Inspiring the Uninspired
This year for uni I've been writing a lot of short stories. It's been a bit of a shock to the system, and is something I still need to practice to get right. Ever since I was young I've always written long stories, enjoying building the world or setting up character arcs. I've been in… Continue reading What Short Stories Can Teach You About Novel Writing
Whether you write novels, short stories, non-fiction or poetry, your goal could be publication. If it is, you'll experience the long journey of seeking an agent and securing a publishing deal. There are some great ways to get your writing out there in the mean time and, if successful, could provide you with some accreditation… Continue reading Ways To Get Your Writing Into The World
Writing can be tough and it's not uncommon for writers to doubt themselves and doubt their manuscripts, whether they're published or not. In this post I'm addressing some of the worries we face, and how to beat them when they get you down. 1. What if my writing is rubbish? All artists find fault with… Continue reading Writer Worries and How to Beat Them
Many writers have a love/hate relationship with editing. My favourite writing quote, and one I refer to often: “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” - Shannon Hale I love the idea of shovelling your words onto a page… Continue reading Reasons to Love Editing Your Novel
The End. All stories work towards those two words, whether they are physically written to mark your success at a finished draft, or simply sung aloud in your mind. But writing an ending can be a really tricky task, with a huge pressure to get it right. If you're writing a book and thinking about… Continue reading Writing The Ending
Last week I attended a writing event and shared key writing lessons on this blog. As promised, this week I'm focusing on the publishing lessons, which formed a huge portion of the day. This insight was delivered by author Sarah Juckes and agents Hannah Ferguson, Imogen Pelham and Sandra Sawicka. I hope you find it… Continue reading Key Publishing Lessons from a Writing Event
Yesterday, I attended an incredible writing event hosted by Jericho Writers. It was a fantastic day, with talks from amazing writers, authors and agents. I just need to state that I would 100% attend one of their events again, and recommend them to other writers hoping to gain huge insight into writing, getting an agent… Continue reading Key Writing Lessons from a Writing Event
I've been reading a lot recently about setting and how important it is to a story. I've spoken before about finding the perfect setting for your novel, and the impact it can have on the plot. But the main topic I've been focusing on recently is how writers can use setting to develop their characters.… Continue reading Using Setting to Develop Characters
Querying agents is daunting, exciting, difficult, wonderful...there are so many ways to feel during the process. Each submission is different (or at least it should be), because each agent is different. One thing that should be consistent is your research. You're looking for the best person to represent your novel, all your hard work. It's… Continue reading 5 Ways To Find Out More About Agents
Writing is a skill, and like all skills it cane be learned and honed. Some people have a natural talent and flare for certain things, others have to try a little harder. Wherever you stand, if you love writing you should write. And if you'd like to improve and grow there are plenty of ways… Continue reading Writing: Ways to Learn the Craft
