Category: creative writing
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So You Want to Become a Writer
I often hear people say they’d love to write a book one day. How hard can it be? That was me a few years ago. Perhaps it’s the allure of crafting worlds with words or a harmless way to play out their fantasies. Whether it’s penning crime novels that keep readers on the edge of…
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A Sense of Place – Where My Stories Come From
As an author who’s spent a lot of time conversing with imaginary friends (also known as story characters), I occasionally speak to real human beings about my writing. I’ve often been asked how I get the ideas for my stories. Is it a lightning bolt of inspiration? A secret recipe? Or do I have secret…
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Writing as a Reader – Crafting Stories from All We Enjoy Reading
As writers, we often find ourselves diving headfirst into the worlds we create on paper, allowing our imaginations to flow freely and construct intricate tapestries of words. Yet, what if I told you that the foundation of every word we write is rooted in our role as readers? It’s an undeniable truth that to be…
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Editing Your Story
Introduction Firstly, I’m assuming you are considering editing your book yourself. But even if you are sending your work to an editor, following the process in this blog post will save them time and your money. There is no substitute for a professional editor, but if you are strapped for cash, then this article will…
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Perseverance and Passion Pays
Starting a novel is easy, but finishing it requires perseverance, dedication, and hard work. Many writers have experienced the thrill of starting a new project, full of excitement and enthusiasm, only to hit a wall halfway through and give up. However, if you want to be a successful writer, you must develop the habit of…
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Navigating Writer’s Block and Fostering Creativity
Writer’s block and feeling uninspired are common challenges that many writers face. I certainly have faced days and weeks of frustration, not knowing what to write, leading me to feelings of self-doubt. However, these hurdles don’t indicate a decline in writing skill. In this blog post, we’ll explore strategies to overcome writer’s block and foster…
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Crime Writing Course
This weekend, 14th February 2023, I will be attending the last part of a crime writing course at West Dean College near Chichester, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. The course will be led by two renowned authors, Lesley Thomson and Elly Griffiths. They are both experts in their fields and have written…
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Writing Tools
Writing Tools – Introduction When talking about writing tools, some people tell me they prefer old-fashioned paper and pen to write their novels. Paper never crashes or catches viruses that wipe your work. You can usually recover your manuscript after you’ve poured a cup of coffee over it, too. Personally, I only use paper and…
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My Writing Journey – So Far
I took the still from my dash camera while driving my Morris Minor. I had just narrowly avoided hitting deer that had unexpectedly run out before me. Journeys can take many unexpected twists and dramatic turns. My writing journey has had its risks, fraught with self-doubt. Am I going the right way? Am I too…
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Writing is an Addiction
I have an addiction to writing. In the back of my mind, I have to be writing if I’m to call myself a writer. It’s as simple as that. I have recently finished writing Take You Home, the third book in my Detective Inspector Angelis Trilogy. As soon as I wrote the last words to…
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Being a Sussex Crime Writer
West Sussex author Matthew J Evans talks about writing his crime novels. I am proud to say that I’m a crime author and have published two novels in the Detective Inspector Angelis series: ‘Chasing Shadows’ and ‘Hide Her Away’. I’m thrilled that both have been well received. They fall within the genre of police procedural…