Tag Archives: author
The importance of staying proactive as a writer
Trying to build a career as a writer when you have a life, other commitments and a whole other job can seem a daunting task and there’s no doubt that it takes hard work, discipline and patience. I wanted to jot down some thoughts I’ve had recently about why it’s so important to also be […]
Querying agents: what I’ve learnt so far on my journey to being published
Hello! After a VERY LONG TIME, I’m back! While I’ve been away from my blog for the past year and a bit, a lot has happened. I’ve moved from London to Edinburgh, got engaged (!) and finally finished my novel. (The one mentioned here in a previous post for reference.) While it’s been a really […]
Poem: For My Brother
It’s been a while since I shared a poem on here. Poetry just feels so intrinsically personal and emotional – maybe because I only ever write about the things that matter to me, and sometimes those things hurt. So here you go – this one’s for my brother. Who deserves everything he thinks he doesn’t. […]
Writing a novel: taking myself away for a week
A recent article in The Guardian caused some controversy by suggesting that writing is an elite activity because it requires two things: time and space. Of course, both those things will often require money, meaning that as Lynn Steger Strong suggests, you can only be a writer if you can afford it. I’m not saying […]
Writing a novel: the beginning
In the interest of being honest and open, and sharing my entire writing journey here on my blog, I suppose I should say that I have started working (mainly thinking) on a new novel! It’s really exciting, but something in me hesitates to talk openly about it, simply because it is still all so new […]
How to stay motivated as a writer
Writing really is a strange and lonely occupation and, like many writers, my motivation ebbs and flows depending on how busy I am, what I’m writing, and my general mood. However, there are things I know that work to keep me organised and to keep me going. Here are my tips on how to stay […]
An ode to the first draft
Ok, I finished a rough first draft of a short story about ten minutes ago, and nothing felt more apt than writing a speedy blog post about just how much I love this feeling (and just how much I dread the next stage of the process). As most people know, the first draft of anything […]
Poetry Corner | Poem #31
And I was always told that there was a permanence in change.
The Diary of an Unpublished Author #8
Dear Diary, This one is all about rejections. Dum, dum, dum. I’m not going to pretend that I haven’t received any rejections from literary agents in the quest for a book publishing deal… Don’t worry, people will tell you. [Insert famous author name here] received hundreds of rejections before they finally got published. That’s all well and good, and […]
The Diary of an Unpublished Author #7 (or how to apply for literary agents)
Dear Diary, It’s coming to that time of year again. Nope, I’m not talking about mince pies and Christmas lights and terrible but wonderful festive films. (Although, yes that is true too. Can we talk about how great Arthur Christmas is for a minute?!) I’m talking about the time of year where I bear my […]
Forever on a Lilo 