Not much to read here...it's all in the 28-page handout you can download below. The handout follows on from the Publishing Workshop I've presented at various writers' groups and looks at some of the ways you can start promoting your work on Amazon and through Kindle. It considers some of the different ways of advertising... Continue Reading →
Newcastle Noir 2019: An Interview with Luke McCallin and Paul Hardisty
I was lucky enough to be invited to facilitate a session at this weekend's Newcastle Noir Literary Crime Festival, held in the Central Library in my old home town of Newcastle. The session was entitled, 'The Men in Black' - due to the fact that the authors interviewed write novels firmly entrenched in the 'real... Continue Reading →
Writing Resource 12/100: Develop a Thick Skin
This one's a tough one: and if you don't get it, you can just f**k off. Offended by that directional suggestion? You're in the right place... The first bout of indignant outrage I remember feeling about criticism of my writing probably dates back to being about 11. (You can see already I don't handle... Continue Reading →
My Writing Space- a selection of authors
In a recent article in my Resource for Writers series I talked about the importance (or not) of having a regular writing space. After writing that I reached out to a few fellow writers about their own creative spaces and, with their permission, I’m sharing them with you today. First off, a couple of my... Continue Reading →
Designing a Book Cover
NOTE: THIS POST IS ORIGINALLY FROM THIS SITE'S SISTER BLOG RAGTAGMAGPIE.COM Visit RagTag for ideas around arts and crafts, bios on famous artists from all media and genres, and the projects my wife is currently working on. It's updated daily and contains a huge amount of material. Here's the post- enjoy, and if you want... Continue Reading →
Long praise for the short story
"I don't really like short stories, but I actually thought they were okay." Not the greatest accolade ever received, but from my father, that was high praise. No- I'm just kidding about that last bit: he was never one of those stereotypes who was short on praise (although he did fulfil the stereotype 'never let... Continue Reading →
Writing Resource 11/100: a safe place
There was a minor kerfuffle a while back when Arron Banks (dodgy Brexit backer - no, don't bother looking him up, you'll just feel as if you need a shower afterwards) accused JK Rowling of being 'pretentious' for mentioning she had a writing room. The response was pretty amusing with the good and the great... Continue Reading →
Adventures in Babysitting
This is a story that didn't make it into You Could Make a Killing, but could have done...if you want to read more like this, you'll find them in that collection - available in paperback, Kindle, or if you have Kindle Unlimited, as part of your free allowance. * I arrived five minutes before... Continue Reading →
Amazon Reviews
Do you know an author? I don't mean you live next door to one of the big guns like James Patterson, Lee Childs or Jordan. I mean a humble, self-publishing/ small press/ indie publisher author? Do you get sick of them: a) asking you to read their stuff (preferably by buying it...which you feel obliged... Continue Reading →
Before the premiere…
Tonight at a Storytelling event at Temperance, in Leamington, I'm going to try something different. Reading my stuff out loud is pretty new to me full stop - I've only done it at a couple of events, and once on radio. Tonight's different again - for a few reasons. It's a film script. Well, in... Continue Reading →