Stories that require detailed research – historical novels, say, or true crime – seem like too much hard work to me. Writing 80,000 words takes a long time. Why would a writer want to spend extra hours delving into a subject that is not readily accessible? As I discovered with my first novel, research isn’tContinue reading “Researching Your Novel”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Back Story
Do you have a love-hate relationship with prologues and flashbacks? Do you even know why? Click here to benefit from the Book Length Project Group’s therapy session on writing back story.
The End
Last month, the Book Length Project Group got deep and meaningful. How do we know when our manuscript is finished? Is finishing enough? Do I really need to publish my life story? How good was Emma’s rocky road? Find out the answers to a writer’s biggest questions here…
Raising the Stakes
This month, the Book Length Project Group ate chocolate biscuits and discussed raising the stakes. How do you create tension and anticipation? And who ate the last chocolate biscuit? Read on…
I queer-coded my villain: confessions from the Book Length Project Group
To be clear, it was me that did it, not one of our lovely BLPG members, and it is mortifying. Here are the BLPG’s thoughts – aided by people who know better – about how to avoid coding and stereotyping your characters.
Plotting
Do you want to steeple your fingers in satisfaction like Mr Burns from The Simpsons? Hear what the Book Length Project Group has to say about plotting.
KSP Flash Fellowship
I am thrilled to announce that the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers’ Centre have selected me for a 2022 KSP Flash Fellowship.
Birth
Book babies are like spiderlings, arriving in their thousands and cast out into the world.
One week to go
Publication day is a week away and instead of putting my feet up and reflecting on all the good work I’ve done to get to this point, I spent the day doing the equivalent of a household spring clean. I searched my emails for copies of my contracts and put them in a Writing file,Continue reading “One week to go”
Overcooking
The Book Length Project Group on how to avoid becoming overcooked and bland.
Karen Herbert 