On this page you’ll find writing and editing tips, and musings on editorial life.
Why you need to write a book
Yes you, lovely reader. You need to write a book! Seriously, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably been thinking about it or are pondering the possibility at the moment. But there might be all sorts of reasons that are holding…
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Why your first draft isn’t as bad as you think it is
Here’s a scenario that every author (and editor) can recognise at some point. You’ve written your first draft, and are sitting in front of your computer. The problem is, your internal monologue is having kittens: It’s terrible, isn’t it. How…
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The curse of knowledge… and why it can kill your book stone dead
When I was at university, I threw a book out of a 12th-floor window. No doubt this sounds like heresy, coming from a literature grad and professional editor? Reader, I hold my hands up. I am guilty of this heinous…
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How to prepare book prelims
When you’re writing, trying to organise your book prelims can be confusing. Here’s my superfast guide to getting the order, labels and content right. Title page Imprint Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Introduction Title page This contains your title, subtitle and…
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How to write online for impact
Don’t write like this online… Where Every Single Short Sentence is on a separate line. Like this. And this. And this. Why? Well, it’s literally difficult to read. When we’re taking in information, our eyes need to move physically from…
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How to handle repetition… without repeating yourself
Do you remember the 1980s BBC sitcom, ‘Allo ‘Allo! ? Set in Second World War France, it was a gloriously silly parody of uber-drab 1970s drama, Secret Army, about the Resistance working to get British soldiers out of the country…
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To write well, you need to do this…
Read. As much and as widely as you can! Why? Because it exposes you to the key elements of good writing: style, structure, story. Try exploring different genres, go on a journey of book discovery. Find what you like and…
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Why you don’t need to be a perfectionist to write well
Do you need to be a perfectionist to be a good writer? Perfectionism seems to have replaced impostor syndrome as the anxiety du jour. I’m here to tell you: no, it isn’t essential. It isn’t even a prerequisite for what…
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How to self-edit like a pro
Are you writing and wondering what’s the best way to get your draft into shape? You’ve got your content down, now the work of self-editing starts. Great! But first – and this is really important – set it aside, for as…
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