Publishers and agents are typically inundated with manuscript submissions from authors seeking publication. And as a result, ‘the authorities’ (as I shall hereby refer to them as) are looking for reasons to reject your book. The standouts are standouts, and speak for themselves. … [Read more...] about Word count by genre: How long should my book really be?
The myths of getting published
There is a wonderful fantasy around ‘being published’. This includes the process of finding a publisher, the publishing experience itself and the finished product’s shelf life – as well as how it makes its way to the shelf. Being published, while incredibly exciting, isn’t always … [Read more...] about The myths of getting published
Novel Writing: Getting started
I am in awe of people who can write a novel. It is no simple task to write that many words – let alone tell a compelling, well-written story. And it certainly isn’t always easy to commence writing your novel either. Even for the most experienced writers, writing a novel is no … [Read more...] about Novel Writing: Getting started
Want to write great dialogue?
Writing great dialogue doesn’t seem like it would be difficult, but it is actually one of the biggest hurdles that writers face. Done well, dialogue advances the story and fleshes out the characters while providing a break from straight exposition. The key? Good dialogue is not … [Read more...] about Want to write great dialogue?
Names matter: choosing the right name for your characters
Names matter. Whether they are quirky and memorable, or simply a way of embodying the dullness of a character, it is important to get it right. Some authors, like Ernest Hemingway, use simple names and don't feel that unusual or extraordinary names are key to an outstanding … [Read more...] about Names matter: choosing the right name for your characters