An unfortunate aspect of writing is marketing. Writers are not generally at ease with selling their work. Instead, we tend to be more the shy, retiring type, someone who likes to hole up in our dark study with copious amounts ...
Read More »Reviewing books as a writer: Learning from critical readings
Part of developing your writing craft is reading… A lot. While practice is one thing, exposure to different styles and examples of writing is another. If you never bother to read a novel, how could you possibly write one yourself? ...
Read More »Getting pumped for NaNoWriMo through music
NaNoWriMo is all about quantity over quality. Quality comes later. As any writing course will tell you, your first draft won’t be good. No matter how awesome you think you are, you just aren’t that good. Sure, I wish everything ...
Read More »Get your writing groove back! 4 ways to develop a good writing habit
If you are in the northern hemisphere, winter is finally approaching (‘Winter is coming!’, I hear you shout!). What does this mean for us bookworm types? Well, beyond the obvious cup of tea (or coffee, chocolate – whatever your hot ...
Read More »Around a writing festival in a day: The festival of writing 2014
There are many reasons to attend a writing festival or conference. You may be going to meet other writers, to test the waters of what its like to put your work out there to be read by others, to network ...
Read More »Creative writing: Why face-to-face is always better than online only
I have started seeing a lot more about online creative writing courses in the past year. Last week, I received an email from Random House’s own programme, The Writers’ Academy, pitching their newest online course. The email highlighted three main ...
Read More »Brand yourself: Publishers don’t want authors, they want brands
With the shifts in technology and the economy (and even to some extent the shorter attention spans of the public), the publishing industry is changing. It had to change. Some of these changes are good news, others not so much. ...
Read More »There’s a villain in all of us: Good characterization for bad characters
I was listening to Lorde belt out ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack when I had a thought: ‘By Jove, she’s right!’ It isn’t like the song is new – or one I’m unfamiliar with ...
Read More »Chuck Wendig: The only writing advisor you will ever need
Finally… I have found a book about writing that actually makes me want to write stuff. The write stuff I have always wanted to be a writer. When I grew older, there was a lot of talk about being a ...
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