'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 potentially as a...

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.

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.