I recently had a bit of an odd experience in an author Facebook group, and it got me thinking about the wider writing community. I suppose I have been lucky – this was the first time I’d ever been subjected to online hate, and let me tell you, it wasn’t a picnic in the park!… Continue reading On being kind to each other
Category: publishing
Writing a first draft
I had someone ask a question recently about how to write a first draft and thought I'd do a blog post on this. The short answer is: you just have to write it! That's not the most helpful piece of advice in the world, but it is the truth. Writing out that first draft can… Continue reading Writing a first draft
Writing a Synopsis
When I first started trying to write, I spent ages agonizing over how to craft a good synopsis to send to literary agents. It was before I worked in fiction publishing, so I didn't have as much knowledge about how it all worked as I do now. But after a question from the lovely Rae… Continue reading Writing a Synopsis
Digital-first vs paperback publishing
As some of you might know, I am a big fan of digital publishing - my Kindle is my prized possession, it goes everywhere with me and the day my old one broke was a very dark day indeed (luckily, I got a new one WITH A BACKLIGHT)! As a commissioning editor, I have to… Continue reading Digital-first vs paperback publishing
Your publisher’s decisions
Signing with a publishing house is undoubtedly a very exciting experience, but it can also come with a side of confusion, especially for debut authors. It can be hard to let your work go, because you’ve worked on it so hard and up until now, you’ve been in control (perhaps with your agent too). I… Continue reading Your publisher’s decisions
The 2018 First Novel Prize
I'm really honoured to have been asked to judge the 2018 First Novel Prize next year alongside literary agent and author Sam Copeland. Sam and I will be reading manuscripts next summer and entries open in February 2018, so if you are an unpublished or self published writer (i.e. you own the rights to your… Continue reading The 2018 First Novel Prize
Self-publishing vs traditional: author interview with Mel Sherratt
I'm so delighted to be hosting the wonderful writer Mel Sherratt on the blog today. I've had quite a few people asking me about self-publishing over on Facebook, and because my experience is only in traditional I decided I needed a bit of an expert to step in, and Mel very kindly agreed to answer… Continue reading Self-publishing vs traditional: author interview with Mel Sherratt
How the editorial process works
So you’ve reached the amazing stage where someone wants to publish your book. You’re excited, you’re nervous, you’ve finally been able to tell your friends and family without panicking that you’ll somehow jinx it and your publisher will call you to tell you that actually, sorry, this whole thing has been a strangely elaborate joke.… Continue reading How the editorial process works
How a book deal works
So I ran a Twitter poll the other day asking people what topic would be the most useful for me to write about, as I really want to try to make this little blog as useful as possible. When I was trying to get published, I spent HOURS trawling the internet for information about the… Continue reading How a book deal works
My submission letter to my agent
I thought it might be helpful to share the original submission letter which I sent to my lovely agent, Camilla at Darley Anderson. Now, please bear in mind I wrote this letter a couple of years ago, when I was young and fairly naive - but it did get me an agent, so I thought… Continue reading My submission letter to my agent
That two week feeling…
Yesterday, someone asked me if I was feeling happy about how my first book, The Doll House, is doing. 'I don't know,' I replied, and I wasn't trying to be evasive or modest or cagey or any of those things, I just really found it hard to explain how I am feeling two weeks after the… Continue reading That two week feeling…
How it feels to have a book published
It's 4.38 am, in the early hours of Thursday, 14th September. I'm wide awake, staring into the darkness of my room (well, mainly darkness. I live next to a train line so there is the occasional flashing light!). I have to be up for work in less than three hours, but even though I know… Continue reading How it feels to have a book published
Phoebe Morgan 