Developing your craft

You've been writing for a while and nearly have a full draft of a manuscript, or a collection of finished shorter pieces of work, under your belt.

Article

11 min read

Translating History

Natasha Pulley

24th June 2015

Edited

16th September 2020

History is a foreign country. Digressing a bit, so is Japan. Haruki Murakami is one of the best-selling writers worldwide – translated. Nobody...

Article

11 min read

How Many Hours Does it Take to Write a Novel?

Andrew Shantos

22nd June 2015

Edited

10th December 2024

Here’s the short answer: 736.

Well, for mine anyhow, from inception to publication. At 77,270 words, that’s a little under 105 words per...

Article

6 min read

Language and Idiom in Historical Fiction

Simon Turney

19th June 2015

Edited

16th September 2020

I’m sure that since you’re planning to write a work of historical fiction, you’ll have read plenty too. If not, then that’s clearly your starting...

Blog

3 min read

Send It, Don’t Scrap It!

The Great British Write Off

19th June 2015

Edited

8th December 2020

Unfortunately though, this is also where doubt can rear its ugly head. It's so easy to just ‘scrap it’ and put it away. But don’t let this...

Article

5 min read

Writing Women in Historical Fiction

Joanna Courtney

15th June 2015

Edited

16th September 2020

Women are something of a rarity in history – shy, domestic creatures who peep out between the cracks of their husband’s ‘greater’ deeds. If we...

Article

5 min read

The Internet is a Writer’s Best Friend

Kieran Fanning

5th June 2015

Edited

14th September 2020

Children's author Kieran Fanning shows you how to use the internet to your best advantage as a writer - and why it doesn't have to be the enemy of...