I thought writing novels from home was the dream - I didn't realise how lonely I had become
telegraph.co.uk – Monday June 26, 2017
Days had gone by when I realised I hadn’t left my house. I had got up every morning and showered, hit my desk to write a couple of thousand words, had leftovers for lunch, welcomed the children back from school, made dinner for everyone, then went to bed leaving my husband working downstairs. I hadn’t spoken to anyone but my family in days.
I used to chat with friends throughout the day, but now we all seem to prefer to text than phone. We leave messages underneath Facebook posts, and should one of us try to make plans, we never quite manage to synchronize diaries.
One of my dearest friends lives around the corner, and works for the International Animal Rescue. She works at home too. We text each other regularly saying ‘let’s meet for lunch’, but I am on deadline, or she is running to New York for a meeting and then I realise just how lonely I have become.
20 inspirational pieces of advice for writers on National Writing Day
telegraph.co.uk – Wednesday June 21, 2017
June 21st is National Writing Day, a celebration of writing creatively that aims to encourage people of all ages to 'put pen to paper, unleash their imagination and make their voices heard'.
A number of events marking the occasion are being held across the UK, details of which can be found on the National Writing Day website.
On social media many people, professional authors among them, have been sharing their tips on how to go about become a better writer. Here are a selection of the best.
How Do You Become A Literary Agent? Joanna Volpe Of New Leaf Literary & Media Has Some Words Of Wisdom
bustle.com – Saturday June 17, 2017
It's not uncommon for book lovers to take an interest in literary careers. From authors to editors, publicists to agents, it seems like there are countless dream jobs all to to do with books... but securing one of those jobs can feel like a sheer impossibility. With so many prospective literary career seekers flooding the market, and so few coveted positions to go around, the job search can be equal parts frustrating, time-consuming, and soul crushing. But, maybe it doesn't have to be that way. There are, after all, lots of people who do succeed in finding their ways into the book world. Joanna Volpe, president and literary agent at New Leaf Literary & Media (she represents some of the biggest authors in the game, including Veronica Roth, Leigh Bardugo, Gabby Rivera, Holly Black, Susan Dennard, Danielle Paige, and others) is one of them, and she didn't get there by accident.
Top Tips for Writing a Killer Proposal
foyles.co.uk – Friday June 16, 2017
Writing a dazzling nonfiction proposal that will attract publishers is an art. As an agent I spend a lot of timing honing nonfiction proposals with authors. Here are ten top tips that all budding authors should bear in mind when putting together a killer proposal.
Get a Crash Course in Writing from 20 Journalists
lifehacker.com – Wednesday June 14, 2017
I only remember one practical writing lesson from my three years as an English major: Whenever you can, put the best bits at the end of the sentence. Put the next-best bits at the beginning, and put the rest in the middle. This trick works in every kind of writing, and I wish I’d spent my college years learning more tricks like it, instead of pretending to read The Brothers Karamazov.
Publishers rejected me, but I went on to earn six-figures selling 1,000 books a day
telegraph.co.uk – Tuesday June 13, 2017
Millions dream of quitting the grind and replacing their income through a rewarding, creative endeavour.
And what could be simpler - and more glamorous - than writing a bestselling novel?
After years of not knowing how the next month’s bill would be paid, thriller writer Mark Edwards is among a new and growing elite of high-earning authors who broke away from traditional publishing routes and self-published online.
Got Writer’s Block? This Best-selling Author Tells You How To Beat It
fastcompany.com – Monday June 12, 2017
There’s no one way to write a novel. There are, however, a million ways to screw up a book—or worse, start one and never finish it. If you’re looking for tips on how to keep the scribbling of your first tome on course, we’re betting that having the advice of a successful author might be a smart place to start.
Buying houses in cash and selling millions: meet self-publishing's 'hidden' authors
theguardian.com – Thursday June 8, 2017
When Keith Houghton bought his four-bedroom detached house earlier this year, he did a rare thing for an author: he paid cash, with earnings from his books.
Keith who, you may ask? Houghton is one of a handful of so-called “hidden” bestsellers: his self-published crime thrillers are ebooks, sales of which are not monitored by the UK’s official book charts (if they don’t have ISBNs, which self-published titles often don’t).
Houghton made his money over the past six years by selling more than 500,000 books, chiefly through his Gabe Quinn series of thrillers. In a world in which traditionally published authors struggle to make £7,000 a year from their work, it is no wonder Houghton says: “I feel like I have won the lottery.”
Andrea Mara on having the confidence to write a novel
irishexaminer.com – Friday June 2, 2017
THIS time three years ago, I got up, put on a dress and heels, and drove to my office in Dublin’s Financial Services Centre to look at my long to-do list.
I know this not because it stands out in any way, but because back then it’s what I did every day.
Today, I’m sitting at my kitchen table in jeans and flats, looking at an equally long but very different to-do list, and getting set to launch my first book, a psychological thriller about a woman who sees something strange in her next-door neighbour’s garden.
Stuck While Writing? Try This Brilliant Advice
themarysue.com – Wednesday May 31, 2017
Every writer knows that while there are the blessed moments where words seem to pour forth in a magical river, sometimes the act of writing is like pulling teeth. Actually, pulling teeth sounds a lot easier than attempting to write when you’re blocked. The following approaches to getting unstuck could prove extremely helpful—I know they’ve helped me.
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