When I first decided to write a book, I didn’t give much thought to genre. In blissful ignorance, I rejected the idea of ‘writing to a formula’ and merrily scribed whatever took my fancy. Years later, I see this has been my biggest mistake on the road to traditional publication. Continue reading The Importance of Understanding Novel Genres
Cassie’s frank memoir about her life as a model explores how the fashion and beauty industries objectify and exploit women. She tells the story with insight, humour and self-awareness. Read on for our discussion about the impact of the memoir on her life, tips for memoir writers and what she is working on next. Continue reading Cassie Lane on Writing Memoir
After the atmospheric Half Moon Lake, Kirsten Alexander is back with Riptides, a novel that explores actions and consequences, and how personal deeds can have ramifications at a far greater level. Although this is her second published book, she actually wrote it first. In this interview, she shares the steps that led to its publication as well, insights to her writing process and thoughts about learning from the past. Continue reading Kirsten Alexander on Riptides
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a surefire formula for publishing success? Should you conform to genre conventions and write about topical issues, or remain true to your instincts? Well look no further – to answer this question, I’ve developed the Publishing Success Flowchart. Continue reading The Publishing Success Flowchart
Are you in a mad scramble to finish your Christmas shopping? Let me take some of the sting out of it for you. For your book-lover friends, here are ten book ideas from interviews I’ve done with female authors I’ve met through various writing activities. The books vary in style, length and genre, so there should be something for everyone: contemporary or historical, memoir or fiction, romantic or gritty. Continue reading Christmas Book List
In my last blog about Houston, I wrote about the first school production I did with The Woodlands Preparatory School. Being a mad sucker for punishment, and figuring that the first time you do something is always the hardest, I agreed to produce the next year’s show. We brought the whole team back together, including Jacquie Fox in her lead role. Continue reading Fire it Up!
Award-winning author Kate Murdoch is about to release her second novel, The Orange Grove, which delves into the murky relationships between the five mistresses of a nobleman in early 18th century France. Continue reading Kate Murdoch on Managing Multiple Manuscripts
Think of your book proposal as a business plan for your book. It explains your book’s content, the need it fills and where it fits in the market. Further, it positions you, the author, as the most qualified person to write and promote the book. Continue reading How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal
I had a math teacher at school who used to say, “I’m a mathematician, not an arithmetician.” She loved the logic of maths, but made errors in addition or multiplication. This is a bit like my style of editing. I love structural and line edits, but I can overlook details. Continue reading My Top Three Editing Disasters
Ever wondered what it takes to become a publisher? Natalie Muller has done just that. An experienced teacher, she became increasingly drawn to the world of books. After completing a Master of Arts in writing, she published her own novel, Poisoning the Nest. Today, she runs Black Cockie Press and The Wild Goose literary e-magazine. Continue reading Natalie Muller, Publisher at Black Cockie Press
