Untitled

[amorettefranceswrites]

A Krampus Story

Snow was falling in soft, lazy flakes, those big feathery ones that looked as though they drifted straight out of a snow globe. The town was glowing with Christmas lights, every shopfront wrapped in warm gold and twinkling red. People were gathering along the main street for the parade, stamping their feet for warmth, juggling paper cups of hot chocolate and shopping bags, and humming along with…

A Krampus Story

[amorettefranceswrites]

The Red Lip: A 5,000-Year Legacy of Power, Beauty, and Perfectly Chosen Pigment

Red is everywhere this time of year; on lips, nails, velvet dresses, bows, and there is so much history to it. For as long as women have painted their lips, we’ve been painting our place in the world. The red lip has never been just colour. It has been a symbol, a shield, a rebellion, a declaration of identity, and history. The ingredients themselves tell our story, evolving from crushed gems…

The Red Lip: A 5,000-Year Legacy of Power, Beauty, and Perfectly Chosen Pigment

[amorettefranceswrites]

How to Write Faster: Practical Hacks for Busy Writers

Writing quickly isn’t about rushing the creative process, it’s about removing unnecessary friction so your ideas can flow with fewer obstacles. Whether you’re trying to finish a manuscript before the year ends, keep up with holiday content, or simply make the most of the small pockets of time you have, learning to write faster can be transformative. Here are some practical, realistic hacks that…

How to Write Faster: Practical Hacks for Busy Writers

[amorettefranceswrites]

How I Stay Motivated During the Holidays

Every December seems to arrive faster than the last, and with it comes the familiar weight of unfinished goals and creative projects. This year, I found myself reflecting on how little writing I felt I’d accomplished, and how my voice work (something I loved deeply) had been forced into silence due to changes in our living situation. Without a home studio, a family schedule and a body that…

How I Stay Motivated During the Holidays

[amorettefranceswrites]

Planting Your Story Seeds: From Sparks to Seedlings

Every writer knows the jolt of inspiration, that fleeting spark that arrives uninvited. A sentence overheard in passing. A scent that transports you to another time. But sparks alone fade quickly unless we nurture them. That’s where the Story Seed Challenge comes in, an invitation to take those raw sparks and transform them into seedlings, stories ready to take root and grow.Think of each spark…

[amorettefranceswrites]

Spark Starter

If you’ve ever sat staring at a blank page, a silent piano, or a sketchbook that suddenly feels like a black hole, you know the hunger for “the spark”. The spark is that first jolt of possibility, that rush of “oh, I could make something out of this.” Whether you’re writing, composing, painting, or filming, the spark is what we chase. Here’s the catch, sparks rarely happen when you’re staring at…

Spark Starter

[amorettefranceswrites]

July: Heatwave Reckonings

“Summer was our best season… It was a thousand colors in a parched landscape.” — The Body by Stephen King July’s sweltering heat can bring emotions to the surface that are usually kept cool and quiet. This month, channel the intensity of summer into a story where rising temperatures mirror emotional unrest. Maybe a long-buried family argument erupts at a backyard BBQ, or a steamy romance meets…

[amorettefranceswrites]

Solkiki is the only answer to this

Describe your dream chocolate bar. Chocolate was always a peculiar presence in the family home. For the most part, it was off-limits, until those indulgent Sunday dinners with grandparents, where generosity overflowed into piles of foil-wrapped sweets. At Easter and Christmas, the sugary abundance returned with full force. The aftermath was always the same: a queasy stomach and an inexplicable…

Solkiki is the only answer to this

[amorettefranceswrites]

Writing with Hands That Don’t Always Cooperate

Some days, writing feels like trying to hold water in a sieve. When your hands ache, or they don’t move the way you want them to, or they just refuse to play along, everything that used to feel effortless suddenly requires strategy. It’s frustrating, it’s infuriating and, let’s be honest, it’s lonely sometimes, too. But I didn’t stop writing, and I won’t. Because my stories still matter, even…

[amorettefranceswrites]

This One’s for the Girls: From Page to Screen and All the Feels in Between

Some stories find us in books. Others find us in the middle of a film on a grey Sunday afternoon, with tea gone cold and our hearts cracked open unexpectedly. And some—the special ones—do both. This one’s for the girls. The ones who get emotional over fictional characters, who see pieces of themselves in pages and scenes, who rewatch films not for the plot, but for that one line that hits right…

[amorettefranceswrites]

Dear Future Me - writing prompt

I’m writing this from the middle of the mess—the part no one wants to talk about, when the road feels longer than it should be, and the light at the end seems like a rumour more than a promise. But even now, I know this isn’t where the story ends. This is just a chapter. One with rough edges, sharp turns, and lessons I didn’t ask for, but one that still belongs in the book.Because in ten years,…

[amorettefranceswrites]

A Taste of Freedom (Writing Prompt)

“I want adventure in the great wide somewhere!” — Belle, Beauty and the Beast June marks the start of summer and with it comes a rush of energy. The days are long, and, if you’re like me, the open road is constantly calling, or you’re daydreaming of buying a plane ticket to anywhere. Use this month to write about freedom. Who are they running from? Or are they running to something? It could…

A Taste of Freedom (Writing Prompt)

[amorettefranceswrites]

Desk Envy: 5 Beautiful Essentials for the Creative Writer's Workspace

There’s something undeniably motivating about a thoughtfully curated space. As a writer (or any creator), your workspace is more than a surface, it’s a sanctuary, a launchpad for ideas, and a quiet companion during the long hours of drafting, dreaming, and editing. So I came across a new ‘thing’ #desk envy and wow, I love this idea (isn’t social media great for procrastination?). For this post…

Desk Envy: 5 Beautiful Essentials for the Creative Writer's Workspace

[amorettefranceswrites]

Bloom from Within (Writing Prompt)

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Ni As spring fully blossoms in May, there’s something quietly powerful about the way nature reflects our own transformations. The dark, dormant winter months give way to light, and colour. See this month as your creative invitation to explore the idea of personal rebirth. What…

Bloom from Within (Writing Prompt)

[amorettefranceswrites]

Show, Don’t Tell the Season: A 5-Day Challenge to Transform Your Writing

Writing seasonal atmosphere can be harder than it looks. You know the scene is set in autumn, but all you’ve got on the page is “crisp air” and “falling leaves.” It feels flat. Or maybe you want to hint at summer, but find yourself reaching for the same tired phrases like “sun-drenched” or “humid.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many writers struggle to show the season without…

Show, Don’t Tell the Season: A 5-Day Challenge to Transform Your Writing

[amorettefranceswrites]

Lucy's Spring Surprise

Today was a.maz.ing! Mummy and I went to the park for a picnic with all our friends. This morning the lady next door came to us with a basket full of chocolates. She gave Mummy some pretty truffles (only Mummy could eat those, she said and they both giggled) and a bunch of pink and yellow tulips. Then she gave me a chocolate bunny with the big white chocolate eyes and a big pink daisy in a…

Lucy's Spring Surprise

[amorettefranceswrites]

Agatha Christie Bargains Found

The favourite weekend memories I have of growing up always include dog walks, horse riding, and watching Poirot (and James Bond). I have no dogs or horses now, but I still have Agatha Christie on hand. She really was a mistress of macabre, and the time period plays a huge role in her longevity; remember when we didn’t have mobile phones? I was thrilled to find the Official Agatha Christie Puzzle…

Agatha Christie Bargains Found