I have a friend on Facebook who posts thoughtful quotes about writing. This, from literary agent Jonny Geller, struck a chord. ‘One thing you learn working with good writers: the easier it was for you to read their story, the harder it was for them to write it.’ My last novel took 23 drafts, and… Continue reading Easy reading is hard writing – why hard writing is worth it and how to do it
I’ve discovered a great site for building a reading list around a subject – Book Shepherd. It invites authors to list their personal favourite titles in subjects that they’re passionate about, whether through personal experience or diligent research. If you’re a writer, you can find what’s been written in your genre or subject area, and… Continue reading How to build a reading list around a subject – and discover the best titles about the allure, tragedy and majesty of mountaineering
A quick interview at the online home of book blogger Jo Barton, aka Jaffareadstoo. The questions are lighthearted, but they raise interesting issues about reading. Writers and book bloggers have something in common – a TBR pile that’s neverending. We’re reading to keep up with recent releases. We’re reading as research. We’re reading to help… Continue reading Reading as a duty and reading for pleasure… plus the oldest book on my shelf. At @jaffareadstoo
In this episode we’re spanning the entire spectrum of the book-reader continuum. What makes a good writing group? What makes a good reading group or book club? How do you organise such a group? How do you find a group that suits you? Should authors visit book groups or does it cramp everyone’s style? We… Continue reading All about reading groups and writing groups – Ep12 FREE podcast for writers
It’s always a struggle to find time to write. If you’ve got a book in progress, it’s tempting to spend all your free moments on it. But don’t sacrifice time that you would usually spend reading. It’s a false economy. Similarly, don’t fear that your reading is going to influence your work to a detrimental… Continue reading Are you a writer? Don’t neglect your reading – guest post at Writers Helping Writers
I recently watched the BBC’s adaptation of John le Carré’s The Night Manager, and of course went straight to the novel afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed the TV adaptation, but I’m loving the novel more. You might think that’s an obvious thing for a writer to say. But I’d like to think about why. Let’s put aside… Continue reading Reading vs watching and The Night Manager – why I prefer the book
You really know you’re in a world wide web when an email arrives from a journalist on a newspaper in Malaysia. Elizabeth Tai contacted me for a series she was writing called reading revolutions. She’d seen that I had originally released my first novel, My Memories of a Future Life, as a four-part serial on… Continue reading Reading revolutions: serialising a novel – interview at the Malaysia Star
What novels can you recommend about having the courage to be an individual?
With three novels releasing in a 12-month period, Cynthia Newberry Martin is at a real turning point in her life. She began the novels in the 1990s and at long last they’re ready for readers. But she’s already a strong presence in the writing world, thanks to a blog series she started in 2009 –… Continue reading It’s okay to be who we are – novelist Cynthia Newberry Martin @catchingdays
Last month I released the audiobook version of Ever Rest, my third novel. All creative collaborations bring surprises. There are things we’re glad we did and things we’re glad we didn’t do. Here are the lessons learned. Meet my narrator My narrator was Sandy Spangler, who narrated my other two novels. Sandy is a longtime… Continue reading Diary of an audiobook: lessons learned in the making of Ever Rest
Nail Your Novel 