VAL PENNY

Every form of writing poses different challenges from repetition and wandering off topic in novels to rhythm or rhyme in poetry or the word count of flash fiction. Flash fiction has always been a mystery to me and that is why I am so pleased to have an expert of the genre on the blog today to discuss the different formats available to proponents of this style of writing. A warm welcome to my friend and fellow author, Allison Symes. Thank you for your time today, Allison becau

There are thousands of books published every day on Amazon alone. Some are traditionally published, others self published. Some get noticed by readers but many fail to attract an audience even if they are given away for free. How do you make sure that your book is one that is noticed? How can you get it before readers and secure and audience? I remember some years ago discussing this very topic with Benita Cullingford of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Her answe

Let me start at the very beginning. You will often hear people say - everyone has a book in them … This is not true. Others will tell you – I’m going to write a book when I retire … Most of them don’t. This is because writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes months of creativity, weeks of editing, time to work through the comments of beta readers and the editor and ends with continual marketing. So, if you have completed writing a novel and whatever state it is in

It is always a joy to welcome my friend and fellow author, Allison Symes to the blog. She is not only a talented writer but also an...

The elevator pitch is so important to authors that Linwood Barclay even titled one of his bestselling novels 'Elevator Pitch'. In case...

Today I am thrilled to welcome back Allison Symes to the blog. On this occasion she has agreed to share her insight into writing...

I’m thrilled to share Looking Back at Swanwick 2022 this week. This post was a sheer joy to write. It shares a little of what it is like...

I am pleased to have been invited to take part in the tour for the new non-fiction writing book by a variety of authors led by Wendy H....

It is with great pleasure that I welcome author Allison Symes back to the blog to discuss her work and how the use of tecnology has...

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of some main routes to publication before you proceed to allow your work to meet the world....