You might have noticed a bit of a hiatus in the blog posts over the past month or so. I wish I could tell you that it's because I've been beavering away, polishing, honing and writing anew. I'd be fibbing if I did that though, and while there's a very thin line between telling lies … Continue reading Back to pinning the tail on the donkey
Tag: writing
Rules for being a Domestic Noir Doyenne
I'm writing this post from both a position of love as a reader of domestic noir, but also as a wannabe writer of domestic noir. Not at the minute as Vida and Slater have just embarked on their second adventure together but at some point in the not-too-distant future, I'm going to write the story … Continue reading Rules for being a Domestic Noir Doyenne
Things an aspiring writer learns at a crime festival
I’m at my second crime festival in the space of two weeks – firstly, Noirwich, and now at the other end of the country in Morecambe and Vice. I might have mentioned before that, as a reader, I love these things. I love the fact we live at a time when writers, those poor souls, … Continue reading Things an aspiring writer learns at a crime festival
Listen to my words…
So, I did it! And you know what, despite the fact I had to follow nine amazing writers, and the fact that I was exhausted from teaching for five hours and then driving for over four, it wasn't as nearly as scary as I expected it to be. I chose to read the introduction to … Continue reading Listen to my words…
And so it begins…
Today is the first day of my part-time teaching hours. Which officially means it's the first day of my working as a writer. It's requiring quite a shift in mentality, from writing being something I do in a spare hour between this and that, to being an actual job that I sit down and do … Continue reading And so it begins…
Five things I’ve learned about finishing a book
So, the moment has arrived and I've actually finished writing my first draft of my first novel. It's a pretty exciting moment for me. I woke up one morning, determined that today was the day, and bashed out 9000 words before teatime - focus! I've learned some important things though that I thought might be … Continue reading Five things I’ve learned about finishing a book
One step in the future
Yesterday I worked my last full-time day as a teacher. From September, I'll be part-time. I love teaching. There's so much I love about it: sharing my love of reading and writing; working with amazing colleagues and often even more amazing students; planning schemes of work designed to educate and illuminate and entertain; and building … Continue reading One step in the future
The Schrödinger’s Cat of Being a Writer
First off, I admit that this analogy probably applies to anything that you've ever had to wait for, but as I'm currently waiting to hear back from a couple of agents, it's an analogy that is sitting strong with me right now. As you all know, the idea of Schrödinger's Cat is that there is a … Continue reading The Schrödinger’s Cat of Being a Writer
So long, farewell… for now
Yesterday was our last residential day on the MA. Just over two years ago, I'd just heard that I'd been offered a place and I thought that all my dreams had come true - two years later and dreams I'd never even really contemplated have come true. It's been an amazing time that has just … Continue reading So long, farewell… for now
What a difference some external validation makes!
I've written before about the struggle between confidence and wanting to burn what I've done and run screaming through the streets - it's odd that a career choice that is actually quite insular is driven so much by external validation. As a writer just starting out, it can be really hard to find the kind … Continue reading What a difference some external validation makes!
The trials and tribulations of writing confidence
Happy New Year – Let’s make 2018 the Year of the Writer
Welcome to 2018 everyone. How exciting! A new year! I always love New Year for the possibilities that it brings. Is there any other time of year that holds so much possibility and hope for the future? Last year was pretty good for me in terms of my writing. Sometimes when you're in the middle … Continue reading Happy New Year – Let’s make 2018 the Year of the Writer
