Reading as a writer We are big believers in the importance of reading as writers. We have talked about it many times before, such as in this blog, but are there any pitfalls? Of course there are, nothing is perfect. Before we begin, it is important to reinforce the...
You can’t avoid AI anymore Back in May we posted about our decision to stop using AI at all in our business. As a creative business that focuses on the wellbeing benefits of writing, it just didn’t fit with our values. As with all technology though, it...
As a writer, you can never read too much. Reading is like … well, erm, I won’t cobble together a simile to describe how I feel about reading as a writer, because Pam Allyn’s is unbeatable and worth repeating: “Reading is like breathing in; writing is like breathing...
Research is an important part of any book, but particularly when you are writing nonfiction. No matter how well you know your subject, there will always be something that you need to double check. Often we talk to writers, and they tell us that they sat down to write...
Without losing your mind First drafts can feel laborious at times. The first rush of excited keyboard bashing gives way over time to more reluctant teeth-gritted slow trickles that can make the finish line feel another world away. But never fear! You’re in the right...
The myth of expertise in nonfiction writing There’s a common misconception among new writers of nonfiction that you need to be an expert in your field to have something valuable to say. Hogwash! Yes, you need to know enough to reassure the reader. That’s obvious. But...
Speed writing seems to be becoming a trend. We’re not talking about being able to scribble down notes or use short hand, but generating large volumes of writing incredibly quickly. It may be social media posts, blogs, articles or even books. When I was teaching,...
This week my emotions caught me out, as they often do. It was an ordinary day. I was doing bits of work in my front room because we had a plumber round doing some work in the bathroom. As I sat tapping away at my keyboard, a sound drifted down the stairs that...
How to craft a great title for your nonfiction book that will work for you It’s time to look beneath the surface of book titles and find out what makes them fly, or flop. Does it matter what you call your book if the content is cracking? Are there any golden rules to...
Writer’s Notebook – pretentious accessory or crucial equipment? You may have heard people talking about having a “writer’s notebook”, and wondered what it is, and what you should be using it for. What is a writer’s notebook? Well,...
