The Writing Life

From writer’s draft to reader’s draft

Rewriting and editing, The writing life, When you're done, Writing tips

Getting from writer's draft to reader's draft is a process. Which development phase are you in?

Cutting 100K words to get the manuscript over the line: an interview with Kyra Geddes

Rewriting and editing, The writing life

'It was EXTREMELY difficult for me to take in the suggested cuts and edits. At times I wasn't sure I could sustain the mental or physical energy needed to see it through...

The Value of a Mentor

Rewriting and editing, The writing life, Writing tips

A writing mentor can help you understand your work and your practice in new ways, and help you navigate the often tricky emotional terrain of writing a book.

Are You Paying Attention?

Rewriting and editing, The writing life, When you're done, Writing tips

One of the keys to success for a writer is an ability to pay attention to the macro as well as the micro, to the mundane as well as the sublime.

Deadlines: pros and cons

The writing life

One of the greatest challenges of working on a long format writing project is staying on course. Can deadlines help you get there?

AI and the Creative Urge

The writing life

AI might be able to draft a synopsis, but can it satisfy the creative urge?

Connecting as writers

The writing life

A profile of writer and writing teacher Lisa Clifford

The Messy First Draft

Rewriting and editing, The writing life

It may be shambolic, confused, all over the place. It may be a train wreck. That's okay. It’s just the first draft. And first drafts are messy.

Behind the Successful Debut Book

Rewriting and editing, The writing life, When you're done

The 'overnight' success of debut books is usually built on a development process spanning many, many years.

Critical Reading for Writers

Rewriting and editing, The writing life, Writing tips

Critical reading is an important skill for writers to develop. Don't underestimate the value of reading the works of others.

Challenges for Emerging Writers

The writing life

The three main challenges and hurdles facing emerging writers.

Managing Feedback

The writing life, When you're done

We may not have control over the feedback we receive, but we do have control over the way we respond to it and what we do next – how we manage it.

When am I Done?

The writing life, When you're done

Knowing when your work is ready to be launched into the wider world can be a difficult thing to pin down.

Recharging your Batteries

The writing life

Sometimes writers' energy for a project becomes depleted. Just as batteries run down and need recharging over time, so do writers.

Surviving Rejection

The writing life, When you're done

‘Resilient writers think of success and rejection as a package deal: If we want to accept writing success when it comes, we must be willing to accept writing defeat when it happens.'

Building Resilience as a Writer

The writing life

How do you survive the development phase of a manuscript? How do you build resilience as a writer?

From the Reading Chair