Don’t be absurd, Janine
I lost two good ideas this week because I didn't write them down. So instead, here's one that Peter Fiennes caught on a wet day in Le Havre: a single long sentence in En Route that slows as it [...]
Writing Ambition: Stop Asking Permission and Start Writing
If I could give my fifteen-year-old self one piece of writing advice, it wouldn't be about craft or technique. It would be this: be ambitious. Not about prizes or fame, but about what you believe [...]
A Code of Conduct for Writers
These thoughts were inspired by one of the writers at our Venice Writing Retreat. He wondered whether there was a code for writers – a set of moral precepts, guiderails, if you like, that [...]
Why Your Opening Scene Might Be Killing Your Story
Discover why most story openings fail and learn 3 proven techniques to write compelling first scenes that hook readers. Includes practical writing exercise and expert analysis from a working [...]
How to Write Compelling Scenes Using Sensory Writing Techniques
Many writers struggle with creating vivid, immersive scenes that truly engage their readers beyond just visual descriptions. In both this blog and my next subscriber-only Monday Writing [...]
Finding and Fixing Your Story’s Critical Flaws
Sometimes the smallest flaw can bring your entire story crashing to a halt, much like a stripped screw can immobilise an otherwise perfectly functional motorcycle. In this blog I finding and [...]
The Challenge of Choosing a Book Title
Selecting the perfect title for your book can feel like an overwhelming task, especially when you’re trying to balance creativity with marketability. In both this blog and my next [...]
That Magical Moment: Holding Your First Book
The path to publishing your first book is filled with both practical challenges and moments of pure magic. In both this blog and my next subscriber-only Monday Writing Motivation mailer, I [...]
From Life to Page: Why Your Social Skills Are Your Secret Weapon
Starting a new writing project can feel as complex as navigating a challenging social gathering, with characters and conflicts demanding careful consideration from the first page. In both this [...]
The Art of the Chase in Mystery Writing
Are you struggling to plot your murder mystery, unsure of how to create those essential twists and turns that keep readers guessing? In both this blog and my next subscriber-only Monday Writing [...]
Best of 2024: Finding Your Creative Flow Through Careful Observation
The summer in the United Kingdom was brief and unmemorable – but Trish and I have found that, whatever the season, there are vivid and memorable details to be spotted and investigated in the [...]
Best of 2024: The essential capacity that we bring to writing
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re sharing four of our most popular Monday Writing Motivation mailers from the year. This winter piece on the art of people watching showcases the kind of detailed [...]
