-
Recent Posts
- Liz Williams Reports on Eastercon 2021
- The Significance of Significance by Dave Gullen
- Six Questions answered by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
- Schenectady – a short story by David Gullen
- David Allan Answers Questions
- Game of Thrones Revisited by Jacey Bedford
- Hannibal Lecter Judges Me When I Cook by Anthony Francis
- A Winter’s Tale – a short story by Sarah Singleton
- Being Human by Wenonah Lyon
- On Becoming a Science Fiction Character by Dr David Clements
Archives
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- April 2016
Categories
Recent Comments
Tags
- Alastair Reynolds
- anthology
- ben jeapes
- book blurbs
- books
- british authors
- british writers
- bursary
- characterisation
- characters
- colin brush
- conventions
- cover copy
- Creative Writing
- Creative Writing MA
- critique
- critique groups
- Crossways
- Dave Gullen
- David Allan
- David Gullen
- Deborah Walker
- Dolly Garland
- editing
- Empire of Dust
- fantasy
- fantasy books
- funding
- Gaie Sebold
- Guy T Martland
- historical fantasy
- inspiration
- Jacey Bedford
- Jaine Fenn
- Jim Anderson
- John Moran
- Liz Williams
- Marion Pitman
- Matt Colborn
- Milford
- Milford bursary
- Milford SF conference
- Milford writers' conference
- Milford writers' retreat
- Nancy Jane Moore
- Nimbus
- plotting
- Psi-Tech trilogy
- publishing
- reading
- Rowankind
- Sandra Unerman
- science fiction
- self-publishing
- SF writers
- SF writers of colour
- short stories
- short story
- Silverwolf
- Steph Bianchini
- stories
- Sue Thomason
- Suyi Davies Okungbowa
- Terry Jackman
- tiffani angus
- Trigonos
- Winterwood
- worldbuilding
- worldcon
- writers
- writers' conference
- writers of colour
- writing
- Writing advice
- writing workshops
Follow me on Twitter
My Tweets
Tag Archives: Writing advice
The Problem with Prologues by Guy T Martland
At the time of writing this, I’m currently editing a novel for the nth time. In doing so, I’ve realised that the prologue has been removed and inserted as many times as I care to remember. This got me thinking … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged George RR Martin, Guy T Martland, Milford, Milford writers' conference, Neil Gaiman, Prologues, Writing advice
Leave a comment
Twelve Ways To Be Better at Writing by David Gullen
I believe there are only two rules of writing, true rules that are unbreakable in the same way ‘Ye canna break the laws of physics’. (Except with the laws of Physics we’re still not sure whether we have the full … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, writing
Tagged David Gullen, Milford, Milford SF conference, Milford writers' conference, writing, Writing advice
Leave a comment
8) The irresistible end by Colin Brush
The last instalment in Colin Brush’s series on how to write the perfect blurb for your book. ‘But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged book blurbs, colin brush, writing, Writing advice
Leave a comment
6) Middling: the power of opposites to structure your blurb by Colin Brush
‘Elric knew that everything that existed had its opposite. In danger he might find peace. And yet, of course, in peace there was danger. Being an imperfect creature in an imperfect world he would always know paradox. And that was … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged blurb structure, book blurbs, Opposites in fiction, writing, Writing advice
2 Comments
5) Beginnings or How to Get People’s Attention by Colin Brush
‘It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen.’ Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell We’re just over the halfway point in my guide to writing blurbs and you’re probably wondering when we’re going to get around … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged beginnings, book blurbs, books, colin brush, writing, Writing advice
2 Comments
4) Pitching your story’s emotional hook by Colin Brush
‘I never take on a client unless I can pitch their book in twelve words.’ UK literary agent The pitch is perhaps the most crucial aspect of understanding and selling your book. It is how you connect it to other … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged book blurbs, colin brush, cover copy, Milford, pitch, writing, Writing advice
1 Comment
1) How to Sell Your Book in a Few Words by Colin Brush
This is the beginning of a series of weekly how-to posts by Colin Brush. Follow this blog to get all the instalments. ‘If you think you have a book evolving, now is the time to write the flap copy – … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, science fiction, writing
Tagged book blurbs, books, colin brush, cover copy, writing, Writing advice
3 Comments
Handy Habits by Ben Jeapes
Will it sound unbearably smug if I say that lockdown hasn’t really affected me? Apart from getting a new computer. Otherwise normal service has continued pretty well without interruption. I don’t want it to sound smug, because I know people … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged ben jeapes, ghost writing, time management, writing, Writing advice
Leave a comment
Make Me Care by Sue Thomason
First posted 9th May 2017 Writer, I have just picked up your novel, and I’m reading the opening pages. I’ve opened the door of the mind-transporter; here comes my first glimpse of a whole new world. It looks good, and … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged characterisation, empathy, writing, Writing advice
Leave a comment
That Difficult Second Novel by Jacey Bedford
First published on Jacey Bedford’s blog This blog post was written in November 2013, after I got my first three book deal from DAW, but before any of my books had been published. My first book, Empire of Dust, was … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, Milford, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged Empire of Dust, Jacey Bedford, publishing, second novels, writing, Writing advice
Leave a comment