Monday Writing Motivation: The role of handcuffs in story
The blank page, the even blanker screen, can act as a profoundly inhibiting factor in the life of a writer. The blank page invites you to write… whatever you like. […]
Black Friday Jamboree: Huge discounts, a lucky draw, and an online writing party
We’re in the mood for a bit of fun this weekend. We think it’ll be worth your while to join us on our jamboree which includes a range of special, […]
Writing Secrets: Hook your reader and promise them more
We like to say that the best beginning – of a book or short story – should contain a hook and a promise. Hook your reader, and promise them more. […]
October Newsletter: From Venetian retreats to South African classics
The Retreat, Venice, 2019 All About Writing’s 2019 Venice Retreat, which ran for two full weeks for the first time, attracted participants from around the world: Canada, the US, the […]
Writing Secrets: Endings should never whimper
“The last paragraph, in which you tell what the story is about, is almost always best left out.” This was Irwin Shaw’s advice to young writers, and I think of […]
Monday Motivation: How to access the secret life of characters
If I were to give you a writing exercise challenging you to describe yourself, how would you go about it? What sort of information would you give? Well, of course […]
July newsletter: Help for your writing is just a click away
How to fight your way out of a writer’s block: Free, live webinar Douglas Adams, whose star shines brighter today than ever, is famous among writing and publishing communities for […]
Monday Motivation: Like all foundations, it must be concealed
In 1953, a writer submitted a dog-eared manuscript to Faber and Faber. It was the seventh publisher he’d approached and he was not optimistic that it would be taken up. […]
Writing Secrets: One magical point for better writing
Remember just this one magical point, and you’ll be an infinitely better writer for it. There’s great power in specific details. I was recently asked: “But surely some specific details, […]
Writing Secrets: Writing takes thought – so look beyond the obvious
Let’s look beyond the obvious in the old tenets of writing advice. We all know that “showing” is supposed to be better than “telling”. We know, for instance, that we […]
Monday Motivation: Three ways in which your writing could misfire – and how to fix it
Mishaps happen all the time in writing. Most of them are little niggles, easily erased during a light edit. In one chapter the stable boy has a shock of blond […]
Monday Motivation: On truth, subtext, and good writing
I recently read a book called Moneyland, in which Oliver Bullough explores the many and ingenious ways in which the world’s superrich hide their wealth and avoid paying taxes. It’s […]
