Listen to your subconscious when writing

“Things will come to you and you’re not going to know exactly how they fit in. You have to trust in the way they all fit together, that your subconscious knows what you’re doing.” I came across this fantastic quote about writing by acclaimed American author Donna Tartt. A New York Times Book Review article…

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Happy National Short Story Week 2013!

This is a good year for the short story. Canadian short story writer Alice Munro won the (well-deserved) Nobel Prize for Literature last month. Plenty of online journals and e-readers provide possibilities for short story writers to get their stories out there to a reading public. In the words of the talented author, Lorrie Moore:…

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How to tighten your manuscript

This was very good timing. Literary agent Rachelle Gardner just ran an interesting post entitled ‘How to tighten your manuscript‘. I, um … blush, shuffle feet … always seem to be facing this dilemma. After pitching sessions with agents at the recent Matera Women’s Fiction festival, I need to start cutting word count for my…

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Wrap-up of Matera Women’s Fiction Festival 2013

I am just back from my fabulous annual pilgrimage to the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival. This is my third year participating in this inspiring event. Once again, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about publishing from the experts, had a great time at live pitching sessions to agents and publishers, met a wonderful group of interesting…

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Sarah Waters’ ten rules for writing fiction

I enjoyed British author Sarah Waters’ World War II novel The Night Watch, and I absolutely adored her wonderfully atmospheric, Gothic novel The Little Stranger. So when I saw this Aerogramme Writers’ Studio post with the author’s useful writing advice – Sarah Waters’ ten rules for writing fiction – I had to see what this…

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Your story architecture

Going through a complete apartment renovation means I probably have architecture on the mind. But I know I should probably take my story architecture as seriously as I do my home architecture. That’s why I was so happy to see this post on the wonderful Writers in the Storm blog : Figuring out your story’s turning…

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Even author JK Rowling is a victim of the slushpile

To all you authors querying your work and trying to bounce back after rejections – take heart! The slushpile is a place aspiring authors know all too well, but British author JK Rowling, of Harry Potter fame, hasn’t had to face rejection in a long time. Until now, that is. An article in The Telegraph…

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Dreaming of a writing get-away

I’ve already written about how I sometimes dream, when I travel, of a room with a view  where I can take a little writing retreat. When I visit these idyllic places, I am generally exploring with family or friends, and I don’t have the time – or desire – to seek out the solitude needed…

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