Tag Archives: novel writing

Writing Resolutions

Happy 2024! I’m not one for making New Year’s Resolutions for my day-to-day life, but I do usually start a new year with some writing resolutions. I’ve blogged about them over the years, and it’s nice to be able to go through them. It shows me how far I’ve come since starting this blog. TheContinue reading “Writing Resolutions”

First Drafts – pulling them apart and putting them back together

Back in February this year, I was very excited to report that I had just finished Novel Number 6 – that is to say, I had finished writing a first draft of Novel Number 6. It’s a great feeling to know that the novel I had in my head now actually exists in the world,Continue reading “First Drafts – pulling them apart and putting them back together”

Accidentally Recurring Names

I don’t know if this is a phenomenon that happens to other writers, but I have a bad habit of reusing the same names without realising until it’s too late. Take the name Daniel. The main character in my novel The Most Beloved Boy is called Dan. I have mentioned before that he is namedContinue reading “Accidentally Recurring Names”

Novel Number Six!

In the last twelve months, I have written a few times about the new novel I have been working on. Last March, I wrote about the new experience for me of writing fiction for Young Adults. In the August, in my Summer Update, I mention that my Young Adult novel is taking shape but stillContinue reading “Novel Number Six!”

Advice for Writers

Writing about Hilary Mantel and sharing her wisdom about writing has made me think about all the advice for writers that is available. There is an abundance of it out there – books, articles, on-line courses, interviews, blogs, more books… it is endless. Pinterest is bursting at the seams with it – a rabbit holeContinue reading “Advice for Writers”

Summer Update

Ok, so it’s been five months since I last posted, and I’ve been feeling somewhat guilty about my lack of content. I also don’t want people to think this site has gone completely dormant, so I thought I’d write a quick post to keep things up-to-date and prove that I am still active – thoughContinue reading “Summer Update”

One Year On

It was one year ago that I blogged about beginning the process of submitting to literary agents in the hope of moving beyond self-publishing. I had a spreadsheet of agents to approach, a meticulously crafted begging letter with the all-important elevator-pitch, a carefully thought-out synopsis and highly-edited first three chapters of my novel. And beginContinue reading “One Year On”

Passing the Baton

When I was young, writing was something that came naturally to me, but was also something weird and freaky – I didn’t know anyone else that wrote for pleasure. I had friends who were good at writing, who wrote amazing stories for English lessons, but as far as I knew, they didn’t go so farContinue reading “Passing the Baton”