Your Work, Your Way
Too often, we’re told there’s a "right" way to write—specific formulas, structures, and rules we have to follow to succeed. But what if the real secret to how to get better at writing is breaking those rules and trusting your instincts?
Forget the so-called "rules" of writing. The best stories often come from those who dared to write differently, to challenge conventions, and to redefine what it means to create.
After all, writing isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about getting it real. I have spent years exploring how to write in a way that is bold, unique, and entirely mine. I haven’t always succeeded. But my path has been satisfying and fulfilling nonetheless.
So here I have compiled a variety of topics I’ve delved into over the years, and attempted to organize it in a way that makes sense.
If you’d like to get monthly updates on my thoughts about the writing life, indie publishing, marketing, and more, then use this form to subscribe.
You can also delve even more deeply into my exploration in my series for writers called Writers Reach.
And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at ariele[at]arielesieling.com.
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Advanced Writing
31
- Oct 24, 2024 How To Create Layered Metaphors In Fiction Oct 24, 2024
- Sep 9, 2024 Giant Mice & Lava Ice: Designing Unique Fantasy Settings Sep 9, 2024
- Sep 5, 2024 Magic System Development the Ariele Way Sep 5, 2024
- Jul 15, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): What If I Do It Wrong? Jul 15, 2024
- Jun 17, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Sussing Out Subtext Jun 17, 2024
- May 28, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Universal Fantasies May 28, 2024
- May 13, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Art of Unwriting May 13, 2024
- Dec 12, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): On Being A Feral Author Dec 12, 2023
- Sep 18, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Repetition, Repetition, Sweet, Sweet Repetition Sep 18, 2023
- Aug 15, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Calling Bullshit On The Rules of Writing Aug 15, 2023
- Jul 31, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About Midjourney Jul 31, 2023
- Jun 13, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Shoving Your Reader Over A Cliff (Metaphorically Speaking!) Jun 13, 2023
- May 29, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About ChatGPT (and other text generative AI) May 29, 2023
- May 4, 2023 How To Pants A Novel May 4, 2023
- Apr 25, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Scalability & Other Business Buzzwords Apr 25, 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About Google AI Auto Narration Apr 3, 2023
- Mar 30, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Problem With Advice Mar 30, 2023
- Mar 1, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): One Key Disadvantage of Traditional Publishing Mar 1, 2023
- Feb 28, 2023 Imposter Syndrome: Video! Feb 28, 2023
- Feb 20, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About AI Feb 20, 2023
- Feb 9, 2023 The Transformation of My Original Series Feb 9, 2023
- Feb 1, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The "Scam" Bestseller Feb 1, 2023
- Jan 26, 2023 Writing Tips (Weekly) Sometimes Jan 26, 2023
- Aug 1, 2022 Future Fantasy: A Genre I Made Up Aug 1, 2022
- Jul 23, 2022 Dreamy or Steamy: Ariele's Reading Expedition into the Romance Genre Jul 23, 2022
- Feb 1, 2022 How To Write The End of a Book (For Pantsers or Discovery Writers) Feb 1, 2022
- Jan 6, 2022 Ariele University: My Thesis Project Jan 6, 2022
- Dec 29, 2021 Ariele University: On Universal Fantasy Dec 29, 2021
- Jul 11, 2021 How To Buy E-Books Directly From The Author Jul 11, 2021
- Aug 22, 2020 How To Buy A Book Aug 22, 2020
- Feb 6, 2020 For Authors: What is Voice? Feb 6, 2020
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Ariele University
13
- Dec 29, 2021 Ariele University: On Writing by Stephen King Dec 29, 2021
- May 21, 2020 Ariele University: How To Publish A Book May 21, 2020
- May 13, 2020 Ariele University: Developing a Core Purpose and Mission For Authors May 13, 2020
- May 8, 2020 Ariele University: How To Plot A Book May 8, 2020
- Oct 1, 2019 Ariele University: David and Goliath Oct 1, 2019
- Aug 28, 2019 Ariele University: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers Aug 28, 2019
- Aug 26, 2019 Ariele University: Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury Aug 26, 2019
- Aug 21, 2019 Ariele University: Storytelling & Pebble in the Sky Aug 21, 2019
- Jun 27, 2019 Ariele's Writing Life: A June (Very Nearly July) Update Jun 27, 2019
- Oct 31, 2018 Ariele University: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion Oct 31, 2018
- Sep 25, 2018 Ariele University: A Whack On The Side of the Head Sep 25, 2018
- Jul 18, 2018 Ariele University Assignment 1: Steering the Craft Jul 18, 2018
- May 22, 2017 Being Gorgeous - Writing the Right Words May 22, 2017
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Ariele's Vlog
10
- Jun 11, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Crossover Skillz Jun 11, 2024
- May 14, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Beekeeping! May 14, 2024
- Apr 23, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Endurance Apr 23, 2024
- Apr 9, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Brain Metaphors Apr 9, 2024
- Mar 26, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Dividing Lines Mar 26, 2024
- Mar 12, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Thoughts On Indie Publishing Mar 12, 2024
- Mar 5, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Annual Planning Mar 5, 2024
- Mar 3, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Ladybugs Mar 3, 2024
- Feb 28, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Wilt & Wane Feb 28, 2024
- Dec 5, 2023 I Started A Video Blog Dec 5, 2023
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Artificial Intelligence
6
- Jul 31, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About Midjourney Jul 31, 2023
- May 29, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About ChatGPT (and other text generative AI) May 29, 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About Google AI Auto Narration Apr 3, 2023
- Feb 20, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Let's Talk About AI Feb 20, 2023
- Feb 18, 2023 Guerilla Marketing Tactics for Indie Authors (with a little help from Chat GPT) Feb 18, 2023
- Sep 28, 2022 AI-Generated Images for Aria's Song Sep 28, 2022
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Beginner Writing
18
- Aug 12, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): When Your Characters Hijack The Plot Aug 12, 2024
- Apr 15, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): To Publish or Not To Publish, That Is The Question Apr 15, 2024
- Mar 11, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Highlights of Pantsing A Novel Mar 11, 2024
- Feb 12, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Decisions, Decisions, Too Many Decisions Feb 12, 2024
- Jan 16, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Royalties Aren't All That Jan 16, 2024
- Apr 28, 2023 The Five Types of Cliffhangers Apr 28, 2023
- Feb 28, 2023 Imposter Syndrome: Video! Feb 28, 2023
- Jan 26, 2023 Writing Tips (Weekly) Sometimes Jan 26, 2023
- Jan 27, 2022 What I Learned About Character Development From My Cheating Ex Jan 27, 2022
- Dec 30, 2021 Ariele University: Writing Monsters Dec 30, 2021
- Dec 9, 2021 The Great Unblocking: On Dealing With Creative Blocks Dec 9, 2021
- Oct 21, 2020 How To Do A Writing Sprint Oct 21, 2020
- Aug 22, 2020 How To Buy A Book Aug 22, 2020
- May 8, 2020 Ariele University: How To Plot A Book May 8, 2020
- May 4, 2020 4 Tips For Igniting Your Creativity When You're Too Stressed To Create May 4, 2020
- Feb 6, 2020 For Authors: What is Voice? Feb 6, 2020
- Mar 29, 2016 Defeating the Self-Defeatist Brain Monster Mar 29, 2016
- Jan 29, 2016 How to Write That Book You've Been Thinking About For Years Jan 29, 2016
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Characterization
2
- Aug 12, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): When Your Characters Hijack The Plot Aug 12, 2024
- Jan 27, 2022 What I Learned About Character Development From My Cheating Ex Jan 27, 2022
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How To Write
18
- Mar 11, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Highlights of Pantsing A Novel Mar 11, 2024
- Oct 17, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Drawbacks of An Oversized Imagination Oct 17, 2023
- Sep 18, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Repetition, Repetition, Sweet, Sweet Repetition Sep 18, 2023
- Aug 15, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Calling Bullshit On The Rules of Writing Aug 15, 2023
- Jun 13, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Shoving Your Reader Over A Cliff (Metaphorically Speaking!) Jun 13, 2023
- May 4, 2023 How To Pants A Novel May 4, 2023
- Apr 28, 2023 The Five Types of Cliffhangers Apr 28, 2023
- Mar 30, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Problem With Advice Mar 30, 2023
- Jul 23, 2022 Dreamy or Steamy: Ariele's Reading Expedition into the Romance Genre Jul 23, 2022
- Feb 1, 2022 How To Write The End of a Book (For Pantsers or Discovery Writers) Feb 1, 2022
- Jan 27, 2022 What I Learned About Character Development From My Cheating Ex Jan 27, 2022
- Dec 30, 2021 Ariele University: Writing Monsters Dec 30, 2021
- Dec 29, 2021 Ariele University: On Universal Fantasy Dec 29, 2021
- Oct 21, 2020 How To Do A Writing Sprint Oct 21, 2020
- May 8, 2020 Ariele University: How To Plot A Book May 8, 2020
- Feb 6, 2020 For Authors: What is Voice? Feb 6, 2020
- Aug 28, 2019 Ariele University: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers Aug 28, 2019
- Jan 29, 2016 How to Write That Book You've Been Thinking About For Years Jan 29, 2016
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Indie Publishing
23
- Jun 25, 2024 Selling Books In A Digital World: Video! Jun 25, 2024
- Apr 15, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): To Publish or Not To Publish, That Is The Question Apr 15, 2024
- Mar 12, 2024 Ariele's Vlog: Thoughts On Indie Publishing Mar 12, 2024
- Jan 16, 2024 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Royalties Aren't All That Jan 16, 2024
- Dec 12, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): On Being A Feral Author Dec 12, 2023
- Nov 17, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): When Sh-t Goes Down In The Writing World Nov 17, 2023
- Oct 17, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): The Drawbacks of An Oversized Imagination Oct 17, 2023
- Jul 17, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Ariele's Hot Take On Writing To Market Jul 17, 2023
- May 16, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Selling Books In Person May 16, 2023
- Apr 14, 2023 Big News In The Book World: KoboPlus Apr 14, 2023
- Mar 1, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): One Key Disadvantage of Traditional Publishing Mar 1, 2023
- Feb 9, 2023 The Transformation of My Original Series Feb 9, 2023
- Jan 26, 2023 Writing Tips (Weekly) Sometimes Jan 26, 2023
- Jan 6, 2022 Ariele University: My Thesis Project Jan 6, 2022
- Aug 10, 2021 How To Plan An Online Book Launch Aug 10, 2021
- Jul 11, 2021 How To Buy E-Books Directly From The Author Jul 11, 2021
- Aug 22, 2020 How To Buy A Book Aug 22, 2020
- May 21, 2020 Ariele University: How To Publish A Book May 21, 2020
- May 13, 2020 Ariele University: Developing a Core Purpose and Mission For Authors May 13, 2020
- May 4, 2020 4 Tips For Igniting Your Creativity When You're Too Stressed To Create May 4, 2020
- Jan 23, 2020 Ariele University: A Franchise Model of Indie Publishing Jan 23, 2020
- Sep 18, 2019 For Authors: Finding A Cover Designer Sep 18, 2019
- Apr 21, 2016 How To Write Taglines For Authors Apr 21, 2016
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Marketing
13
- Jun 25, 2024 Selling Books In A Digital World: Video! Jun 25, 2024
- May 16, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Selling Books In Person May 16, 2023
- Feb 18, 2023 Guerilla Marketing Tactics for Indie Authors (with a little help from Chat GPT) Feb 18, 2023
- Feb 9, 2023 The Transformation of My Original Series Feb 9, 2023
- Sep 28, 2022 AI-Generated Images for Aria's Song Sep 28, 2022
- Aug 1, 2022 Future Fantasy: A Genre I Made Up Aug 1, 2022
- Aug 10, 2021 How To Plan An Online Book Launch Aug 10, 2021
- Aug 17, 2020 How To Figure Out Your Target Audience for Authors Aug 17, 2020
- Aug 3, 2020 Developing Unique Social Media Content for Fiction Authors Aug 3, 2020
- Sep 18, 2019 For Authors: Finding A Cover Designer Sep 18, 2019
- May 22, 2019 Building A Single Marketing Strategy for Authors May 22, 2019
- Oct 31, 2018 Ariele University: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion Oct 31, 2018
- Apr 21, 2016 How To Write Taglines For Authors Apr 21, 2016
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Poetry
14
- Nov 5, 2024 Dinosaur: A Poem Nov 5, 2024
- Aug 6, 2024 Time: A Poem Aug 6, 2024
- Jul 2, 2024 A Meandering Life: A Poem Jul 2, 2024
- Jun 4, 2024 Better Than Dead: A Poem Jun 4, 2024
- May 7, 2024 Absurdity: A Poem May 7, 2024
- Apr 2, 2024 Losing Streak: A Poem Apr 2, 2024
- Mar 5, 2024 Black Hole: A Poem Mar 5, 2024
- Feb 6, 2024 Writing Is Hard: A Poem Feb 6, 2024
- Jan 9, 2024 The World Grows Small: A Poem Jan 9, 2024
- Jan 19, 2016 Episode 2: The Pineapple Princess Jan 19, 2016
- Aug 25, 2015 The Mac and Cheese Sonnet Aug 25, 2015
- Aug 10, 2015 Episode 1: The Tupperware King Aug 10, 2015
- Jul 15, 2015 The Coworker Sonnet Jul 15, 2015
- May 28, 2015 The Cat Feet Sonnet May 28, 2015
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The Author Business
6
- Apr 25, 2023 Writing Tips (Sometimes): Scalability & Other Business Buzzwords Apr 25, 2023
- Apr 14, 2023 Big News In The Book World: KoboPlus Apr 14, 2023
- Aug 17, 2020 How To Figure Out Your Target Audience for Authors Aug 17, 2020
- May 13, 2020 Ariele University: Developing a Core Purpose and Mission For Authors May 13, 2020
- Jan 23, 2020 Ariele University: A Franchise Model of Indie Publishing Jan 23, 2020
- May 22, 2019 Building A Single Marketing Strategy for Authors May 22, 2019
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World Building
2
- Sep 9, 2024 Giant Mice & Lava Ice: Designing Unique Fantasy Settings Sep 9, 2024
- Sep 5, 2024 Magic System Development the Ariele Way Sep 5, 2024
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Writing Resources
11
- Dec 29, 2021 Ariele University: On Writing by Stephen King Dec 29, 2021
- Mar 11, 2021 Ariele University: The Memoir Project | Heartbeat Mar 11, 2021
- Oct 21, 2020 How To Do A Writing Sprint Oct 21, 2020
- May 13, 2020 Ariele University: Developing a Core Purpose and Mission For Authors May 13, 2020
- May 8, 2020 Ariele University: How To Plot A Book May 8, 2020
- Oct 1, 2019 Ariele University: David and Goliath Oct 1, 2019
- Aug 28, 2019 Ariele University: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers Aug 28, 2019
- Aug 26, 2019 Ariele University: Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury Aug 26, 2019
- Oct 31, 2018 Ariele University: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion Oct 31, 2018
- Jul 18, 2018 Ariele University Assignment 1: Steering the Craft Jul 18, 2018
- May 22, 2017 Being Gorgeous - Writing the Right Words May 22, 2017