The summer is a spicy, hot pizza of possibilities, for some. Foreign shores and holiday crushes await. The smell of suntan lotion, the mix of laughter and the sound of heels clacking down the street towards town, with the thud of distant bass and the smell of barbecue and the sea. Chilling...

The thing that holds back most aspiring writers from becoming published authors is fear of other people’s expectations or reactions. What if nobody likes what you wrote? What if someone trolls you online for it? What if a journalist says it’s not worth reading? What if an agent or...

What is an Earworm? An earworm is a song that gets stuck in your head. It may be – and usually is – the most daft song or tune imaginable. It may not be – and usually isn’t – the kind of music you would ever consider buying. Yet, there it is. It’s in your...

I have discovered a New World for Word Nerds and it is abundant with shiny goodness. It’s official. I’m addicted. The majority of feedback about the experience so far has come from America, as San Francisco in particular always gets in early on beta tests, for obvious reasons....

Summer is the time for rest and rejuvenation. There’s something sumptuous about lying by the pool on holiday with a good book, don’t you think? I can’t help but notice all the fab spa and holiday-related goodies on Groupon of late, so there’s no lack of choice in that...

If you’ve followed my posts this far, you now know lots of places to write – whether you plan to do so full time, or can only grab a few days or even hours; you have given yourself permission to call yourself a writer, and you have the pen and notepad to prove it. If you have a...

Every writer knows that The Muse is allergic to ugly rooms. Squishy cushions, twinkling lighting, and sundry soft furnishings are crucial to your long term success as a writer – probably. They certainly won’t harm your chances.The first step is to look at the chair or – if you’re...

I had planned to write about the finishing touches that every writing room needs to be inspirational, but then something truly inspirational happened outside my writing room – and it couldn’t wait! A friend of mine became an Amazon bestseller! Dan Holloway’s book, The Company...

Every writer needs a home for their books. Even though e-readers have grasped the British imagination more than ever this year the printed book is a long way from extinct, and we all need somewhere to place our favourite tomes. Look around your writing space – whether it is established or...

So, last week you set up your writing space. Now you need something upon which to make your mark. I’ve covered pens and notebooks already, so I’ll take you now into the world of microchips and pixels. Eventually, however you choose to write your novel, you will need to commit it to...

A royal wedding and a cluster of Bank Holidays is the perfect combo to ignite the imaginations of budding authors. Somewhere in the bubbly celebrations even the least creative, and most cynical, person might feel the stirrings of the literary muse. Maybe you want to write the next romantic...

Writers Are Loopy Do you consider yourself to be a writer? You’re nuts or, at least, everyone thinks you are. They are not telling you this, so it’s best that I do.If you’re trying to get an agent or publisher, most of your family and friends probably think you will fail....

One of the most important things you can have as a writer is a space in which to write. I’ve often said that the most important space you must find is not physical, it is psychological. Make space in your life for your writing. Make time for it, even if you have only half an hour a day to...

So, you want to be an author? I gave you five steps to writing a novel a couple of weeks back. Now, here are five steps to getting it published.Find agents and publishers The standard approach is to submit your manuscript to an agent you find in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, but...

Our friends over the pond leapt on this trend. We were a little slower to join in, but we are certainly making up for it this year.  According to a study by the UK Publisher’s Association, 7% of people in Britain got a dedicated e-book reader for Christmas. For lack of a more literary...