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"Yes, the ending was as I planned it." Stephen Poliakoff explained the writing process behind his new thriller, Glorious 39, at his recent Waterstone's signing.
Read the interview with Stephen Poliakoff » -
"One of the most satisfying things about blogging is the immediacy. You think it up, type it out on your keyboard and then publish."
Read more from author Tim Kevan » -
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Are you a copycat?
Filed under: Writing Advice
Copyright law is an issue that I get lots of questions about, and rightly so, because it can be a complicated business.
The most recent enquiry was from a gentleman who wanted advice about using an extract from another author’s work in his manuscript. This is what I told him: Read more
Love in the time of… now
Filed under: Authors and Books
I love a good romcom novel and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m one of the millions of women (and some men) the world over who devour ‘chick lit’ with relish and, frankly, are glad of the authors who write it.
Why then is this particular style of romance writing considered, by some, to be amongst the lowest form of novelising? (I’m asking.) Is it because Read more
Short story competition – get cracking
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
If you’re planning on entering our Writers’ & Artists’ short story competition then you’d better get your writing finger out.
There are only two weeks left until the closing date on 14 February (Valentine’s Day to all you romantics out there).
All you have to do (I’m saying that with a smile) is write Read more
Copyright – can someone steal my idea?
Filed under: Writing Advice
Do you worry about how to protect your literary efforts?
Many writers are concerned that submitting their book to publishers or agents runs a risk – a risk that their work might be stolen (gasp!).
Isn’t there a chance that an agent would pick up their idea and pass it onto to an already established author? Or perhaps ‘sell’ it to a publisher who in turn might go and commission a book on that very subject? Read more
Can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t write
Filed under: Authors and Books
The author Marian Keyes has brought depression into the world of writing news again. She recently admitted that she can’t eat, sleep, write or talk to people, and wonders if she will ever emerge from her darkness.
Depression is a common ailment, and some – such as Kay Redfield Jamison – suggest that there’s a link between it and the artistic temperament.
Could it be that the qualities which make a person creative also make them Read more
Paperclips or staples? Seriously, it’s important
Filed under: Writing Advice
We like to tackle all sorts, from finding an agent to the little details that can matter more than you might think.
Take for instance the email that I’ve just received from a writer asking whether he should staple the pages of his covering letter and synopsis together. Now this sort of thing isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s still a good question.
The general rule of thumb is Read more
2010 – The Year of your book?
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Getting Published
Happy New Year to all Writers’ & Artists’ users and Yearbook readers!
How are you today? Are you looking back at 2009 and weighing up the highs and lows? Or are you thinking of the year ahead as a new opportunity – made any resolutions? Read more
Ghosts of writing past, present and future
Filed under: Authors and Books
Do you have the skills to be a good writer – and are you naturally curious about other people? It could be that becoming a ‘ghost’ is just right for you… Read more
All I want for Christmas is an agent…
Filed under: Literary Agents
A literary agent must be at the top of a fiction writer’s list to Father Christmas (along with a Go Go Hamster – who doesn’t want one?!).
And that’s because the vast majority of fiction publishers rely on literary agents to filter submissions and approach them with the cream of the crop.
Getting an agent is not only your gateway to the publishers, but also the best way to Read more
Our writing competition heats up (despite the cold)
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
As winter approaches and the days get shorter, so does our productivity: 8pm in November and you’re heating your milk ready for bedtime, compared to 8pm in June, when you’re out washing the car or sitting in the garden with a glass of rosé, enjoying the evening sunshine. At least – this applies to me.
However, many of you dedicated writers out there are continuing to cram the hours into your day.
In October alone, we received over one third of our total writing competition entries to date. Read more
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Buy the 2010 Yearbook
The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is available at a discounted price from our online bookshop. Get all the info, contacts and advice you could need.On camera: Jon McGregor
"Being longlisted for the Booker Prize changed everything - it was the launchpad for my writing career." Click to view our video with novelist Jon McGregor »
On camera: Justin Cartwright
"Just write... If you're any good you may not know it, but certainly someone else will." Click to view our video with novelist Justin Cartwright »
On camera: Julie Myerson
The novelist and journalist Julie Myerson on how she got that all-important first publishing deal. Click here to view our video exclusive »