Who should you write for first? You, or the market?

It may sound like a simple question, of which most would answer they'd write for themselves first. But subconsciously, if your goal is to publish, you might find yourself bending your story to fit with the market you wish to publish in. This can shape your plot, your characters and even your settings, as your…

5 reasons to follow literary agents on Twitter

Getting an agent is a goal for many writers. And finding the right one is essential. To avoid wasting your time, and theirs, you should only submit to agents who represent your genre and are open to submissions. There are lots of ways you can find out more about agents, to help you make your…

3 things your book needs to be before you send it to an agent (and 1 it doesn’t!)

I've spoken quite a lot about the submission process on the blog. It's a terrifying and exciting part of the writing journey. Deciding your novel is ready to send out to agents isn't easy. You'll always doubt yourself. That's why I'm sharing three things your novel needs to be before you submit, and one it…

Five must-try methods for beating writer’s block

Writer's block. We've all been there. Be it due to a lack of inspiration, motivation or too much procrastination. It slows us down, makes us feel guilty, and halts our progress. Luckily, there's a number of ways to beat it. Take a look... Read After writing, reading is what we do best. Not only is…

5 Ways A Timeline Helps You Write Your Novel

Some writers are plotters. Others are pantsers. There's no right way to do it. There are pros and cons to plotting, and it's up to you to decide what works best. Personally, I'm a plotter. Typically, my plotting consists of a basic outline and little else. It worked for two novels. But on my third,…

The Do’s and Dont’s of Writing What You Know

It's one of the most common pieces of writing advice. Write what you know. But what does it mean? That you can only write about crime if you're a police officer (or a criminal?!)? That you can only write about falling in love with a stranger in Paris if you've been there, done that and bought the…

5 Reasons To Get Involved In The Writing Community

The writing community is a vast and vibrant place. Thanks to the internet, we can connect with people all over the world, and where better for a writer than a space filled with other writers? Be it through blogging or social media, here are five reasons to get involved. To be inspired When I got…

4 reasons to carve out designated writing time

Writing required commitment, but it's not always easy to find time in ourbusy lives. Yet, if it's something we want to pursue, it's something we have to do. Recently, alongside fitting writing in whenever I can, I've set aside designated writing time. Two hours on a Sunday, when I shut off from the world and…

Novel Writing: What To Do If You Miss Your Deadline

Deadlines are two things; fantastic and terrifying. Deadlines are important in writingas they keep you on track, help you form habit, and lead to productivity. But it's also important not to let those deadlines make you miserable, take the fun out of writing, or stress you out. I'll be the first to admit, I don't…

Two Writing Projects at Once – The Pros and Cons (revisited)

This is a bit of a throwback today. I originally posted this almost exactly 3 years ago to the day. How strange that I should be in the exact same predicament 3 years on! In a nutshell, I am torn between two novel ideas right now, both of which are compelling to me for different…