First, thanks to Andy for last week’s blog.  It just shows, as a writer you don’t just need talent but also perseverance and a great big dollop of luck! Read the rest of this entry »

Writing a novel requires stamina, perseverance and great imagination. Technically, it requires that the author has exemplary skills of characterisation, description, dialogue, wit, originality and the patience to do meticulous research in order to attain a level of realism which will draw readers in. Sadly, it doesn’t mean, given that you have all of these qualities, that you will be an instant hit. Stop-Press: Publishers don’t always get it right!

Probably the biggest player in this litany of literary qualities is…luck. Right place, right time and a publisher who’s just had a good lunch and therefore feels happy with the world, probably plays a bigger role in getting your book published than any of the other laudable attributes. ‘Surely not’ I hear you cry. Well, read on, and don’t call me Shirely. . ..

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First, thanks to Natalie – it may be a cliché that ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ but I can’t emphasise too strongly that it also makes a huge difference to whether you sell your work or not. Read the rest of this entry »

I RECENTLY had an article accepted by a magazine and the Editor asked for some photographs to accompany it. At first I thought it wouldn’t be a problem, but I was wrong….
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First, thanks to Iain for last week’s blog. Could you be one of the people to put a smile on his face in this year’s competition? It’s certainly worth a try – but, as he says, successful comedy can be difficult to carry off successfully! So careful crafting is needed. Read the rest of this entry »