Three things I’ll never write in my author bio

Even before I started writing novels, I’ve always loved reading authors’ bios. When I try out a new novelist, I usually read the first page and then flip to the inside back cover. If they’re both well written and interesting, I feel more confident about my chances of connecting with the author and the story… Continue reading Three things I’ll never write in my author bio

How to write accents and speech patterns

I’ve written a couple posts about accents – specifically, about how to write a character who has a different accent to you, and some subtle differences in British and American English. Today I want to talk about an amazing debut novel that I think handles accents brilliantly – In for a Penny by Rose Lerner.… Continue reading How to write accents and speech patterns

Training your brain to shift focus

For me, the most difficult part of being a writer is not the writing itself. That’s something I enjoy more than almost anything in life. No, the most difficult thing is keeping my eyes off my email whenever I’m waiting to hear back from someone. Without fail–whether I’ve sent off my manuscript for feedback or… Continue reading Training your brain to shift focus