best friend. The chic and modern take on tradition.

This post was sponsored by Paperless Post.

happy creating!

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January 5, 2017

Blogger Tutorial: How to Make a Header (Beginners)

So you have a blog, but you’re missing that *perfect* new header for it. Let me help!

If you’re a blogger or beginner in web design and you want to build your own header, my Pretty Little Tutorials guides are perfect for you. Today in this post I’ll help you gather the information you need to make your own header including graphic sources, free and premium fonts to use and how to upload it and size it correctly.

1. First, you need to decide what kind of header you want. Do you want just text or do you want some graphics in there too like flowers, books or various clip art? After you decide what kind you want, load up one of many free photo editors available on the internet. My favourites are PicMonkey and Ribbet.

For this tutorial, we will be using PicMonkey.

2. Load your template on your blogger platform and find out the width of your blog. This will help when you’re making your header to know what kind of fit you’ll need. For this tutorial, we’ll be making a header that’s 800 x 330. This will be a good standard size for a blog, but feel free to make it larger if you’re planning on adding bigger graphics.

3. On PicMonkey, we’ll start by clicking “design” which let’s you pick a customised size to start your header. You can input the size above or your own. From there, you can pick a different colour for your template header if you want. For this example, I’ll be using a white header.

4. Adding a graphic time! For this header, I’ll be adding lots of hearts to make it soft and pretty looking. For this, click the butterfly symbol and from the list, find some hearts that you like. I’ll be adding a few different coloured ones to make this cool look!

5. Time to add some text! Click the text options to see a range of fonts available on PicMonkey, or click “yours” to select from your own computer’s selection of fonts. If you want to buy a font for commercial use, I’ll list a couple of selections below. For this tutorial, I’ll be using the font Bromello. It’s free to download here and is for personal or commercial use. Simply add your logo, text or tagline wherever you choose!

6. Once you’re done with your design, click the save button and you have your new header! You can input it onto your blog design in layout. If you’re planning on uploading it to a host website, Photobucket is a great free website for hosting your images.

Other font alternatives are: Brushgyo, RofiTaste and Befonts have a brilliant selection of free or commercial use fonts.

Stay tuned next week for another Pretty Little Tutorial. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know below or on twitter @LittleMemoirs.

happy reading!

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Writing Wednesday #2: Creating BFFs in Literature