I decided to start this blog to journal my experience of having my first novel published. I hope to encourage other debut writers and receive advice from those who know the process. Reaching this point has been both exciting and hard work. I’ve discovered there is no blue print though I’ve masses of books and have attended many courses in an effort to find one.
In addition to developing the stamina to write, research and keep going, I’ve made friends with a variety of people I wouldn’t otherwise have met. That may well be the best bit.
Afternoon Drinking
An attention-grabbing title for a collection of short stories by Alan Beard, published by Floodgate. The celebratory launch was held at Voce books in Digbeth, Birmingham. The room was crowded with lots of Alan's writing friends, family and readers of his work. In...
Nine years on
Haunting cover designed by Adam at Cinnamon Press Nine years ago I celebrated the publication of my first novel in Waterstones, Leamington Spa. Cinnamon Press, my publisher, is a small, independent press and like many similar presses, has needed to diversify to...
Maintaining Creativity
A blank page - with lines! Years ago, a friend whose husband had recently retired, told me that he wanted to write. I had just started. I did correspondence courses, used books and gradually got to know other writers near to where I lived. This friend locked her...
When to celebrate…
Writing a novel can take several years. It may never be published, so when to celebrate? It took over 12 years for me to complete A Time for Peace and I don't remember celebrating its progress. Probably its acceptance by Jan Fortune at Cinnamon Press, and definitely...
Why stories matter
Planting sunflowers grown from seed. Does everyone have a book in them? as Christopher Hitchens allegedly said. But a story? Yes, possibly. An anecdote? Without a doubt. One of the reasons I write is to make sense of who I am, in the culture I'm part of. A couple have...
The meaning of words
Both writers and readers are fascinated, not only by the meaning of words, but often by their origins. 'Comfort' tends to be associated with ease, as in, I prefer to sit in a comfortable chair. The word originated from the Latin, comfort and the French confort. The...
Copyright
The material on this website is copyright to the credited writer/poet or me. Please ask my permission to use my poems or short stories. I am happy for you to quote from the blog posts but please credit me and provide a link to this site.
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