All About Ali and Aliventures
You can find Antonina’s site at http://www.antoninaphotography.co.uk/
I’m Ali Luke. I was Ali Hale, until I got married in September 2010 – so you’ll find a lot of my writing under “Ali Hale” online.
I love writing: not just blogging (which I do a lot of!) but also fiction writing. You can buy my novel Lycopolis from Amazon, or you can find out more about it on my Lycopolis website.
On a more personal note, I live in Oxford in the UK with my husband Paul, and we’re expecting a baby in February 2013. You can expect things to be a little quiet here on Aliventures during February – April 2013, while I get the hang of being a mum!
One of the biggest questions that crops up when I’m working with writers is “How do I find more time for my writing?” If that’s something you’re struggling with, I’ve got a free ebook to help you make time to write: you can find out about it here.
What’s Aliventures about?
You can find Antonina’s site at http://www.antoninaphotography.co.uk/
This blog is all about writing and blogging. I cover specific tips and techniques (in posts like The Four Essential Stages of Writing) and I also post more motivational content (Eight Secrets Which Writers Won’t Tell You).
My posts tend to be pretty in-depth. The (currently!) longest ones are around 4,000 words:
You’ll also find posts from me on popular blogs like Copyblogger, Write to Done, The Creative Penn, ProBlogger and Daily Blog Tips.
If there’s a particular question, topic or problem you want me to tackle either here on Aliventures or on another blog, just let me know. (Email ali@aliventures.com or use the contact form.)
My newest project is Writers’ Huddle, a teaching and community site for writers. I only open it up for new members occasionally, so you might want to check out the details and leave your email address (on the Writers’ Huddle page) so that I can let you know as soon as it re-opens.
My Ebooks: The Blogger’s Guides
I’m the author of three writing-related ebooks, all aimed at bloggers:
The Blogger’s Guide to Effective Writing: advice on all aspects of writing for a blog, covering idea-generation, planning, structuring, editing and much more…
The Blogger’s Guide to Freelancing: my tried-and-tested tips for making real money blogging, from day one
The Blogger’s Guide to Irresistible Ebooks: everything you need to know to write and sell an ebook, from coming up with a great idea to creating your sales page
You can find out all about these ebooks (and see what other readers had to say) on the Blogger’s Guide website.
Want (Free) Help With Your Writing?
First off, make sure you’re getting my blog posts by RSS or straight to your inbox (there’s a box at the bottom of this page where you can put your email address).
You’ll also want to join the weekly newsletter to get a quick writing boost every Wednesday … plus access to a little library of free ebooks. You can find out all about the newsletter here.
Three Posts to Get You Started
To catch up on past posts, start with:
7 Habits of Serious Writers (my most-tweeted post ever!)
I’ve been writing, on and off, since my early teens – but it’s only in the last three years that I’ve really taken my writing seriously. It’s made a dramatic difference. I write far, far more. I write better. I finish things – something which, at one point in my writing life, was pretty much unheard of.
Eight Secrets Which Writers Won’t Tell You
A few years ago, I’d look at published writers and think that they were somehow different from me. [...] But as I’ve taken more and more steps into the writing world, I’ve realised that my perception just doesn’t match up to the reality. Writers – at all levels – have just the same struggles as you and me.
The Four Essential Stages of Writing
Every finished piece of writing passes through four stages:
- Planning
- Drafting
- Redrafting
- Editing
I usually post once or twice a week here on Aliventures, covering topics related to writing, blogging, freelancing and entrepreneurship.
So that you don’t ever miss a post, get updates straight to your RSS reader or, if you prefer, straight to your inbox:
I'm Ali Luke, a writer and blogger living in Oxford in the UK. I blog here about writing and the writing life. 
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Ali,
I just discovered your blog today through the wonderful article you published on ProBlogger, about “every blogger starts from zero.” Thanks for the inspiration!
Sharon
Hi Ali,
I am just a huge fan of your writing and articles. I am a subscriber to Dumb Little Man and my most favourite mails are the ones which are authored by you.
I thought I would know more about the ‘person’ you are from your site but its pretty much business-like too!
Anyways, keep up the good work. You are touching a lot of lives!
Raza
Thanks Raza! I’m really glad you’re enjoying my DLM articles. Hopefully if you stick around a little on Aliventures, you’ll get to know more about me as a person too.
Ali,
Just read your article on DLM. Nice work and very true comments on silence.
Quick question… was the community you spoke of a monastary in Kentucky….
Thanks,
Chase Brumfield
Cheers Chase, glad you enjoyed the piece! The place I went to was a community run by Catholic sisters in Kent in the UK: http://www.sisters-of-st-andrew.com/
Ok just curious because I visited the monastary of Gethsemane in Kentucky this past summer for a week of silence with some Benedictine monks… it literally changed my life. I highly reccomend it. Thanks for the great posts.
came across ur article “How to Build Self-Discipline” in DLM… 100% true from my practical experience….From there came across “Aliventures”… you have the talent of explaining things in such a way that is simple,practical,easy to understand, and could be seen in day-to-day life….so “touching lives”… keep going
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the DLM piece — and hope you stick around here on Aliventures
Hey Ali,
just re-read your awesome epic post on freelance writing.
Well done – although I’m not into freelance writing – it helps me a lot with my blogging career.
Thanx for putting out so much ass-kicking value !
You shine,
Mars
Thansk Mars! Glad it was helpful on the blogging side, too. In a few weeks, I’m going to be posting something aimed at bloggers/writers who’re heading down an entrepreneurial route, so hopefully that’ll be useful to you too.
Hi Ali,
Just noticed that your Sir name has changed from ‘Hale’ to ‘Luke’. Seems like you’ve tied the knot. If that being the case, heartily congrats! I myself got hitched just a few weeks back
Best regards
Raza
Thanks – and congrats to you too! Yep, Paul and I are indeed married.
Interesting. I though “Aliventures” was a combo of your name and adventures! Nice site.
HI,
how are you?
I am David from ARgentina . again.
I would like to ask you what kind of programme you are using to make your ebook.
because, I would like to write in spanish and give class about spanish .
let me know , please.
or give me some advise about that .
tahnk a lot!!
I use Microsoft Word 2007 – I write the ebook in that, then save it as a PDF. Very straightforward!
I read your articles at dumb little man and subsequently followed you to your site. I personally like your articles and would love to follow in future. Keep up the good work, GOD BLESS YOU.
Hey Ali. I have come across you a few times over the last few days so figured it’s time I cam over to your site and see what you’re about! Gosh there is a lot of info here – all very useful. Awesome.
I myself have just started the writing/blogging journey. The biggest insecurity is ‘is my writing good enough’ but I think getting started is half the battle?
So great that you live in the UK – you are an inspiration.
– Razwana
Thanks, Razwana — getting started is definitely the toughest bit!
Welcome to Aliventures!
Hi Ali,
I’ve just come across your blog and read a couple articles.
I wonder if you can help me with a serious issue that has been plaguing me for the past three or four years and has nearly destroyed my ambitions to become a writer (what used to be a dream of mine when I was younger and less jaded).
It’s apathy. It’s been like a disease to my emotional and creative well-being. It used to worry me a lot that I found less and less enjoyment in books and novels, but now my apathy has consumed that too. I find it hard to be intellectually curious. Nothing interests or pleases me anymore. Now I know I’m not depressed, but this lack of passion is driving me insane (or it would if my emotional and mental capabilities weren’t flatlining every day)
I don’t know if this is appropriate for this section, but I would dearly love any sort of guidance or ways to kick myself out of it. Have you ever felt this before?
Sujin
Really interesting question, Sujin — I hope you don’t mind if I tackle it in a blog post in future? I think this is something that other readers would like to hear about.
A few brief thoughts:
-> It might be worth talking to your doctor (or a medical professional), just in case there’s any medical issue here
-> I’ve definitely gone through times of apathy in relation to my writing: what works for me is to go to a conference, take a course or simply talk to other writers — I find my enthusiasm comes flooding back
-> Try experimenting with different genres in both your reading and your writing — I never thought I’d be a non-fiction writer, but as you can see, I now spend a great deal of time blogging (and I love it)
I’d be interested to know how old you are: I was a more passionate reader in my teens than I am now (in my 20s) and I think this may just be part of getting older!
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