Character Art Week 7, 2024 Hello! You’ve received this message because you registered for a webinar or course organized by The Narrative Craft, or you signed up for these weekly updates separately. Don’t want these messages anymore? Unsubscribe Hello Reader, Last weekend I went through a process familiar to almost everyone! I wanted to commission a piece of character art for my novel to put on my website (I’ve just set up an author page). I’ve not hired an artist in seven or eight years, and...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Nailing Genre Week 6, 2024 Hello! You’ve received this message because you registered for a webinar or course organized by The Narrative Craft, or you signed up for these weekly updates separately. Don’t want these messages anymore? Unsubscribe Hello Reader, How is your writing going this month? It feels like time is speeding up again as the nights get shorter. My writing is in sync with the grass – it grows in leaps and bounds from late spring and then lies dormant over winter. This month I...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Rejection and literary awards Week 4, 2024 Hello! You’ve received this message because you registered for a webinar or course organized by The Narrative Craft, or you signed up for these weekly updates separately. Don’t want these messages anymore? Unsubscribe Hello Reader, First of all, registration for the Storytelling for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers course* ends this Sunday at midnight. I've organized the course with Claire Cronshaw of Cherry Edits. It's based on the topics we have...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Week 3, 2024 Bringing characters to life Hello Reader, Greetings from a very cold Scottish Midlands! I’m still buzzing from last night’s webinar on when a novel is editor-ready (you can grab the recording below). There’s something about being on the spot that gives me an adrenaline rush. I don’t get this so much with online teaching, where I’m managing a dynamic rather than the spotlight being solely on me. I lost my voice briefly around ten minutes in (cringe!) but it returned. Occasional...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Week 1, 2024 Book contract tips Hello Reader, Welcome to the first weekly update for 2024! Today I'm going to share a few thoughts on book contracts, based on some of my missteps. (PS Scroll down if you'd rather read about an upcoming webinar and exciting course!) Book contracts Now, last November I attended an excellent workshop on book contracts organized by Francesca T. Barbini of Luna Press Publishing. (If you read spec fic, check them out!) Two points came up that made me wish I'd...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Week 1, 2024 Course Announcements Hello Reader, Welcome to the first courses newsletter for 2024! First of all, on Jan 17, 2024 (yes, writing that "4" still feels bizarre), I'm cohosting a free webinar with Claire Cronshaw of Cherry Edits. The webinar is called Is Your Novel Editor-Ready? I know this is often a sticking point for authors, especially new authors. Editing is a big investment and you want to be sure your novel is ready for editing. This webinar will offer some pointers and give...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Week 52, 2023 Goodbye, Substack ... and hello, 2024! Hi there, Hope you're having a good week. I'm emailing to say "Goodbye, Substack!" and to let you know about a new blog post. Now, I loved the simplicity of Substack and the fact that so many writers are there, but I've chosen to move my newsletter over to ConvertKit. I've done this because Substack isn't ethical about the content they allow to be published and earn money from, and I don't want to support them by being there anymore. Now...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read