The Art of Crafting a Great Second Draft
As Hemingway once said: ‘The first draft of anything is shit’, and when I’m coaching other writers I always advise they give themselves permission to write badly first time round. If…
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What to do When Your Dream Bubble Bursts
Recently, my son and I went on a mini road-trip adventure in America. My son is football-mad (soccer-mad for US readers) and has been following the fortunes of an American team…
Read MoreIn Celebration of Celebrity Publishing
I’ve been invited to take part in a panel discussion on celebrity children’s publishing. One of the questions up for discussion is: “Books by celebrities are often looked on as…
Read MoreThe Gritty Truth About Writing
It was a Saturday night. My head was thumping and my eyes were sore. My entire body ached – especially my shoulders, which were knotted tight. How much longer will…
Read MoreDon’t Give Up Too Soon
TRUE STORY: Once upon a time, I wrote a book. I was very happy with what I’d written – excited by it, even. I handed it into my publisher…
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