Writing Lessons 6/7

WRITING ADVICE FOR AUTHORS

Do you need to be an expert to write

This word 'expert' comes up a lot when working with memoir or non-fiction books. It comes from the question - am I actually qualified to...

Find your non-fiction genre

Where will your book sit? Remember your first step in non-fiction writing is to be clear on your genre. Find your main genre and...

The sexiest lines from romance novels

"And I mean to hear ye groan like that again. And to moan and sob, even though you dinna wish to, for ye canna help it. I mean to make...

How do you make readers care? An editors tricks for writing unforgettable characters

Making readers CARE about your character is not actually a mystery. It is most often a product of good dialogue and good plotting. I have...

5 Places all writers get stuck

There are a few key places where it is just so easy to get stuck as a writer. You may get stuck in all of them. But if you want to move...

What publishers are looking for. What authors need to know

I have been doing a bit of a roadshow presenting some new authors to publishers both in locally and globally. I also use the opportunity...

Editing your book _round two

Now if you have been following my steps you will have completed step 1. That means you have printed and marked up your entire manuscript...

How to improve your first draft (and second draft and 7th)

OK so this post is assuming that you have competed first draft of your book. It is going to take you through the next few steps that you...

How to write a smoking hot author blurb

A smoking author biography is an essential part of a book proposal. Writing a good one - that sums up your personality and book in a...

How do you find your writing voice?

How do you find your true voice when you write? I am so often asked this. It is hard to find what you genuinely feel is YOU. Our brains...

How often do you save?

Losing some work due to a computer glitch is a frustrating moment. Losing your entire book is a crushing event. Okay it wasn't an entire...

Are you making writing time?

I work with writers all over the world to help them get their books written and then published. And what is the one thing that published...

Who are the writers and who get published

Starting a book? That is the (relatively) easy bit. Keeping going is a bit harder. Who wants to sit alone in front of a keyboard while...

How to finish, not just start, writing your book

One of the most common complaints I always hear from writers is that they can’t 'find the time' to write. They may start their books but...

Writers are moving from novels to memoirs

I started the first writing course and agency ten years ago and focused only on novels. Almost all the writers who found me saw...

Should I plan or just write?

I get asked this so often. There is only one answer to this question (in my view). YES of course you should plan a book! I believe in...

How many books get sold in SA every year?

Ever wonder how many books get sold in SA every year? What SA publishing looks like from the inside? How many books the average South...

Should you write about yourself? And how?

When I started teaching writing over a decade ago I always used to tell writers NOT to write about themselves. This was in the interests...

Sending off your book- How many publishers should you approach?

Sending off a manuscript is terrifying. It is adrenalin inducing, heart-stopping stuff for any writer. But so many writers bail or fail...

What’s the theme of your story?

Your book needs a theme. A theme is closely aligned to your plot and often the words are used interchangably. I see them as different...

Sarah Bullen is an international writing mentor and literary agent. She works with writers all over the world to tell their stories, and write that book. Founder of The Writing Room and Kent Literary, she has had over 180 books published by writers she has mentored over the last two decades. As well as being a regular guest on talk shows, podcasts, literary festivals and writers’ circles, Sarah has been leading international writing retreats and adventures since 2014.