Self-editing masterclass snapshots: revision is RE-vision All this week I’ve been running a series of the sharpest questions from my Guardian self-editing masterclass. In previous posts I’ve discussed three/four-act structure, endings, characters who are …

To go with my previous: revision is re-VISION. Notes from my self-editing masterclass nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/s... #writinglife #writingcommunity #writingtips

Unearthing the Deeper Story: How Revision Can Become Re-Envisioning With Prompts Toward Deepening Your Story By Arya Samuelson Everyone can agree that revision is necessary for helping a story to become the strongest version of itself, but how do we accomplish that…

What's the story under the story? You find it through deep revision. @aryasamuelson.bsky.social at @dintywmoore.bsky.social brevity.wordpress.com/2026/04/20/u... #writingcommunity #writingtips #writinglife

The Past as Unexplored Territory I’ve written a number of articles about how to get into the head of someone who thinks differently from you.   But in the last couple of weeks, I was reminded of just how hard this is by the storie…

What we might wrongly assume when writing about people in the past - Dave King at @writerunboxed.bsky.social writerunboxed.com/2026/04/21/8... #writingcommunity #writingtips #historicalfiction

'A heartwarming exploration of what makes a house a home.'
Read it now books2read.com/rightrainbow

'Heartwarming exploration of what makes a house a home.'
Yippee, a new review. A good excuse for a picture. Let's pose the book with a coffee cup or something. No wait, those socks of Dave's. Yes, that's good.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-... #humour #goodreads #househunting #relocation

'Heartwarming exploration of what makes a house a home.'
Yippee, a new review. A good excuse for a picture. Let's pose the book with a coffee cup or something. No wait, those socks of Dave's. Yes, that's good.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-... #humour #goodreads #househunting #relocation

That Publishing Contract Isn't A Gift (It's a Deal) Good writing gets you in the door. Good deals come from negotiation.

This is such an important post. A contract is a suggestion. You may make suggestions in return. You won't scare the publisher off; if they think you're a serious proposition they want to work with you.
Great post by @allisonkwilliams.bsky.social adventuresinwriting.substack.com/p/that-publi...

If your story draft is feeling flat, here are 5 common weaknesses that might make all the difference. nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2026/04/12/f... #writingcommunity #writingtips #writingq

'Write on your hand, on the back of your bus ticket, in your Notes app on your phone...' Holly Ringland on imposter syndrome, finding room for creativity, and building a relationship with writing itself. Plus a chance to win her new book!

'A decade ago, I would never have believed that writing novels could be my job.' Lovely examination of the joys, uncertainties, wobbles and rewards of following our creative muse. Thank you @hollyringland and @PhoebeMorgan honesteditor.substack.com/p/write-on-y...

Morning! Monday! Lots of thinking to do. One of my new book ideas has stirred into life, although it's raising as many questions as answers. I'm writing and editing copy for the @indieauthoralli.bsky.social magazine and publishing an author interview on my blog. How's your week looking?

Lots more about the core principles of plot here. Writing Plots With Drama, Depth & Heart: Nail Your Novel 3 books2read.com/nynplot #writingtips #writingcommunity #writingq

The Principles of Plotting Part Two: Oscillation The second entry in a series on figuring out plot and applying it to your fiction

Plot is change! But this change can be remarkably subtle. @LincolnMichel countercraft.substack.com/p/the-princi... #writingcommunity #authorcommunity #writingtips

You're absolutely welcome, Jill. It was such a memorable and human piece.
PS I also love @dintywmoore.bsky.social !

The Heart Folds Early: A Memoir of Grief, Loss, Love—and Choice Diane Gottlieb interviews Jill Christman Jill Christman I have long admired Jill Christman’s writing for its honesty, beauty, and fearlessness. Christman writes about the hard stuff, yet her words …

On writing the hardest choices - @dianegotauthor.bsky.social
and @jillchristman.bsky.social
at @dintywmoore.bsky.social
brevity.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/the
-heart-folds-early/
#writingcommunity #writinglife #authorlife #creativewriting #memoir

What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain Here are seven story problems that often have a deeper connection to the unique writing brain behind the page. Which one sounds most like you?

Common things that go wrong with a story and how to fix them - @colleenstory
at @WriterThesaurus
writershelpingwriters.net/2026/04/writin
gbrain/
#writingcommunity #authorcommunity #writingtips

Paying for Exposure on Social Media: What Not to Do | Jane Friedman There’s no magic shortcut for marketing books, and anyone who tells you otherwise is definitely selling something.

Is buying reviews ever worthwhile? Brave confession from @KirstenBell and sage advice from @janefriedman.com janefriedman.com/paying-for-e... #writingcommunity #publishing #authorlife #writinglife

Plenty of Time to Write, But No Book in Sight “You haven’t written a book, but you are a writer.” By Ann V. Klotz As the head of a school, my writing happened in those spaces in between. Sure, I did plenty of writing as a school le…

Finally it's time to write your book. On putting away the 'buts' by @AnnKlotz at @dintywmoore.bsky.social brevity.wordpress.com/2026/04/10/p... #writingcommunity #authorlife #writinglife

Six months in just one week! Perhaps I should try that. Bravo.

Paying the Writer A blog about my novels, my non-fiction and plays, and the daily life of a writer in the beautiful Scottish lowlands

All too often, writers are expected to work for nothing, not even expenses. This isn't right. @catherineczerkawska www.catherineczerkawska.co.uk/2026/04/payi...? #writingcommunity #writinglife #authorlife #publishing

Morning! Monday! I'm starting on the next @indieauthoralli.bsky.social magazine. Also I have research to do for two possible book ideas, an interview to start and more publicity to do for Turn Right At The Rainbow. How's your week looking? #authorlife #writinglife #publishing

From lifeless to compelling: 5 craft fixes that transform a story

If you’re working on a novel or memoir, you might see this feedback at some point: it’s not quite working yet. It's a bit lifeless. What might be wrong? Although we all have different strengths and blind spots, I find certain issues…

"Horse riding must be great for creative work," people say. "Like staring through a train window."
Not if you’re riding a prey animal who hears every rustle. Here I’m reflecting on Planet Val, the physics of bell towers, and the mindsets for writing memoir and fiction. mailchi.mp/0d2fab1da872...

Main Character Energy: How Desire Makes Memorable Memoir By Jessica Handler Photo by Royce Soble “We all like ourselves pretty well,” I say when I’m leading a writing workshop (hoping that everyone in the workshop does indeed like themselves pretty well)…

This post is good for both memoir and fiction: how to understand your main character. @JessicaHandler at @dintywmoore.bsky.social brevity.wordpress.com/2026/04/09/m... #writingcommunity #writingtips #authorlife #memoir

"Horse riding must be great for creative work," people say. "Like staring through a train window."
Not if you’re riding a prey animal who hears every rustle. Here I’m reflecting on Planet Val, the physics of bell towers, and the mindsets for writing memoir and fiction. mailchi.mp/0d2fab1da872...

I’ve recently discovered that when bells are in full peal, a 12th-century tower actually sways. If it didn’t, it would tear itself off the church.
My latest newsletter is a wander through these "tower beasts," thoughts on riding as a pause for the wordy mind & podcasts on fiction & memoir writing.

So how do you get reviews for your book? Like this: Joe Walters and @thecreativepenn www.thecreativepenn.com/2025/07/14/h... #publishing #authorlife #selfpublishing #writingcommunity

Five Things I Didn’t Know About Publishing Five Years Ago We’re thrilled to have former WU contributor and multi-published, New York Times bestselling novelist Allison Winn Scotch back with us today to share some of what she’s learned! Eleven …

Changing what you write, letting a finished book go... 5 things @AllisonWinnScotch has learned about #publishing @writerunboxed.bsky.social writerunboxed.com/2026/04/07/f... #writinglife #authorlife

How do you write a memoir that others will want to read? Great points from @JacquelineSalmon at @janefriedman.com janefriedman.com/the-memoir-p... #writingcommunity #memoir #authorlife #creativewriting

I’ve recently discovered that when bells are in full peal, a 12th-century tower actually sways. If it didn’t, it would tear itself off the church.
My latest newsletter is a wander through these "tower beasts," thoughts on riding as a pause for the wordy mind & podcasts on fiction & memoir writing.

Tower of beasts. Guesting on @thecreativepenn & @MarkLeslie. 'I didn't want this book to end' & other new reviews of Turn Right At The Rainbow. Yes you can buy the merch! A little horse. mailchi.mp/0d2fab1da872... #humour #househunting #essays #bellringing #memoir #writinglife