I'm writing this sat at my kitchen table, which is now where I spend the vast majority of my time. Occasionally, I move to the sofa, and once a day I go outside - into the streets of North London, with their shuttered up shops, their chalked warning signs, and their strange silence that descends… Continue reading Writing in a time of Covid
Tag: writing
Virtual Book Events in 2020
So for fairly obvious reasons, very sadly a lot of the festivals I was looking forward to taking part in this year have been cancelled. I feel so badly for all the amazing organisers who had worked so hard to set them up - but just think how much fun we will all have when… Continue reading Virtual Book Events in 2020
Book events in 2020
This year I am looking forward to speaking at several literary events and festivals, and have listed them all here in case anybody wants to come along (also for myself, so that I don't forget to go...) Guernsey Literary Festival 2020: 2nd May, Getting Published: a panel discussion. This will run from 4-5pm and will… Continue reading Book events in 2020
Introducing…The Babysitter
This week I revealed the cover of my third book, The Babysitter, over on Twitter and have had such a lovely response! Thank you so much to everybody who has shared it, it really does mean the world. This is actually my favourite jacket of my three novels - designed by the brilliant Anna Sikorska… Continue reading Introducing…The Babysitter
Impostor Syndrome in writing
I'm not a real writer. That's the thought that goes through my mind probably on a daily basis, and ramps up even more whenever I'm doing anything around publication - events, emails, writing, and whenever I respond to readers. I genuinely feel like I've somehow conned people into thinking I can write, and managed to… Continue reading Impostor Syndrome in writing
Upcoming book events for 2019
Hello everybody! Sorry for the slight hiatus, I just started a new job working at Orion and the last six weeks have been somewhat full-on! Anyway, I'm very excited to be taking part in some events in May and the summer, and would love to see you there if you're interested. Details below... May 10th,… Continue reading Upcoming book events for 2019
Some of the best people to follow on Twitter in the book world
This is a long subject line but there are hundreds of brilliant bookish people to follow on Twitter so I wanted to be clear that these are only 'some' of them! I know not everyone is on Twitter and that it can be seen as a negative place BUT in my experience if you just… Continue reading Some of the best people to follow on Twitter in the book world
Pitch your book to an editor!
Happy Sunday everyone! Just a quick note to say that myself and my brilliant editor Charlotte Mursell (who works at HQ Stories, HarperCollins) are going to be taking part in a pitching session at Retreats For You writing retreat down in Sheepwash, Devon, on the weekend of 9th/10th March 2019. We will be giving advice on… Continue reading Pitch your book to an editor!
Writing a Psychological Thriller
I did a workshop a couple of weeks ago at the lovely Chiswick Book Festival (which if you've never been I'd really recommend, it happens every September I think and there's a huge range of brilliant talks - everything from cookery demonstrations to author panels and discussions) - anyway, my workshop was on how to… Continue reading Writing a Psychological Thriller
Upcoming book events!
I am speaking at a couple of literary festivals this summer which I'm very excited about! I am also running a workshop on writing a psychological thriller on September 15th at the Chiswick Book Festival, so if you think you have a novel in you, please do come along! Tickets here (booking advisable). For those… Continue reading Upcoming book events!
Responding to edits on your book
As an editor, part of my job is to send authors feedback on their novels and let them know what I think is working well, and what perhaps needs a little more work. As a writer now too, I’ve also experienced this from the other side and I wanted to do a quick post about… Continue reading Responding to edits on your book
Restructuring your novel
Someone on Facebook recently posted to ask me about how to restructure an entire book if it needs a bit of an overhaul. This is something I work with authors on at Avon, and it’s also something I had to do for my own book, so I do have a few tips on the best… Continue reading Restructuring your novel
On being kind to each other
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
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
