The Writing Life

What it's like on the inside

Have You Read Anything Good Lately?

So you want to be a writer?, General, On Writing

‘Have you read anything good lately?’ It’s such an innocent thing to be asked. So well-meaning. Yet each time a little voice inside me that wants to shriek – ‘NO! There’s NOTHING good. Nobody anywhere is writing ANYTHING that is ANY good at all. Except ME!’...

How Long It Takes

So you want to be a writer?

Lauren once asked me how long it takes to write a book. Someone had told her "two years." It takes as long as you take to write it, Lauren. This will depend on several things. How long is the book? My shortest to date is 40,000 words. My longest is 160,000. That’s...

Author and Publicity

So you want to be a writer?, On Writing

Your book launch looms. There's a faint prickle of sweat in the palms. It's time to think about publicity. Definitions: Publicity: there's no budget. The book gets sent to all the press, media, influencers etc that you and your publisher can think of and you hope some...

Writers on Writing

So you want to be a writer?, General, On Writing

So you want to be a writer, eh? And why not? It's a great life. Let's hear what some of those writers have had to say about it. For those of us who are feeling undervalued, the problem was diagnosed as long ago as the 18th century: "That unprosperous race [men of...

Care of Your Author

So you want to be a writer?, On Writing

So your partner has become an author. Congratulations. This may not have been your choice but congratulations anyway. With a little attention an author can be a rewarding companion as well as a curiosity and a conversation piece. But there are just a few things...

There’s so much to talk about, isn’t there? Tell me what you think. It will be good to hear from you.

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