During a feedback session the other day, (I’m currently taking Unthank Book’s How to Write a Novel online course. More on that to come) someone suggested that the world building in my novel was strong. My what? I don’t do world building. World building is for fantasy writers. World building is for science fiction writers.… Continue reading World building
Category: writing
The Year of Publishing Women
Kamila Shamsie, author and judge of this year’s Bailey’s prize for women’s fiction, came out with one of those things that is supposed to be controversial yesterday but isn’t really. I’ll let you read the article if you want but in short, she asked for a year of only publishing women writers as an idea to… Continue reading The Year of Publishing Women
Opening the toolbox
I said I would write a little about the tools I used to finish my first draft. In case you’re interested in such things or were looking for some advice from tried and tested tools. Scrivener Scrivener is a software package that helps you to plan a novel – and is really useful for early… Continue reading Opening the toolbox
First draft – be gone!
This blog has been neglected recently while I finished the first draft of my novel. Yes, I’ll say that again. I finished the first draft of my novel. I have writer friends who can get these things knocked out fairly quickly. I am not one of those people. I’ve had the idea for this book… Continue reading First draft – be gone!
The joy of libraries
It’s National Libraries Day! Here are some reasons I love them: They’re one of the last places you can spend time where you aren’t being sold something. Every time I read an article talking about how libraries can diversify their income in tough times by putting in a coffee shop a small part of me… Continue reading The joy of libraries
The writer’s privilege
The conversation about privilege in the creative industries rumbles on. Like many writers, I work. Full time. I also have a small child. So I thought what I might do is make a diary of the time I get to spend writing this week, to see where, if I was from a more privileged background,… Continue reading The writer’s privilege
Dr Sketchy’s Nottingham
Work on the next book continues and I am struggling. For a book about variety theatre, it’s not very colourful. I decide a research trip is in order. While my two main characters are mainly dressed in suits for their acts – a boy impersonator and a comic – the rest of the acts are… Continue reading Dr Sketchy’s Nottingham
Launching a novel…
I’ve sat in the audience for author events before, listening to someone rad their words aloud. I’ve also organised author events – I have been that person who takes your picture with the writer you admire, who always carries Sharpies, who makes small talk while they sign stock copies. But this week were my first events… Continue reading Launching a novel…
Circ – a Ten to One novel
I am attending my first ever author event tomorrow. My first ever where I’m the author, I mean. It is being held at the brand spanking new shiny Library of Birmingham, currently perched among the Frankfurt markets like a glorious Christmas cake on a table of Lebkuchen. The event is the first of a week-long programme to… Continue reading Circ – a Ten to One novel
Review – NottWords workshop with Lara Elena Donnelly
There’s something decadent about knocking off work early to go to a writing workshop. And so it is with a light heart that I bid my work colleagues a good weekend and appear at the door to Nottingham Writers’ Studio on Friday afternoon for Lara Elena Donnelly’s workshop Who is your City? Lara starts us… Continue reading Review – NottWords workshop with Lara Elena Donnelly
Susan E Barsby 