Writing and publishing my debut novel has been an unforgettable experience. As I look back at my four-year book journey I can’t help but notice the reoccuring process of creation, destruction and resurrection. I have spent four years doing just this; creating my draft manuscript, destroying my draft manuscript and resurrecting my draft manuscript. Now […]
I am about to start searching for ideas for my next book. Instructions For Falling In Love Again is doing really well and getting some great reviews. Heartbreak Cafe (working title) has just been submitted to the RNA New Writers Scheme so I need something to keep me out of mischief. Coming up with an […]
I am hoping this blog post will make you wrap up your writing dream in bubble wrap paper, place it in a sturdy box, write FRAGILE all over it and store in a safe place. We all start our writing journey clutching a big, colourful and exciting writing dream. ‘I want to write something that […]
Before I start my post I want to say that publishing my first book has been a HUGE learning experience for me. There have been positives and negatives. There are things I will do again and there are things I will avoid doing next time. I did concentrate heavily on my book, actually I will […]
After waking in the morning you will make an important decision about the day ahead: are you going to work on your novel as that deadline is getting dangerously close or are you going to try to forget about both? Simply reassure yourself that literary miracles (like hitting your deadline) can be achieved in twenty-four […]
I have decided to record my 2018 NaNoWriMo journey in a blog post. November is National Novel Writing month (NaNoWriMo) and by signing up to the contest you agree to write 50,000 words in a month. So, here is what happened in a diary style format:
I have been listening to a great writing podcast called Write or Die. It is perfect for writers, like me, who are deep in the querying trenches. If you are struggling with rejection and the journey to publication, listen to this. Podcast host and author, Claribel Ortega, focuses on the struggle and the suffering with […]
*Alert* The main character of this book, Barnabas Tew, has stolen my heart. In terms of fictional character crushes I never thought I would fall for a hopeless Victorian detective. I also never thought I would enjoy reading a mystery novel as much as I did with this one, so it has already broken boundaries with […]
There are some first drafts which can take months, years and even decades to write. At the other end of the spectrum there are those new stories which demand to be written fast. Words gush out of you at an alarming rate and there is no time for things like sleeping, eating or even taking toilet […]
You’re busy writing your draft romance novel. Things were going well…until you started getting a nagging thought; there is something very familiar about your new fictional character. You can’t put your finger on it. Why does it feel like you have met them before in another life? The hairs on your neck stand upright and […]