NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Thirty
Giovanna Fletcher
It’s day thirty and the last day of National Novel Writing Month. Giovanna Fletcher, the author of Billy and Me offers advice about first drafts and sitting down to write…
Realise that you will occasionally look at what you’ve written and think it’s crap. Don’t panic at that. Just sit down and write. You will get distracted, it’s inevitable, just make sure you give yourself a good telling off and get back to work. Give yourself a target word count everyday. Something realistic and achievable. My target is 1,500 a day – that might seem a small amount to some people, but it works for me.
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NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Nine
On day twenty-nine of National Novel Writing Month, Jon Rance, the author of Happy Endings, joins us to talk about the internal editor…
There’s a reason why publishers have editors and why every writer needs one. Because it’s a different job than being a writer. The same applies when we’re writing a novel. Writing is writing, it’s creative and visceral. It’s the difference between designing a house and building one. When you’re writing, be a writer. When you’re editing, be an editor, but never confuse the two.
by Competitions : Raising Steam Winners
Thank you to everyone who entered our competition to win a copy of Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett. Well done to: Gail Bennett, Michelle U and Laura Jones who are the three lucky winners.
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by Fiction Friday: Dinner Party
Friday 29th November 2013: Dinner Party.
You are invited to a dinner party by a stranger. When you get there, you find that you’ve been joined by friends and enemies. What happens? Why have you all been brought there?
Write for five minutes and then, keep going if you can. Don’t edit, just post.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Eight
Jane Fallon
Jane Fallon joins us for day twenty-eight of our NaNoWriMo Author Advice. Jane’s books include Getting Rid of Matthew and Foursome. Her new book, Skeletons, is out next year. Jane gives us her five tips for new writers.
1. Keep moving forward. Don’t get stuck editing the same passage over and over again. There’s time for that later. I think that a first draft is all about getting the whole story down on paper as quickly as you can, and then sitting back and assessing what you’ve got.
2. If you have a block write through it. Don’t give up because you are stuck on a passage that’s going to be difficult to write. Write a version of it, however bad. Eventually you’ll hit a point where the story flows again. And then it’ll be easy to go back and rewrite.
3. Don’t think you have to write in perfect, grammatically correct, English. You’re Continue reading
by Book Reviews : The Manhattan Puzzle by Laurence O’ Bryan
Chris reviews The Manhattan Puzzle by Laurence O’ Bryan (published by Avon, October 2013.)
The story follows Isabel Ryan in her attempt to find and free her husband, Sean Ryan, who has been framed for murder by the top American Bank he works for so as to cover up some very mysterious goings on. Isabel’s journey to solve the puzzle Ryan was working on will take her from her home in London to caverns under Manhattan Island.
I enjoyed the book. Although there are two books which precede this one, The Istanbul Puzzle and The Jerusalem Puzzle, it isn’t necessary for the reader to have read them to understand this book. There are references to things from the other books but they are explained within their required context, allowing the book to sit on its own. Similar in style to Dan Brown, Laurence O’Brian writes a well paced story which keeps drawing you on with its short chapters and regular cliffhangers, maintaining the readers interest while not bogging them down with unnecessary subplots.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Seven
We’re almost at the end of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Trisha Ashley, who’s latest book, Wish Upon a Star was released by Avon earlier this month, talks about finding your muse.
As readers of my newsletter know, Muse slipped into my head and took up residence while I was reading Paradise Lost at school and then refused to leave. At the time I took him at face value, but I’m pretty sure now he isn’t a real muse at all, because he’s male, steely-blue, wears a lot of leather, is winged, has talons and is devilishly handsome, if you like that kind of thing. Everyone else seems to have a fairly useful female Muse, but no – I have to be landed with a creature who needs to be arm-wrestled into submission every morning.
But then, that’s not such a bad thing, because there’s no point in wafting around looking soulful and waiting for the Muse of Inspiration to stop flitting round the room and land. No – get a firm grip and tell him or her to jolly well get on with it, and then soon the only thing flying will be your novel.
by Discussions : Character Vs. Plot
Which one is more important?
It’s one of the decisions you have to make when sitting down to write a novel. Some books are character driven whereas others are moved along by the strong plot. When you read something like Lord of The Flies for example, it’s ultimately the actions of the characters that drive the plot. I am still trying to figure out which one should come first but saying that, my main character is strong-minded so if I had to choose at the moment, I would say character is more important.
Which one do you think is more important when writing a novel? Which one do you tend to focus on more?
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Six
Lisa Jewell joins us for day twenty-six. The author of Ralph’s Party and The House We Grew Up In, talks about finding the discipline to write…
It’s taken me many years and many books to get to the point where I could call myself a disciplined writer and the turning point for me was when I realised I couldn’t work anywhere with broadband or wifi. So now I take my laptop to a cafe to write every day, just for two to two and a half hours. I have yet to have a day when I didn’t get to my 1000 word goal. Sometimes I even finish early and go and mooch around the shops for a while. It’s all about knowing your own limitations and working around them. It’s also about routine. The best gift for a hard-working novelist is for every day to be the same as the last!
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by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Five
Fiona Walker, the author of The Summer Wedding and The Love Letter joins us for day twenty-five of National Novel Writing Month. She’s discussing Character vs. Plot.
I’d say that characters are more important than plot because it’s really good, believable characters that ultimately create plot. That said, you need a strong kernel of a structural idea to place the characters into from the start – it can be a simple as two contrasting characters falling in love, meeting after a long absence, both wanting the same thing that only one can have etc. I find that if my characters aren’t established enough, the plot tend to become more and more extreme and farcical to try to keep the reader engaged, whereas really loveable, rounded characters should achieve that engagement in the first place
by Novel Kicks attends the launch of Raising Steam.
Pratchett launches his 40th Discworld novel on-board the Iron Girder.
We were very excited to be invited to the launch of Raising Steam, the latest novel by Sir Terry Pratchett and the 40th book in the Discworld series. On Friday 22nd November at 3pm sharp, we arrived at the Watercress Line at Alton Station where we were greeted by the billowing steam of the train that was to be the Iron Girder for the day.
On the platform stood Sir Terry, proudly wearing his train conductor’s hat. Soon after arriving, we all boarded the train where we would have afternoon tea of scones, jam, cream, a cup of tea and even a small glass of sparkling wine. We were even Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Four
We’re into the last week of National Novel Writing Month and on day twenty-four, Margaret James, the author of The Wedding Diary and The Silver Locket joins us to talk about creating good supporting characters….
Make sure your supporting characters add interest and depth to the central story, as opposed to start telling a story of their own, distracting the reader from the fates of the hero and heroine and splitting your story in two.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Three
Jill Mansell is the best-selling author of Don’t Want To Miss a Thing and Rumour Has It. She joins us on day twenty-three of NaNoWriMo to talk about what makes a perfect hero….
A perfect hero? Easy – all the good aspects and none of the less enticing ones that real men tend to have! Seriously, just make the hero someone you would LOVE to meet, both physically and mentally. But most of all, give him a charismatic personality. Identikit characters let down so many otherwise well written books. And good luck to everyone doing NaNoWriMo!
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty-Two
We are almost at the end of National Novel Writing Month. On day twenty-two, Sophie Duffy, the author of The Generation Game and This Holey Life, talks about what to do when you’re working on your draft and you hit the stage where you’re flagging…
Write in different places. In the car. In a cafe. With a writing buddy. Read a book. Watch a film. Listen to a radio drama. Have a long bath or a dog walk or a swim, where you can wrestle, really wrestle, with a tricky plot point. (And remember that every plot difficulty can be overcome. You’re in charge.) Write long hand. On lined paper. On plain paper. In a beautiful notebook. You will see the text in a different way and have an altered perspective on your writing. And if you are really stuck ask the question: what is the worst thing that can happen to my character right now?
by Competitions :
Raising Steam was released earlier this month. Thanks to the lovely people at DoubleDay, we’ve got three copies of Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett to give away.
How to enter:
Comment on this post by the closing date of Thursday 28th November 2013 at 23.59. The three winners will then be picked at random from the entries and announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Friday 29th November 2013. UK and Ireland only. We will contact the three winners via the e-mail you provide when entering the competition.
About the book:
To the consternation of the patrician, Lord Vetinari, Continue reading
by Fiction Friday: Sensitive Information
Fiction Friday: 22nd November 2013.
Today’s prompt:
You are at work and you hit print on a private or sensitive document. However, you send it to the wrong printer and now you don’t know where it’s gone….
Keep writing.
Remember, don’t edit, just post.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty One
It’s day twenty one of National Novel Writing Month. Talli Roland, the author of Last Christmas and The Pollyanna Plan, chats about finding the time to write…
With a young baby and masses of deadlines heading my way, finding the time – or making the time – to write has become of critical importance. For me, setting targets and creating a routine is the only way to do it. If I don’t schedule in the writing hours, I know they won’t happen! Whether it’s getting up at five in morning or squeezing in a few words before bedtime, I love ending the day feeling like I’ve accomplished my goal.
by Book Reviews : The Knot by Mark Watson
The Knot by Mark Watson.
(Published by Simon & Schuster, June 2013.)
The Knot is told from the perspective of Dominic Kitchen. He’s a middle-aged wedding photographer and the book is his memoirs. It looks mostly at his relationships mainly with his wife, daughter and his older sister.
I’ve not finished a book in a while with so many mixed feelings. I liked the style in which it was written. It gave it an immediate feel and being told solely from Dominic’s point of view allowed me to stay focused on him as a character.
In the story, Continue reading
by Competitions : The Longest Ride Winner
Sphere, September 2013
Thank you to all who entered our competition to win a copy of The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks.
Well done to Victoria Savill from Ashby De La Zouch, who has won a copy of the book.
About the book:
Ninety-one-year-old Ira Levinson is in trouble. Struggling to stay conscious after a car crash, with his mind fading, an image of his adored – and long-dead – wife Ruth appears. Urging him to hang on, she lovingly recounts the joys and sorrows of their life together – how they met, the dark days of WWII and its unrelenting effect on their families.
A few miles away, college student Sophia Danko’s life is about to change. Recovering from a break-up, she meets the young, rugged Luke and is thrown into a world far removed from her privileged school life. Sophia sees a new and tantalising future for herself, but Luke is keeping a secret that could destroy it all.
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples, separated by years and experience, whose lives are about to converge in the most unexpected – and shocking – of ways.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twenty
It’s day twenty of National Novel Writing Month. Paige Toon, the author of Johnny’s Girl and The Longest Holiday talks about the internal editor….
If I let my internal editor take over, I would never write a book a year – let alone two. It used to take me more time to write the first fifth of my books than the entire rest of it – mainly because I kept reading over that first fifth again and again, editing it over and over, instead of letting my thoughts flow through to the rest of the book. Far better to push on and come back to the early stuff later when you have a much better overall view of what the book needs. Of course, it’s easier said than done. I’m still a total control freak!
by Book News : Jill Mansell
The Unpredictable Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell. Published by Headline Review, January 2014.
When Josh Strachan, newly returned to his home in north Cornwall from sunny California, first meets Sophie Wells, he’s immediately smitten. Sophie’s pretty, she’s funny, she has lots of friends and she clearly loves her job as a photographer, despite the sometimes tricky clients. There’s just one problem: Sophie has very firmly turned her back on love. It’s nothing personal, she tells Josh, but she just doesn’t do dates. And no one – even Sophie’s scatty best friend Tula – will tell him why. Josh is sure Sophie likes him, though, and he’s just got to find out what’s put her off romance. And then put things right…
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Nineteen
Chrissie Manby
Chrissie Manby, author of Flatmates and Kate’s Wedding, joins us for day nineteen of our NaNoWriMo Author Advice. She tells us about the most important thing to remember when writing a first draft…
The most important thing to remember is that we live in a digital age. You don’t have to worry about saving paper. Stick down every sh*tty sentence that comes into your head. Write, write, write and edit afterwards. Editing as you go will only slow you down.
by NK Chats To.... : Samantha Tonge
Samantha Tonge
Samantha Tonge’s debut novel, Doubting Abbey (published by Carina,) was released on Kindle earlier this month. Samantha chats to us about her new novel, her favourite word and who she’d like to invite round to dinner…
What’s your writing day like?
With both children at school, I am lucky enough to write full-time, so most days I’m at my desk by 8.30am and more or less stay there until 3pm, balancing the hours between novel and short story writing – unless the dust is an inch high or the cupboards bare.
Can you tell us about your debut novel, Doubting Abbey?
Doubting Abbey was inspired by Downton Abbey – I was fascinated by the public’s obsession with this period drama, and wondered what would happen if I put a thoroughly modern gal into a stuffy, aristocratic environment. In Doubting Abbey, pizza waitress Gemma must pass herself off as posh Abbey for two weeks, to help run-down Applebridge Hall win the reality show Million Dollar Mansion. Her stay is not without mishaps! Nor the tempting presence of gorgeous Lord Edward…
by Discussions :
It is becoming clearer to me that, the more of my book I write, the more I am finding that I am the type of writer that needs to get the draft finished before I go back and edit a word. Stopping and reading what I’ve written as I go is only serving to slow me down and it is, a lot.
Each writer handles editing slightly differently and I am always interested to know how each does so because no two answers are the same.
How do you approach editing? Do you wait for a draft? Do you edit as you go?
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eighteen
It’s day eighteen of NaNoWriMo. Crime author, Mark Billingham talks to us about creating suspense…
Crime writers are often asked how to create suspense. Now, of course there are tricks of the trade and we all use our fair share of twists and cliffhangers. We all choose when and how to reveal key pieces of information. BUT, for me, they key to creating genuine suspense is really very simple. You need to give the reader characters with whom they can genuinely engage. If you do that, if you create well-rounded characters, you will have suspense from the very first page.
by Book News : Jack Sheffield
Silent Night by Jack Sheffield.
Published by Bantam Press. 5th December 2013.
1984 – and it’s an important time for the children of Ragley-on-the Forest school. Their school choir is to sing a carol in a church in York, and is actually going to be on television! Helping to keep his excited children, not to mention their parents, under control during these momentous events taxes Jack and his staff to the limit. At the same time, Jack has his own problems to deal with…
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Seventeen
Rob Pateman (Photo Paul Stuart)
We are on day seventeen of NaNoWriMo and today, Rob Pateman, the author of The Second Life of Amy Archer, talks to us about keeping your reader gripped….
Keep your readers gripped by giving them enough new information/action to keep them guessing and interested – but not so much that it falls onto them in one go. Pace is vital.
If you’re not sure if your ‘reveals’ are in the right place, make a graph with chapter number on the left and plot on the bottom. Chart each plot point/reveal with a mark by the chapter it appears in. Your flat points will soon be exposed.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Sixteen
M. Jonathan Lee
On day 16 of our NaNo Author Advice, author of The Radio, M. Jonathan Lee tells us about the feeling you have when the first draft is done…
“It took me an age to actually sit down and start writing. All the fears as to whether I could actually do it and whether I was good enough. And then, one day I sat down and I started.
All you need to do it sit down and start. Write, write and write. Forget quality control. Get your story down, let the words flow from your brain to the page. Live and feel your story. Become the characters. And keep the momentum going by continuing to write. Whenever you can.
The feeling when it’s all down is immense. You did it, you told the story that you dreamed you would. You are halfway there. And now your story is a huge screwed up ball of paper that with a lot of careful editing will soon have all the creases flattened out.”
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Fifteen
Photo by Blake Little.
We’re midway through National Novel Writing Month. Well done to everyone who is still going toward that 50,000 word goal. Author, Sophie Kinsella has some great advice for the halfway point…
Halfway through your project it will all seem impossible and you will be tempted to jack it in and begin another, far more exciting idea. Trust me, that idea will get difficult halfway through, too. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You may not find your voice or style straight away. Write the book you would love to read yourself.
by Competitions :
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks was published by Sphere in September 2013.
Thanks to the lovely people at Sphere, we have ONE copy of The Longest Ride to give away.
To enter:
Comment on this post with your name and town by the closing date of Wednesday 20th November 2013 at 23.59. The winner will be picked at random from the entrants and announced on the Novel Kicks blog on Thursday 21st November 2013. UK and Ireland only.
Read our review of The Longest Ride.
About the book: Continue reading
by Competitions : Step Back in Time Winners.
Published by Sphere, November 2013
Thank you to all who entered our competition to win a copy of the fantastic Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara.
Congratulations to…. Lindsay Healy from Cambridge who would like to go back to the 60’s and height of Beatlemania, Vicki Macdonald from Chesterfield who would like to go back to the 50’s and Karen, who would like to go back to the roaring 20’s.
by Fiction Friday: Family Celebrations
Fiction Friday: Friday 15th November 2013.
It’s Friday. Every week, we have a fiction prompt and the aim is just to write, not edit.
Today, it’s all about family celebrations. Your character’s name is Mark and he is going back to his family home for a get together for the first time in five years. Who is there? Why has he not been back for so long and what happens once he gets there? Does he bring anyone with him and how are they received?
Write for five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, post on here. Don’t edit.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Fourteen
On day 14 of NaNoWriMo, Victoria Fox chats to us about editing.
My advice? Keep going, keep going, keep going. Don’t look back. If I stop after every chapter and try to edit what I’ve done, I get sucked into changes and tweaks and I never push on with the word count. This can shake your confidence, especially if you’re a perfectionist. So much will change when you’ve finished – scenes you thought were terrible suddenly have a new significance; likewise others you loved might no longer be needed. You can’t know your parameters until you’ve written ‘The End’ and you have an entire book. Keep going until you get there, a little every day.
For more information on Victoria, visit http://www.victoriafox.net/
by Book Reviews : Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
Rising Steam by Terry Pratchett published by Doubleday, November 2013.
I have long been a great fan of the writings of Terry Pratchett, not just his Discworld works but everything he has done.
His latest offering, Rising Steam rose to the occasion and is a thumping good read. Steam is coming to Ankh-Morpork, much to the dismay of the Patrician, and this wonderful new invention will change the lives of everyone it touches.
The book follows the opening days of the steam engine, from one man’s shed in a small village, to a race against politics across the plains and into Uberwald.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in just over a day. It was un-putdownable. It is wonderful to see the evolution of Discworld continuing and I really like the ‘cameo’ appearances from many of the characters whom I have come to love from other books in the series. Continue reading
by Literary Fact : 14th November 2013
Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking was born on this day in 1907. Pippi was named by Lindgren’s nine year odl daughter, Karin who had requested a get well soon story from her mother.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Thirteen
It’s day thirteen of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Michele Gorman, the author of Single in the City and Christmas Carol, talks about recurring characters…
Hi Laura, thanks for asking me on the blog today, and best of luck to everyone participating in NaNoWriMo!
Writing recurring characters is a bit like visiting an old friend. Of course you love her, but you also know all about her flaws. And so do your fans.
Plus: You already know the character. This makes it easy to put her into a new situation and know how she’ll behave.
Minus: You already know the character. It can be difficult to sustain your enthusiasm for the book over 80,000-100,000 words.
Plus: Continue reading
by NK Chats To.... : Bee Ridgway
Bee Ridgway is the author of The River of No Return which is her debut novel and was released by Michael Joseph in May 2013. Bee chats to us about her writing day, the character from fiction that she’d like to meet and her ideal dinner guests…
Hello Bee. Thank you for joining us. What’s your writing day like?
I either have a writing day or I don’t. A non-writing day is either a workday, or a day for doing errands, or for seeing friends and family – everything, in other words, that isn’t writing. A writing day begins with a cup of coffee, and ends with a bath. In between, for as many hours as I can cram in, I sit in my red chair in my office and I write write write write write. These are my favorite days, by the way. Nothing at all is as much fun as writing.
Can you tell us a little about your debut novel, The River of No Return?
The River of No Return Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Twelve
Freya North
Day twelve of National Novel Writing Month. Freya North gives us her writing advice.
Write because you want to tell stories, not because you ‘want to be a writer’
Look after your posture – this is ESSENTIAL!
Don’t spend too long faffing and editing – that’s just a fancy way of procrastinating.
by My Writing Space: Meredith Goldstein
Meredith Goldstein is the author of The Wedding Guests. She chats to us about her writing space.
I used to have to leave my apartment to work on “The Wedding Guests.” I’d lock myself in my friend’s beach house where I had no cell phone reception, or I’d go to my Aunt Nancy’s and hide in the basement where there was no TV. I had to block out all distractions. I had no attention span whatsoever. But I’ve matured since then. (Sort of.) Now that I’m writing my second book, I don’t have to hide in remote locations. I can write in my bedroom, and the décor is all the motivation I need. On the wall in front of my writing spot (my very fluffy bed) is a painting of cotton candy, my favorite sweet. My friend’s ex-husband, a professional artist, made it for me as a housewarming present. They decided to divorce shortly after I hung the piece on my wall. I almost took it down after they split, but then I remembered that it’s my friend’s hand in the painting. She was the model, holding up the cone of cotton candy while he tried to get it down on canvas. There’s something inspiring about having the finished product nearby as I write. My friend’s hand looks so tough, so determined — just like she was in real life after the divorce. I see her strong grip and I think, “Keep moving.”
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eleven
Matt Dunn is the author of A Day at The Office. On day eleven of National Novel Writing Month, he tells us how we need a good plot…
Whether you’re an author writing a novel, a gardener on an allotment, or an evil genius planning to take over the world, if there’s one thing you need, it’s a good plot. Assuming you’re reading this because you’re doing NaNoWriMo (so we’re talking about novels here), put simply, a plot is the sequence of events that make up a story – and while the order of those events (and of course, the events themselves) are up to you, getting that order (and the events) right is crucial if you’re going to engage the reader. I’m a romantic comedy novelist, and while everyone knows how romantic comedies go (girl meets boy, stuff happens, girl and boy end up together), it’s always helped me to think about my plots (the stuff that happens) not as HOW they get together, but as what STOPS them from getting together. Some writers plot their whole novels before writing a word, others just sit down, start writing, and see how the plot develops. I’ve tried both approaches, and probably prefer the latter. But if you like to plot beforehand and are having trouble, you’ll be pleased to hear seven ready-made ones already exist for you to choose from for FREE (don’t believe me? Just type ‘The Seven Basic Plots’ into Google). Presumably you know the start and end points of your novel – then ‘all’ you need to do is pick the one that applies to your story/setting/characters and get writing!
by Book News : Mitch Albom
The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
Published by Sphere, 12th November 2013.
The gift of heaven on earth. It will become the biggest story in the world …When the residents of a small town on Lake Michigan start receiving phone calls from the afterlife, they all become the subject of widespread attention. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out. This is a story about the power of belief — and a page-turner that will touch your soul.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Ten
Cecelia Ahern
Day Ten of National Novel Writing Month. Today’s advice comes from best selling author, Cecelia Ahern.
Find your own voice. I think it’s so important for writers to write what they feel passionate about, what moves them, instead of looking to others and seeing what’s popular or what moves other people. Readers respond to a unique voice and they can tell whether it is honest or not. Writing what you’re passionate about means that your well of ideas and emotions is endless and it is easier to stay motivated.
Believe in yourself. It’s a basic tip but with writing, so many people will have so many different opinions of your work. If you try to appeal to them all, then what is true and yours will change and the essence of your work will change. It is important to take on advice but never lose what makes you different. When faced with rejection and negative comments, believe in your abilities.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Nine
Day Nine of National Novel Writing Month. Julie Cohen, author of Dear Thing, talks about writing space:
While I need to have a permanent writing space, somewhere I can spread out and make as much of a mess as I like, I often find that changing where I write can help me be more productive. Last week I spent eight hours writing in a cafe. I was stiff and hyper-caffeinated afterwards, but I got a lot of work done. My local library also has study carrels, which are great because they’re anonymous cubes with no distractions at all…though occasionally I think I startle the person in the next carrel by laughing aloud! Sneakily, against the rules, I smuggle a flask of tea into a carrel and spend hours making that bland space full of my imaginary characters.
by Competitions :
Published by Sphere, November 2013
Step Back in Time is the wonderful new novel from Ali McNamara. We have three copies to give away.
About the book:
How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?
When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1963. The fashion, the music, her job, even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times, and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie, two companions from 2013, and George, the owner of a second-hand record store. If she’s ever to return from her travels, Jo-Jo must work out why she’s jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back, will her old life ever be the same again?
To enter: Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Eight
It’s day eight of National Novel Writing Month. Ali Mcnamara talks about what you should be writing….
When people ask me for advice about writing, I always say the same thing: Write what YOU love. Then your writing will come across as genuine, and heartfelt, and if you enjoy it reading it back, then someone else definitely will.
Also if you think your story is just as good or preferably better than those you’re seeing on the bookshelves, then never give up on your dream, no matter how many rejections you may get at first. Because someone some day will read your work and love it just as much as you!
by Book Reviews : Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara
Published by Sphere, November 2013
In 2013, JoJo runs an accountancy firm. She’s a workaholic who is pretty much letting life pass her by. However, when a car hits her, she finds herself transported back to 1963. She has travelled through time and she has to figure out why before she can get home again. From the 60’s she travels to the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
The concept of this book intrigued me before I even started reading it. I am fascinated by time travel (and yes, I have watched Back To The Future and Quantum Leap a few times.)
I loved this book. I liked how elements of JoJo’s 2013 were ever-present when she travelled but were in different guises and I liked how each time zone found her in a slightly different circumstance.
The references to the years which she travelled to, Continue reading
by Ali McNamara’s Time Traveling Tour: Swinging 60’s Fashion
We are happy to welcome Ali McNamara and her blog tour for her new book release, Step Back in Time. Today, we go back to the decade of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and mini skirts….
60s Fashion 101
Women’s fashion evolved so much in the 1960’s that it’s difficult to pinpoint just a few trends…
At the beginning of the decade the height of fashion was the style favoured by Jackie Kennedy, the first lady of the United States. Her quintessential look was the smart suit, pillbox hat, and neat court shoes.
Then is 1964 hems shot up when Mary Quant introduced the first mini-skirt, and the monotone black and white look, that is so synonymous with the sixties today became popular. Make-up was pale, and the androgynous look made famous by the British model, Twiggy was the style to aspire to.
Towards the end of the decade – the hippie movement also exerted a strong influence on fashion, with bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye and batik fabrics being extremely popular amongst the young, hip and trendy set.
If I’d been a teenager in the 1960s….I think I’d have been a Mary Quant girl!
Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara is published by Sphere and is available to buy now.
Ali’s blog tour continues on Monday where she is stopping by One More Page and Life on Magrs
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Seven
On day seven of our NaNoWriMo advice feature, Adele Parks says that you need to take writing seriously…
‘Write. Seriously, it astonishes me how many people tell me they want to be a writer but then confess they never write anything more elaborate than a shopping list. Write everyday even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Discipline is key. You also need to listen. Be inspired by everything that is going on around you.’
by Book Reviews : Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy
Our Rating: 3 out of 5.
Bridget Jones is now in her fifties. She’s a widow and a single mother of Billy and Mabel. She’s trying to juggle family life with a toy boy and a job as a screenwriter with the same humour and grace as she’s done in previous novels.
OK, let’s get this out of the way. I wasn’t happy when I found out about Mark Darcy’s absence in this book. He was part of what made Bridget Jones’s Diary so great for me. Due to his absence, I had a mixture of excitement and nerves before reading as I didn’t want this addition to ruin the others in the series for me.
However, once I started to read it, it was evident that Mark couldn’t be in this book. If it were just a case of them being separated or divorced, it would be all about Continue reading
by Diary of a Wannabe Writer, aged 32 : A Novel in Thirty Days. Am I Mad?
My writing world this week has mostly been working on National Novel Writing Month. Anyone who has taken part in it before knows it’s a marathon. It’s frustrating and hard work but it’s such good fun all at the same time.
After wondering whether to work on a new idea, I decided that due to my false starts, I was close enough to the beginning of my current work in progress to work on it for National Novel Writing Month in the hope that it will get me far enough into the draft to not be able to start again (and thus the end of the false starts.) There is some logic in my madness I am sure.
I am about 10,000 words into it now (at the end of the first week) – so far so good. One trap I have nearly fallen into though Continue reading
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Six
Day Six of National Novel Writing Month and I hope that everyone is having a great first week. Continuing on with our NaNoWriMo Author Advice, Sue Moorcroft, the author of Want to Know a Secret and All That Mullarkey, tells us about why she thinks social networking is important for writers:
‘I find social networking useful in all kinds of ways. It makes me visible, it allows readers in interact with me (which is a privilege) and allows me to get news about new books or workshops out into the world. It’s also a great source of research – not so much factual research, but opinions and ideas. For example: Is it OK to use text to ask for a second date? (Answer: yes!) My hero’s going to a fancy dress party. What should he go as that’s hot? (Answer: devil in lycra.) Twitter and Facebook seem to know the answers to any question in the world.’
For more information on Sue and her books, visit her website at www.suemoorcroft.com
by Book News : Ali McNamara
Step Back in Time is published by Sphere and is available in paperback and on e-book format on 7th November 2013.
We’re very excited to be taking part in Ali’s blog tour to coincide with the release of her new novel, Step Back in Time. Ali is stopping by Novel Kicks on Friday.
How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?
When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car she awakes to find herself in 1963. The fashion the music her job even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970s 80s and 90s. The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie two companions from 2013 and George the owner of a second-hand record store.
If she’s ever to return from her travels Jo-Jo must work out why she’s jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back will her old life ever be the same again?
by NK Chats To.... : Amy Bird’s Writing Room
Amy Bird is the author of Yours is Mine, published by Carina UK. She chats to us about her writing space…
I’m lucky enough to have a separate study for my writing, so I do most of my work there. The desk overlooks the garden. I love that; it means that in front of me, I have a free open space whilst behind me, the books on the shelves provide a comforting support. Everything is very green, very tranquil – the trees, the leather of the desk, the curtains. If I feel myself getting stale, I’ll retire to the leather sofa at the back of the room or pace about a bit.
 Amy Bird |
 Amy’s Writing Space |
I don’t always write in my study, though – sometimes I have to bribe myself with an afternoon working on the living room sofa with my laptop. Or when I commute (I work four days a week as a lawyer) I write on my iPad on the London Underground. Plus the trusty iPad recently came on a boating holiday with me – I curled up in the cockpit, clocking up my word count against the beautiful backdrop of the Norfolk Broads.
I suppose it’s odd to write thrillers in such benign settings. But the lighter the space, the freer my mind, and the darker my books can become.
‘Yours is Mine’ is available now from Carina UK, the new digital imprint of Harlequin, at http://www.carinauk.com/yours-is-mine and via Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yours-is-Mine-ebook/dp/B00DP220YY, Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Yours-is-Mine/book-u1u9U5e7aUm9JztScFyNOA/page1.html and iBooks/iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/yours-is-mine/id667517004?mt=11. You can follow Amy’s progress at www.amybirdwrites.com, on twitter at https://twitter.com/London_Writer and on facebook at www.facebook.com/amybirdwrites
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Five
Lucy Clarke
On the fifth day of National Novel Writing Month, Lucy Clarke, author of The Sea Sisters, talks about who you should write for…
Write for yourself. Write the type of book you love reading, or on a subject you’re passionate about. That honesty will feed through your work.
Be open to inspiration. It’s all around us. Start keeping a notepad and pen on your person and make yourself write one thing in it every day, whether it’s a snippet of conversation, an interesting sight, or something you watched on TV that caught your imagination. Inspiration is out there; you just need to tune in.
by Discussions :
I’ve been trying to complete the GoodReads challenge for a couple of years now (I set a low goal and then reset it too high.) It has got me thinking though, about all the books I have read in my life, so far. There have been dozens, from The Mallory Towers series and The Sweet Valley High books that I used to read religiously when I was at school to now where I have read varied genres.
I have enjoyed many books (and there haven’t been many where I’ve not managed to get to the end,) and my top five will change on a regular basis. However, when I think about my top five at this moment, they are, in no particular order…
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Four
Ilana Fox
We’re on day four of National Novel Writing Month. Today, Ilana Fox, the author of Spotlight and All That Glitters talks about the importance of finding the right place to write.
Everyone says you should write at a desk – and that you should save yourself the agony of a stiff back should you work anywhere else! – but I find it hard to be creative when writing feels like work. I really do suffer for my art! I wrote my first two novels in bed, and my second two on my sofa. Some people feel more inspired if they write in a coffeeshop or in a shared working space, but I find I can’t lose myself to my manuscript unless I’m completely alone.
by Book News : Jenny Colgan
It’s getting close to Christmas and I know I shouldn’t admit it but I am very excited. Also, it means there are lovely Christmas themed books being released…
Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan (published by Sphere, 7th November 2013.)
Rosie Hopkins is looking forward to Christmas in the little Derbyshire village of Lipton, buried under a thick blanket of snow. Her sweetshop is festooned with striped candy canes, large tempting piles of Turkish Delight, crinkling selection boxes and happy, sticky children. She’s going to be spending it with her boyfriend, Stephen, and her family, flying in from Australia. She can’t wait.
But when a tragedy strikes at the heart of their little community, all of Rosie’s plans for the future seem to be blown apart. Can she build a life in Lipton? And is what’s best for the sweetshop also what’s best for Rosie?
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Three
Day three of National Novel Writing Month and Lucy Robinson, author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time. talks about getting through the first draft…
Just write. It doesn’t matter if your idea isn’t yet fully-formed. Mine never are and so far they seem to end up being something that works!
Give yourself time off! Do other things in between writing periods! Take it slowly!
by Literary Fact: Stephen King
In 2007, Stephen King started signing some of his own books in an Alice Springs bookstore. The staff thought he was a vandal as they didn’t initially realise that he was signing his own books.
by NaNoWriMo Author Advice: Day Two
On day two of National Novel Writing Month, Rowan Coleman, author of Dearest Rose, talks to us about research:
For me, research is an important part of understanding your character and your plot. I will always try to go to a place I set a book in person, take photos, talk to people and if possible write in situ. When it comes to characterisation, if your characters are facing a real life problem, then research can be invaluable. When researching ‘Dearest Rose’ I spoke to many women who had found themselves in a similar situation to Rose. Her character was created out of all of those stories, and as a result she is one of my most powerful heroines.
by Book Club
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