As Oprah would say, I had an Aha moment!

I recently sent out a novel to a publisher in America. It’s a novel that I wrote several years ago about an issue that has recently become topical again. The publisher in question requested a couple of chapters in an email exchange that is on a first name basis. I was assured therefore that the work would not land on the slush pile and that it would in fact be read.

A couple of weeks later, I received an email rejection. But a rejection with a difference. It contained constructive criticism and pointed out why, in this publisher’s opinion, the novel was not strong enough to be published. Read More…

Before I delve into this, let me first say that keeping a journal is not obligatory. However, as I said in my previous blog, it is a great way of getting the gremlins out of your head to allow something new to take its place.

But it does more than this. Keeping a journal is a great way of practising your writing skills and becoming familiar with the Writing Process.

In the last post I talked about having two notebooks, this week my tips are more related to the first one – the one where anything goes. Read More…

I guess that since you are reading this blog, you’ve been toying with the idea of writing. Maybe you’re a regular blogger and think it’s time to tackle a substantial piece of writing. Or maybe you feel the need to express yourself.

The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are at least beginning to take that idea seriously and have started looking for information, guidance and support. If you weren’t, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog!

Let me take the mystery out of writing and to tell you, quite simply, that if I can do it, so can you! Read More…