Next year will be a busy year for me from a tutoring perspective. I’ve been booked to lead five courses, four of which have been outlined so far.
2020 Courses
2020 Vision?
We’re approaching that time of year again, when it’s common to look back over what we’ve achieved and think about the future. But when it comes to thinking about that future, it’s easy to come up with a list of
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
I don’t know about you, but Christmas feels like it’s hurtling towards me at an even faster pace than previous years. I must be getting old. But not to worry, because according to the latest issue of The People’s Friend, I’ll
Focus on Cake!
Last weekend it was our writers’ group’s annual retreat. I was staying near Abersoch, found near the end of the Llyn Peninsula, in Wales. There were thirteen of us in total and we all turned up on Thursday evening fired
More of Alex’s Mistakes
Fellow writing advisor Alex Gazzola has just published his latest book in his Mistakes Writers Make series, and this third in the series is called 50 Mistakes Writers Make. The first two books focussed on common mistakes beginner writers make. This edition considers mistakes that
Deadlines: The Death of Perfection?
I owe you an apology. It’s been several weeks since my last post. Things have been … well, a tad hectic recently. This time last week I was having breakfast with the Archbishop of Canterbury. And between 8.39am and 8.59am
Words are our Assets
It’s that time of year again for me when the latest royalty figures (and payments) arrive for my first published book, One Hundred Ways For A Dog To Train Its Human. It was sixteen years ago (crikey!) when it first hit
Exclusive, Or Wide?
Last time, in my post How To Sell In Peru, I discussed the decision self-published authors have to take about being exclusive to Amazon, or going wide. This is because when we upload our material to Amazon we’re given the choice
How To Sell In Peru … Or Canada, Or Saudi Arabia, Or …
There are times when I marvel at the Internet. Here I am, sitting at a computer in the rural tranquility of Shropshire, and looking through my sales data for The Complete Article Writer in 2019, and I see that copies have been
Shhhh! Research Secrets.
Turn to page 60 of the latest issue of Writers’ Forum magazine (Issue 215) and you’ll find my ugly mug staring back at you! I’ve been interviewed by Anita Loughrey for her regular Research Secrets column, where she asks writers to share how they
Seasonal Scribblings
Having just been commissioned to write a feature about a tinsel factory for a weekly magazine, it’s reminded me that while it’s currently the summer school holidays, I’m actually working on Christmas material. (Eek! Sorry. I’ve mentioned the C word!)
Weekend Networking
One good way of developing your writing business in a fun way, is learning from others, and there are two upcoming events that I’m involved with: one as a committee member, and one as a tutor. NAWGFest 2019 – 30th
A Room Of One’s Own
Last week, I decided to take myself away from any distractions and work in the library in my county town. I could have worked in the library in my village (which we’re still fortunate to have), but the chances of
EU Copyright Directive
Firstly, many thanks to everyone who commented on last week’s post and shared it on social media. A touch of reality was clearly appreciated! The current reality for authors and creatives could be about to change, if the UK adopts
So Near, Yet …
It was an opportunity I had to take. Here was an editor keen on my novel. But a few others in the acquisitions meeting had reservations, so a contract wasn’t quite in the offing just yet. A few tweaks, though, could make all the