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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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New interview with Kathy Lette
Our new ‘insider interview’ is with the very successful, very funny and very frank, novelist Kathy Lette.
Kathy talks about her route to getting published and her writing life now as well as offering her own brand of advice to aspiring writers, including the odd word of warning.
She talks about her experience of literary agents and 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
What inspires your writing?
Mary Hooper writes for children and young adults. Her historical novels including At the House of the Magician and The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose have a huge fan base, as do her contemporary novels for teenagers.
In my last post, A writer with nothing to write about, I explained how, after writing 20 or so books for young adults, I’d run out of ideas.
Eventually (I already had a book commission to fulfil) my editor suggested a historical book, but I had absolutely no background in history and only a vague idea of what had happened when. I took myself along to Read more
A writer with nothing to write about
A guest post from author Mary Hooper. Mary writes for children and young adults. Her historical novels including At the House of the Magician and The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose have a huge fan base, as do her contemporary novels for teenagers.
I used to write hard-hitting teenage books about modern problems: teenage pregnancy, the dangers of going off to meet internet friends, how to cope with family break-ups and so on – and then, after a good number of years, I ran out of ideas. Everything that could 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
Dying to get an agent
Filed under: Authors and Books, Literary Agents
It has been reported in the American press that the author John Updike has finally acquired an agent. And this despite his having died a year ago.
When alive, 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
Tell us about your writing zone
Filed under: Authors and Books, Writing Advice
Where do you write? You’ve probably seen those articles in the newspapers about ‘writers’ rooms’. It’s almost as if there’s a magic to the physical space where a writer writes.
Pictures of a writer’s room usually feature personal items: photos pinned to the wall, objects collected on travels, gifts from other writers. Perhaps even, at this time of year, we can imagine a sprig of holly on top of that meaningful ethnic carving that sits shyly on the desk.
All those things are important. I enjoy Read more
“It helps if you (occasionally) think you’re a genius…”
Filed under: Art and Illustration, Authors and Books
If I knew the definitive answer to ‘how to get a publishing deal’, I’d be able to mend the hole in my roof. Only kidding (I live in a basement).
I’ve had quite a few books published, but it’s always been tricky. It helps if you (occasionally) think you’re a genius of course, and are slightly rhino-skinned to let those rejection emails/letters bounce off you.
My first book was published in 1986. I love magic tricks, but am quite inept at Read more
Can a computer judge your writing?
How do you judge the quality of your own writing? And how will others judge its quality? These are questions that any writer will think about. They concern us particularly when we submit our work for publication.
We all hope that our work will be judged by real readers rather than computers. The recent story on Channel 4 news was presented as a bit of fun, but actually it’s worrying that computer programs are now used to mark some English exams.
The Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors tried out one of these programs, developed in the USA, and tested some famous writers with it.
A passage of Hemingway failed the computer test: “lack of care in style of writing”. They then tried 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 »