I decided to start this blog to journal my experience of having my first novel published. I hope to encourage other debut writers and receive advice from those who know the process. Reaching this point has been both exciting and hard work. I’ve discovered there is no blue print though I’ve masses of books and have attended many courses in an effort to find one.
In addition to developing the stamina to write, research and keep going, I’ve made friends with a variety of people I wouldn’t otherwise have met. That may well be the best bit.
More on Journal/Diary writing
Quite a few writers I know, begin each day by writing. Roselle Angwin suggests 100 words. I like that idea because it's not over-ambitious. There aren't many mornings when I can't manage that. If I'm stuck, I can write a list of gripes, the view that 'the world is...
Writer’s block?
There are times when I can't write, so I go for a walk. Here are photos taken on a walk round Batsford Arboretum one Sunday in November. They're interspersed with quotations I like. 'When you regain a sense of your life as a journey of discovery, you return to rhythm...
Meet the Author?
One of the responsibilities of a writer is marketing the novel. Because I am unknown in the published world, I need to talk to strangers - not initially about A Time for Peace, perhaps never- but to open up a conversation which allows the possibility that someone...
If not now, when?
During WW1, Serbia lost 25% of its mobilised soldiers- that is, 57% of its male population. France lost 16.8%, British Empire 16%, Germany 15.4%, Russia 11.5% (it withdrew from the fighting in October 1917) and Italy 10.3%. Austro-Hungary, Romania Turkey, USA,...
A different kind of heroism
A Time for Peace was launched one year ago on 18th October, thanks to Jan Fortune and her son, Rowan, who read an initial draft and saw the novel's potential. I'm also grateful to all those who've bought it and read it. Fingers crossed that during the coming year,...
Variety- that’s what makes a job interesting!
Rather to my surprise Judy Brook, owner of Kenilworth Books told me that it's variety that makes the job interesting. I'd assumed a passion for books and the sort of hard-work/risk taking genes of those who run an independent business were the main ingredients to...
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The material on this website is copyright to the credited writer/poet or me. Please ask my permission to use my poems or short stories. I am happy for you to quote from the blog posts but please credit me and provide a link to this site.
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