You have to want it so hard that it hurts
‘I want to be an author’
‘I want to write a book’
These are conversations I have on a daily basis. Truthfully I am a bit tired of this messaging. Of course this is NOT what I should be saying. I should be encouraging you to write a book, right? This is my business – coaching and supporting authors.
So why am I saying this? Because you don’t know how LONG and HARD it is. I see all these ‘coaches' who tell you that you should write a book, that it will ‘build your bran
Where's your writing stuck?
Long solo writing stints, rejections and years with no words. Welcome to the painful life of a writer. All writers get stuck. This is the place we all get to, and there are so many places your writing can get stuck. I can’t tell you how many calls I have with authors who are in a sticky place in their writing. I know this place well, but my sticky place is in the promoting of books, not in the writing. I can write them fast, edit them easily and even do the first few book
Author Guide: Going from Production to Book Launch
You might assume that once your book is written, edited, and sent off to production, your work is done, but that’s anything but true. Many authors are unaware of the level of work that goes into making a book a success.
I've finished my book, now what?
'I've finished my book Sarah, but now what?' This is one of the most common conversations I have with authors. These are the ones who get hold of me when they feel they have finished their book. We sit sometimes thinking….. I've written this book. I'm done and dusted. But truthfully, writing the book is only one step of the process. I want to guide you through your next steps. My first question is – you sure you are finished? Finished (for me as a literary agent and pote
What are publishers looking for this year?
Once again, we turn our attention to the publishing market and the trends shaping the upcoming cycle. For authors, understanding what readers are buying is invaluable—particularly in non-fiction, which must tap into the mood of the times. That said, a book can also spark a global trend, unleashing a new concept and capturing imaginations in unexpected ways. The “Let Them Theory,” for example, demonstrates the power of fresh ideas, amplified by podcasters, social media, and ce
Should you plan or just write?
Should you plan a book? In my view, there is only one answer: yes. If you want to publish, writing with intent matters.
In non-fiction, planning is especially critical. You will know exactly what belongs in your book, how the chapters build, and what material sits where. That outline becomes your proposal and, later, your compass for the entire manuscript.
Many writers assume novels are different. They aren’t. In fiction, your plan becomes your plot.
Where do most writers get stuck?
Most writers don’t get stuck halfway through a book — they get stuck before they’ve even begun. After 17 years of helping writers publish, I’ve seen the same patterns repeat again and again: too much thinking, too much planning, and not enough words on the page. Writing isn’t magic. It’s work. And once you understand where the real blocks are, it becomes much easier to move forward.
Finishing is the hard part in getting published
Still midway through the book? Or stuck on your first version? Or it’s still sitting unfinished. Oh boy does it take a lot of real grit to finish a book. Starting is the fun bit. I start with great enthusiasm and a spring in my step. Its really fun getting all the information into the right place and doing the interviews and research.
Who is going to write this book?
YOU WANT TO FINISH? Stick to these rules
1. Set a deadline to start ... this means to stop plotting and planning and start writing. This means starting your story at page 1, and not turning back again.
2. Have targets that are outcomes-based not hours-based. Many writers say they will write for an hour a day. On my mentorships I set targets at 25,000 words a month.
3. Set a realistic deadline to complete your first draft of the book. Then stick to it. A good goal is to h
Writing can change your future
Writing can truly change your life. You have heard this before, right? Writing all of mine changed my life in very unexpected ways. Hint - it wasn't ever about my bank balance.
So often we think the endgame of writing a book is becoming an author or having a bestseller. Well, most of my authors find the real reward is so much more intangible and subtle. One thing I do know after 20 years in the book business is that it is absolutely never about money. Writing is not often
Should you write about yourself
I always used to tell writers NOT to write about themselves. For years and years.
This was in the interests of cultivating good fiction authors. And before memoir stormed the charts. I still believe you shouldn't.... but that's for FICTION (or a novel).
Because if you write about yourself in fiction, you really only have one story to tell. It is also a totally misunderstood maxim of writing that you must ‘write what you know.’
Many writers misinterpret this to mean – write ab
Who are the writers that actually get published?
Who are the writers that actually get published? Starting a book? That is the (relatively) easy bit. Keeping going is a bit harder.
You start off with a bang, writing every day, working on your plot. But as the months drag on and the going gets tough you start to make excuses. Work is pressing, kids are demanding, too much travel, family coming to visit. No time. You will do it later…. Now is not the right time for you. Next year…later in the year.What really happens? The
