I’m not talking about what we can’t see that’s right in front of us. About when we are tired and over-worked. Our mind is on a different course and we just don’t see the missing comma, the grocer’s apostrophe, or the homonym. I’m talking about being emotionally involved in our writing. About being so close […]
Essential in cricket, land ownership and relationships. Not so noticeable in the books we read. But knowing what is in, and what is out, is how you write a good book. Writing a book is not about pouring everything you know onto the page. It’s about telling your reader what they need to know. That
Allow your voice to be heard. Only that way will you make a connection between your mind and someone else’s. You have a unique perspective and your book is important. So keep writing, with passion and authenticity.
Writing is an act of bravery Read More »
Here’s a question: What’s the most fundamental point about writing books? A book is written to be read. Lots of people write for the sheer pleasure of writing. But if you’re writing for yourself, you’re writing a journal, or a diary. Not a book. Your book need only be read by one other person but
The best person to help you write your book Read More »
At the second edit stage of my work, this is how I deal with the depressing ‘rule’: Kill your darlings. I come to an expertly crafted sentence that makes me gasp with pride. Then I let a tiny whisper of doubt come forward. Does it truly fit the flow? Not really? No need for murder by Delete. I cut out the
Show your darlings kindness Read More »
Let me offer this thought. The symptoms of the struggle to write are things like: Discovering those early morning starts aren’t working for you.Resisting sitting down to write; resistance that shows up in the form of doing anything, but anything – cleaning the dishes, the car, the cat – just to avoid your notebook or
Symptoms vs Causes Read More »
When you write a book, you reach another person’s mind. Not just another person, but a complete stranger, someone who doesn’t know you or what you stand for, or what your experience is or how you can help them. And then they read your book and enter your mind. That’s kind of scary. Are you
The scary thing about writing a book Read More »
Dr Sharon McLaughlin, MD, FACS, asked if I was interested in joining her on her podcast to talk about writing your first book. Sharon’s podcast’s a big deal. I was up for it! What you don’t hear is what happened before the microphones rolled. With typical British reserve, I thought Sharon only wanted me to
PODCAST: A Book Coach and a Doctor walk into a bar Read More »
A writer I love working with (if you’re reading this, you’ll know who you are) has been working on the Golden Thread of her story. It’s a concept of Jennie Nash’s, of Author Accelerator. Imagine that your manuscript is a tapestry with a pattern. The golden thread is your awareness of what your story is
I’m revising the second draft of my next book. It’s a cosy village mystery, set in an English village. (The one I grew up in.) Rewriting gives me the chance to weigh the value of each word. It can be exhausting, as Inner Judge gives me a hard time. It seems like everything that plays
Revising. Like panning for gold Read More »