Author Nicole MacDonald | Fantasy Blog & Writing Updates

Borrowed Souls: What Real People Taught Me About Writing Characters

A reflection on character development, and how observing real people helped me write more nuanced, believable characters — and why real life is only ever the starting point.

The Book That Took Years to Write—and One Month to Draft

A reflection on the long, quiet thinking that often precedes writing, and how years of mental groundwork can make the drafting process feel fast, clear, and inevitable.

The Dreaded Rewrite: What Revisiting My Trilogy Taught Me

A reflection on revisiting and rewriting a published trilogy, and what distance, discomfort, and honesty taught me about writing craft and creative growth.

Writing Without Permission

Lately I’ve been reading advice about milestones, market research, and whether a book is “worth writing.” It left me with a simple question: why would I write anything that didn’t sing to me in the first place?

Christmas in the Sun: A Kiwi Summer Story

Christmas here isn’t snow and cocoa—it’s sunburn, sunscreen, swimming, BBQs, bush walks, second-hand treasures, and long golden evenings. I’ve written a little love-letter to Kiwi summer (plus a fun Gift Guide for Readers & Writers!).

How to Spot Passive Voice (and Why “By Zombies” Might Save Your Story)

Passive voice can quietly drain the life out of your writing. Learn how to spot it, fix it, and re-energise your story with this simple (and hilarious) “by zombies” trick, plus a real-world lesson from my own trilogy rewrite.