Sentiments of the Day

As writers, we are always on the lookout for valuable resources to improve our craft, navigate the publishing world, and stay inspired....

Rejection is an inevitable part of every writer's journey. It can feel like a personal blow, a sign that your work isn't good enough....

Purple Prose is writing so elaborate that it draws attention to itself, alienating the reader from the story, and slowing the pace of the...

When approaching literary agents, along with a well-polished manuscript, you will need a strong and concise SYNOPSIS. This Synopsis is...

Unless you are going to self-publish, as a writer you will need a literary agent. To approach an agent you will need to have completed...

"It was all a dream..." Don't you just hate lines like this. They're called cliches. And they are like slapping beige paint on a Picasso:...

When you go to submit a book, you'll be faced with a list of the agent's preferred "genres". These will often be commercial fiction,...

"Show, don't tell" - I've always found this rule confusing. In this entry, I try to discern what is meant by "show, don't tell", and...

Mr. Friston is the proprietor of Friston Farm in The Falling Sun. He is characterised by a large, bristly moustache. Meet him in the...

The Twenty-first Century debate: "Paper or Laptop?" Many writers ask whether they should be writing by hand or typing their work. I do...

Fancy letting your creative juices run wild? Here's a writing challenge just for you! Create and describe the character of Mrs....

"Make sure it's realistic." Realism is an aesthetic. People say it makes writing (or theatre, or film) easier for the reader/audience to...

Ignore "write what you know" - I say write whatever you want. "Write what you know" is the worst piece of advice ever. Yeah, if you're...

Four years. Eight drafts. Forgotten characters. Shrinking word counts. The Falling Sun has always been a large novel. My aim is to...

I've spent four years writing and honing The Falling Sun. Last night I had a random panic that one of my characters was not sufficiently...

Watched Karate Kid 2 last night. Mr. Miyage returns to Okinawa to see his dying father. I really miss Japan.

"If you don't read, you can't write" - said somebody famous. In this entry I will discuss why every writer needs to read, including pros...

Struggling for ideas? Here are eight short story prompts to spark a short story. Give it a go and email me your results - I'd love to...

Here I will post tips, observations, and updates regarding my writing forays. There will be laughter, wisdom (potentially), and excerpts...