5 things I learned about writing from Succession
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Succession isn’t only the most twisted-funny show on TV, it’s also a masterclass in great writing. Here are a few … Read More
5 reasons your novel’s main character sucks
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They’re so smart (allegedly), they’re so charismatic (allegedly), but here are some of the reasons you might have a sucking … Read More
5 things I learned from my unpublished ‘drawer novel’
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Like most writers, I have a ‘novel in a drawer’; an unpublished masterpiece (lol no) that I think about every … Read More
6 things to know if you want to write a novel this year
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If your new year’s resolution for 2021 is to write a novel, then you’ve picked a great goal. Writing keeps … Read More
5 writing mistakes that drive me nuts
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Ever been so annoyed by a book you’ve wanted to throw it across the room? Maybe it’s a character or … Read More
One word you should remove from your writing vocabulary
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You might assume this is a philosophical or motivational blog post, and I’m going to tell you there’s no such … Read More
Revisiting Gone Girl: 5 things writers can learn from it
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Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl defined and popularised the psychological suspense genre. These days, the crime fiction shelves are packed with … Read More
Why growth mindset is the number one thing you need to become a better writer (and a better person)
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‘Growth mindset’ might sound like one of those annoying buzzwords, but it describes an attitude shift that has helped me … Read More
5 best books on writing for beginners and beyond
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Whether you’re starting out in creative writing or looking to fine-tune your writing craft, there are a wealth of reference … Read More
The most important advice I can give to fellow writers
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“What’s it like to see your book in print?” is a question I’ve been asked a lot recently and the … Read More
Should writers be sweating the adverb?
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I recently read a prominent author’s top three writing tips and one of them was that old chestnut, “don’t use … Read More
Why do mediocre novels get published? My theory (and what writers can learn from it)
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There’s little more frustrating than picking up a book and realising it’s BAY-AD. The characters are cardboard cut-outs. The action … Read More
You’ll have to rearrange your life in order to write a novel – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer
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If there’s one myth about writing that I hate, it’s the myth that great novels were written in snatched 5-minute … Read More
Build compelling characters using reality TV archetypes
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For guaranteed drama, take a leaf out a casting director’s book and use reality TV archetypes to build fascinating characters … Read More
5 writing lessons you can learn from reality TV
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Here’s a writing assignment for you: turn on the TV! The reality TV casting process provides a devilishly fun way … Read More
Joining a writing group will save your soul – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer
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When I look back and try to identify the ONE thing that took me from slush pile to publication, it’s … Read More