Welcome to the Aliventures blog!
Want to write better, finish what you start, or tackle that novel you’ve been dreaming about? You’re in the right place! Choose an options below, scroll down for recent posts, or take a look at the Start Here page.
When Your Novel is Taking Way Longer Than You Expected
I hear from a lot of novelists who find it’s taking far longer than they expected to write their first novel. They started out thinking they’d be done in a year or two – and they’ve been working on it for perhaps four, five, even ten years, without being done. Does...
Internal Conflict: Six Types of Internal Conflict (With Examples)
Stories are built on conflict. Without any conflict, there’s not really any story. If Jane Doe gets everything she wanted, without any difficulties, and lives happily ever after, then that’s lovely for Jane, but not very interesting to read…
How to Write a Novel: Your Seven Step Plan
Have you got a novel idea … but you’re not quite sure where to begin? In this article, I’ll be taking you through all the key steps for writing a novel: from your initial idea to your finished first draft. These are: Step #1: Come Up With an Idea You Want to Write...
What Experience Do You Need Before You Start Writing Your First Novel?
A lot of writers wait for years to start on a novel because they feel like they’re not ready. They want to do more writing first, or take another course, or even get a creative writing qualification. Often, they feel they need more experience of writing: that there’s...
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”.
Archives
Just head on over to the Archive:
Write Fast and Rewrite a Lot … or Take Your Time Drafting and Edit Lightly?
Should you get your first draft down as fast as possible … or take more time over it? My own writing process has always been to draft fast (I can easily hit 1,000 words in an hour, often in 45 minutes) and then to restart with a blank document …
How to Add Tension and Pace to a Scene That’s Sagging
Some novel scenes speed along, taut and tense, and full of energy. But others drift, with your characters ambling around, chatting or thinking, not really doing anything much at all. The pace sags … and the tension might feel non-existent. For a lot of novelists, this...
How Long Does it Take to Write 1,000 Words?
This post was first published in April 2020 and updated in January 2026. How long does it take to write 1,000 words? If you're writing a novel ... the answer matters! If you’re aiming for an average-ish novel length of 80,000 words, then that’ll take you 80 days,...
How to Add Tension and Pace to a Scene That’s Sagging
Some novel scenes speed along, taut and tense, and full of energy. But others drift, with your characters ambling around, chatting or thinking, not really doing anything much at all. The pace sags … and the tension might feel non-existent. For a lot of novelists, this...
How Long Does it Take to Write 1,000 Words?
This post was first published in April 2020 and updated in January 2026. How long does it take to write 1,000 words? If you're writing a novel ... the answer matters! If you’re aiming for an average-ish novel length of 80,000 words, then that’ll take you 80 days,...
My Annual Writing Goals for 2026 (Tell Me Your Goals, Too!)
Happy New Year! We’re just over a week into 2026 … and there’s a good chance you’ve been thinking about your writing, and what goals you might want to set for the year. I’d love to hear what you’re working on: just pop a comment below (or if you prefer, drop me an...