NaNoWriMo: 8 tips for if you’re stuck or overwhelmed
We’re in awe of the many people who manage to maintain the discipline of NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month – while the year is rushing to its end. Good […]
Monday Writing Motivation: Develop a positive writing attitude
Much is made of the psychology of winning. An immense army of sports psychologists now earns its living advising and counseling both teams and individuals as they prepare for their […]
Monday Writing Motivation: How I fell out of love with swans
This is a story about how a gauzy attachment to a stereotype was shattered by the facts. On our travels on the canals and rivers of England, we have encountered […]
You’re invited: Free memoir writing webinar with Joanne Hichens
This webinar will focus on memoir. You’ll set the agenda: we’ll be responding to your questions and discussing issues important to you relating to memoir writing. Join Joanne Hichens, author […]
Monday Writing Motivation: You have to dive deep to find the truth
Research underpins many powerful stories. Think for instance of Manhattan Beach, a fabulous novel by Jennifer Egan, set before and during World War II, in the naval yards of Manhattan […]
What’s on in January: A free webinar, a screenwriting course, and more…
This January, we have courses and a free webinar to help you kickstart your writing year and reach your creative goals. Watch the video above or scroll through the […]
Writing Secrets: Don’t be predictable – but don’t come out of left field either
A publisher once told us that, halfway through an unpublished manuscript, she tries to predict how it will end. If she succeeds, she will likely pass on the manuscript or, […]
Three quickfire tips for reading like a writer
Most writers start off as readers, and lovers, of good books. In his recent Monday Motivation blog posts, Richard has been sharing the lessons he has drawn from a reread […]
Three tips for nailing the ending of your story
Beginnings are exciting because you’re establishing the characters you’ve been developing, and, launching your great ideas. Middles are hard work because you need to keep people interested [...]
Monday Motivation: Writing as a route to understanding
There are two kinds of people in the world, as I think someone else might have said before me: people who are more comfortable in the world of make-believe; and […]
Monday Motivation: Corona-time has lessons for our writing
Corona has narrowed our focus, as I noted last week – but it has also slowed us down. As events have speeded up, so our subjective experience of them has […]
Writing Secrets: Think about every word on the page
Last week, and in the next couple, I am featuring the writing advice of our mentoring participants – those who are finishing a first draft, in the middle or who have recently begun.
