“Although I had over twenty romantic novels published by twelve different publishers, had won national awards I had lost my way somehow.” When author Helena Dixon found herself out of enthusiasm, it was understanding the genre of her new story idea that helped her break through. My personal writing crisis began to come to a […]
Keep getting rejected? See it as a rite of passage.
“I’d given it a go and it hadn’t worked out.” Catherine Cooper reveals why having several novels rejected by publishers didn’t put her off writing. I wrote my first novel in 2002, finishing (so I thought) just before my first child was born. I was working part time and took the view that if I […]
No second publishing contract forthcoming? Write the book you love.
“An experienced editor had told me my idea wasn’t right, that it wouldn’t sell in this market. Who did I think I was, going against her advice?” With her new book ideas rejected, The Wake author Vikki Patis reveals how she decided to stay true to herself I suppose one of the times a writer […]
Writing while raising kids? Here’s how one author did it.
“I was already at home for my children. But if I was writing, was I really there?” All Your Little Lies author Marianne Holmes discusses the pressure – and the potential empowerment – of balancing writing with bringing up a family I’d been planning to write since I was tiny. On the commute, on holiday, […]
How a life changing accident returned one author to her writing dreams
“Finding a publisher had its challenges, rejections are inevitable, but I had given up my dream once before, I was determined not to do it again.” Bestselling author Louise Jenson had put aside her childhood writing dream – until a car accident left her immobile and in need of some joy… An author was all […]
How to bounce back from being told your book idea isn’t good enough.
Photo by Jason Kinrade Photography – https://jasonkinrade.com “I’d assumed debut meant the first book they’d written not the first book they’d managed to get published.“ Bestselling author Rona Halsall on the importance of not giving up. When I first started writing I was completely naïve to the ways of the publishing world. I thought you […]
What happens when you lose the latest (and best) draft of your novel?
“How can you recover a document that was never saved?” It’s every writer’s worst fear. Your latest brilliant chapters go utterly AWOL. Check your backup processes, says Ben Ellis, or risk writing your first draft twice… This is a tale of pain and despair but it should be enjoyable…for you, because it didn’t happen…to you. […]
The secret to writing a successful novel? Get ready for redrafts.
‘What I’m hearing is, I have to write another.’ Tom Benjamin, author of A Quiet Death In Italy tells how writing is really rewriting. Almost every published novel is an iceberg – beneath its shining surface lies the dark, brooding bulk of earlier drafts. Certainly A Quiet Death In Italy is no different. Behind the […]
What new writers don’t understand about Imposter Syndrome
“My wife would introduce me to new people as “my husband the writer”, but I felt an imposter the whole time.” The truth about imposter syndrome, says M A Hunter, is it doesn’t go away even after twenty novels. I first started thinking seriously about writing in 2010. I’d always had this idea in the […]
Autumn is coming. Time to bury your nose in a sensational September release (or seven)
You may have heard that September heralds the publication of a LOT of books. Which as far as I’m concerned just gives us a really good reason to treat ourselves to a fabulous read, no? Below you’ll find just some of the books that are out in the world this month. Simply find the one […]