Writing by Voice

Okay. Fitting in quality writing time is the challenge. Here's a solution.

Voice memos. Dictating into the program and (ideally) watching incredible word count fly. (SOME weird mistranslations, but that's okay. Easy to fix in editing rounds.)

But, anyone else like me and find it embarrassing or awkward to speak it aloud? And whenever I say it, my ideas don't flow so well as when typing?

Here's the truth

Voice memos are a different skill to typing, and it’s totally normal to feel awkward at first. But it’s a learnable skill, and if it helps increase your word count, it might be worth experimenting with!

Maybe start super casually, like:

Narrating ideas, not prose → Instead of trying to “write” out loud, just brain-dump ideas: “Okay, in this scene, the character is feeling X because of Y, and maybe she does Z…”

Speaking in fragments → You don’t need full sentences. Even half-formed thoughts can help you get unstuck later.

Doing it in private first → If embarrassment is a barrier, try it when no one’s around just to get used to your voice.

No pressure to make it perfect—it’s just another tool to test out. You might end up hating it, or it might surprise you.

I'm going to try it out. Try to overcome the awkwardness and see if I can make my ideas flow smoother spoken too. (Might help with my awkwardness talking in reels or things too!)

Would love to hear if anyone else tries it out too and how they go.

#AmWriting #VoiceMemos #AuthorLife

Finding Small Moments For You

Where are the small slots of time in your day you don’t even realise exist?

We often feel like there’s not enough time for what we want to do.

After work, commuting, chores, family or pet responsibilities, and personal hygiene swallow up most of our day, what’s left?

Maybe you manage to work out a few times a week, but that’s a stretch, and everything else sucks up time.

Lately, I’ve been carving out time for small habits.

On my commute, I squeeze in extra writing by typing on my phone while I walk to the train and during the ride. It’s slower, harder—but that extra word count adds up.

At work, I use breaks for five minutes of Japanese vocab practice or engaging on my author socials. A few comments while walking to fill my water bottle. A quick round of Anki vocab reviews.

On the way home, I study, listen to podcasts, or read.

In the evening, I journal and stretch with my 2YO. He scribbles while I write. He attempts stretches while I stretch. It’s fun, and I get to do it too!

These are all tiny moments—5 to 15 minutes here and there. Sometimes less. But over time, they build up.

Progress feels slow. But then I look back—when I finish an online course, a book, or when I hit the 75% mark in my WIP and get to that grisly moment all-hell-breaks-loose and I just want to keep writing. When I don't want my commute to end and start working yet because I'm in the flow.

So where are those small moments in your day? How can you make them easier to use?

Maybe you work from home and could sneak in workouts between tasks—Pomodoro timer, a few sets of weights in the break. By the end of the day, you’ve done a full workout.

My husband keeps a book in the kitchen. While waiting for the kettle to boil or food to heat, he reads a few paragraphs.

Little by little, these moments add up.

And often, the time we think we don’t have is hiding in plain sight.

So, where are those moments for you? And how do you want to enjoy them?

I'd love to see a world where we all get to do little snippets of things that bring us joy and remind us life isn’t just one endless cycle of work and responsibilities.

#LifeLessons #SmallHabits

Why Plain Language is Powerful: Lessons from a Writer

Every writer has been there. Growing up, we were drawn to big, fancy words and intricate sentences, eager to dazzle readers. We wanted them to 😲 at our brilliance, as if we’d memorised the thesaurus.

[Insert smug childhood faces here!] 😏

But as I grew as a writer, I learned that the most impactful writing is often the simplest.

✅ Clear, simple words

✅ Sentences that flow effortlessly

✅ Writing that feels like the author is speaking directly to you.

The magic of writing lies in communicating ideas in a way that feels approachable and digestible for any reader.

I recently received a compliment from a colleague who said they loved how easy it was to understand what I wrote. To me, this is one of the highest forms of praise as a writer.

It doesn't matter whether I’m working on business government communications, educational materials, or stories that transport readers to fantastical worlds, my aim is the same: to connect and communicate.

I’ve seen it across every industry I’ve worked in—business, the public sector, education, e-commerce, and publishing. The truth is, we all have complex ideas to share. But our job as writers is to take those ideas and make them feel simple, clear, and human.

🙅🏽‍♀️ After all, people won’t support a government project they don’t understand.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Readers won’t connect with a story they can’t follow.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Customers won’t trust a brand that hides its message in jargon.

So, here’s my challenge to you (and a reminder to myself).

When you write—email, blog post, or book chapter—ask yourself:

👉🏽 How can I make this as clear and engaging for the reader as possible?

Because, as the adage goes:“If you can’t explain it to a five-year-old, do you even understand it yourself?”

Plain language isn’t just a skill. It’s the best thing you can do for your readers.

As a fantasy author, this lesson holds true in storytelling too. The most intricate worlds are best revealed in simple, relatable ways. Even the most magical ideas need a touch of humanity and every day life to truly shine.