Welcome to the Aliventures blog
I’m here to help you get your novel to “the end”.
Whether you’re coming up with ideas, you’re tackling the messy middle of a draft, or you’re editing your novel … you’re in the right place! Scroll down for recent posts or take a look at the Start Here page.
![Character Flaws: Why They’re So Important to Your Story [With Examples]](https://www.aliventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/character-flaws-fiction-400x250.png)
Character Flaws: Why They’re So Important to Your Story [With Examples]
Maybe you’ve heard that your characters “should” have flaws. Or maybe you’ve come across terms like “tragic flaw” or “fatal flaw” in literature. So what exactly is a character flaw … and why’s it important to your story?
Developmental Editing, Copy Editing and Proofreading: What’s the Difference?
You’ve been working hard on your novel and you’ve got a good second (or even third) draft … but what should you do next? This is the stage where a lot of novelists, particularly those considering self-publishing, think about getting an editor. Once you start looking...
Plotting vs Pantsing: How Much Should You Plan and Outline Before Starting a Novel?
Thinking of writing a novel? You might be wondering about how best to plan it … but before you figure that out, you need to decide how much planning you’ll want to do in advance. Some novelists like to plan out every chapter before they begin. Others pick up a blank…
What is Worldbuilding … and How Detailed Do You Need to Be?
Wonderland. Narnia. Hogwarts. Middle-Earth. Westeros. These are all famous story worlds … and if you've read any of the books they feature in, they probably instantly conjure up a sense of escaping into that place. If you're writing science-fiction or fantasy, part of...
About
I’m Ali Luke, and I live in Leeds in the UK with my husband and two children. Aliventures is where I help you get your novel all the way to “the end”.
Roadmap Sessions
I offer free 30-minute Roadmap sessions to dig into anything that’s holding you back with your novel … and come up with your next steps.
Archives
Want to see all the posts on Aliventures?
Just head on over to the Archive:
What is Writer’s Block and How Can You Beat It? Seven Crucial Things to Try
This post was first published in November 2024 and last updated in April 2026. You’re staring at the screen. The minutes tick by. Not a single word comes to you. Or perhaps it’s even worse than that. You can’t even face opening up the document. And every day, you feel...
Writing Progress in Q1, 2026: What Worked, What Didn’t, and Why
At the start of January, I set out my writing goals for 2026. I try to review all my goals every three months, so here’s what’s been happening in the first quarter of 2026. Q1 Progress on Big Fiction Project (“Finish My Rom Com Contemporary Fantasy Novel and Send Out...
How to Write Stronger Scenes: Add More Depth and Detail
All stories are, at one level, a collection of scenes. It can be tough to get scenes right. Maybe the action and surroundings were so vivid in your head, but they just haven’t translated well to the page. We’re going to take a look at how to write stronger scenes by adding more depth and detail. Before we dig in, I want to…
Writing Progress in Q1, 2026: What Worked, What Didn’t, and Why
At the start of January, I set out my writing goals for 2026. I try to review all my goals every three months, so here’s what’s been happening in the first quarter of 2026. Q1 Progress on Big Fiction Project (“Finish My Rom Com Contemporary Fantasy Novel and Send Out...
How to Write Stronger Scenes: Add More Depth and Detail
All stories are, at one level, a collection of scenes. It can be tough to get scenes right. Maybe the action and surroundings were so vivid in your head, but they just haven’t translated well to the page. We’re going to take a look at how to write stronger scenes by adding more depth and detail. Before we dig in, I want to…
What’s a Plot Hole – and How Can You Fix it, Fast? (Six Examples & Solutions)
Ever been reading a story (or watching a TV show) and realised that something just didn’t add up? Perhaps it was a character who travelled improbably fast (and with no access to money). Maybe two characters inexplicably seemed to forget about their magical powers in...