Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

Write the story from the sidekick’s perspective, too – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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During one particular rewrite of Dead Ringer, I felt like I’d tied myself up in knots. My protagonist was breaking … Read More

Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

Let your readers hear your protagonist’s thoughts – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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Dead Ringer started life as a third-person novel, until my agent suggested I make it first-person. This was a big … Read More

Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

Make your protagonist the type of person who jumps into the fray – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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In life, I’m a risk-averse person. I always weigh up my options and try to act prudently. In novels, I’ve … Read More

Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

Don’t give ’em a reason to stop reading – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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One of my favourite pieces of feedback I’ve got on Dead Ringer is: “I stayed up past my bedtime reading … Read More

Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

Embrace the idea of multiple drafts – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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I’ve spent a lot of my writing life harbouring under the delusion that my first draft needed to be perfect. … Read More

Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

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

Nicola Martin at Virtual Noir at the Bar

To Newcastle in a flash: my experience of reading at Virtual Noir at the Bar

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One unexpected upside of a global pandemic is that it makes “travel” much easier. Virtual travel, to book events, anyway. … Read More

Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin

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

GenZ burnout and murder: the changing landscape of crime fiction (guest post for Scarlett Readz and Runz)

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As the focus of crime fiction shifts to GenZ, the horrors are becoming more mundane – debt, burnout, poor mental … Read More

Dead Ringer

Four months till Dead Ringer is published – what am I doing to prepare?

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My debut novel, Dead Ringer, is set to be published on 27 February 2020. That’s four months from now, which … Read More