There are plenty of rules about writing. And plenty of people who will give you advice. Write every day. Follow a certain structure. Stick to a particular genre. Write to a specific market. Follow the latest trends. All these points are valid, but they are not set in stone.

Of course, advice from other writers, editors and publishing professionals can be helpful. But advice is not the same as a rule. What works perfectly for one writer might feel wrong for another. And many newbie writers can get so caught up in what they “should” be doing that they talk themselves out of starting anything at all. But remember, writing, at its heart, is your personal creativity. Which means you should follow what your instincts are telling you.

Coming up with a title for your novel can be surprisingly challenging. With my first book, The Beach House, the title came to me long before I jotted down a single note about the story. I didn't care that there were several other books with the same title, it was set in stone as far as I was concerned. When my publisher gently suggested I might consider changing to a variation on the theme (in the interests of being more original) I politely said I would consider it, but knew it would never happen. I have never regretted taking that firm stance as my book is about not only "a" beach house but "The" Beach House.
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When writing my second and third novels, it took me much longer to come up with titles I was happy with. In fact, I was almost ready to publish before either book was named. Not having such a strong and obvious theme as The Beach House, it was hard to settle on an original title that captured what each novel was about. With Room 46, I used the setting once again and felt that it sounded intriguing enough that the reader might wonder exactly what was happening inside the room in question. As far as the number 46, that really was random, I just road tested a few in my head and for whatever reason that was the one I liked the most. With my third novel, The Third Time, the setting was not an option and thus began another long and frustrating journey to come up with a title. This time I finally opted for a line in the book, something that had some significance for one of the characters. It did take a while for each title to "settle" with me, but once they did, it felt that they were always destined to be so named. And I was happy that both Room 46 and The Third Time are original titles, at least as far as I know. When competing for retail space on such sites as Amazon, this can be the one way that your book stands out.
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Every writer has them—a physical file or a computer folder full of abandoned writing efforts. Whether it’s poetry, short stories, a feature article, a non-fiction book, or a novel, these unfinished projects can trigger emotions ranging from embarrassment to frustration. But what if you had just kept going? Could that novel be a bestseller if you’d only gone the distance? The question is: can an abandoned writing project be pulled out of retirement, knocked into shape, and sent out into the world? Given the right conditions, I believe it can.

Like any renovation, the first step in reviving a writing project is taking a good, hard look at what is in front of you. Even if parts of it make you cringe, does it have good bones? Is there a great foundation buried in there somewhere? Can you remember what inspired you to start writing it in the first place? Are there parts that are solid and just need to be shined up? If you think there is something worth salvaging, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Once you’re committed to finishing your project, spend some time re-mapping it. Maybe there’s a plot hole that needs to be resolved or further research to be done for nonfiction. Grab some paper and a pencil and write down what needs to be fixed. This is a great place to start because you don’t actually have to do anything new; you’re just identifying existing issues. Yet an hour spent writing will still feel like progress and, in most cases, it’s enough to build a sense of momentum and get the creative juices flowing again. You might not have all the answers yet, but you’re back in the game.

In a digital age where visibility is everything, it’s surprising how many authors still don’t have a website. Some feel it’s too difficult to set up, while others assume they’re not well-known enough to justify their own online space. Let's face it, between writing, editing, and trying to carve out time for creativity, building a website can feel like just another task on an already overwhelming list. But the truth is, a website isn’t a luxury reserved for bestselling authors, it’s a necessary tool for any writer who wants to be discovered.
 
One of the most common misconceptions is that a website needs to be complex or expensive. In reality, the most effective author websites are often the simplest. A clean homepage, an “About” section, a page for your books or writing projects, and a way to contact you is more than enough to get started. Readers aren’t looking for flashy design or endless content; they’re looking for clarity. They want to know who you are, what you write, and where they can find more of your work.
 
Another barrier for many writers is the technical side of things. Not everyone feels confident navigating website builders or choosing layouts and templates. The good news is that there are plenty of user-friendly platforms that offer free or low-cost options, allowing you to create something professional without needing advanced skills. And if even that feels like too much, there are affordable freelancers who can set up a basic site for you quickly and efficiently. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to exist.
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When you say you’ve written a book, some people respond not by saying congratulations but instead by saying they could do it too (if they so chose). This can be a disappointing reaction for a first time author just wanting to bask in a little glory. So why does this happen? Why do some people feel they can't offer a warm congratulations without blowing their own trumpet?

Probably the most common reason is because writing is widely misunderstood as an easy or casual pursuit. The majority of the population engage with books only as readers, not as creators, so they greatly underestimate the time, discipline, and skill required to finish one. From the outside, the work is invisible, which makes the achievement feel more accessible than it actually is.

​Another reason simply comes down to ego. Hearing that someone else has completed a book can trigger an unspoken comparison, and saying “I could do that too” helps level the playing field in their mind. It reframes your accomplishment as ordinary rather than exceptional, allowing them to feel less distance between where they are and what you’ve achieved.

Many aspiring authors recognise early in life that writing is the path they want to follow. Yet, unlike more conventional career choices such as accounting or nursing, expressing this ambition can feel surprisingly difficult. This hesitation rarely comes from a lack of confidence; instead, it reflects an awareness that wanting to be an author is often met with scepticism or negativity. So why does simply stating a desire to write for a living seem to invite judgement in a way other professions do not?

In general people respond negatively when you say you want to be an author because the idea feels vague and unrealistic to them. Unlike traditional careers with standard qualifications and visible milestones, becoming an author doesn’t fit neatly into a conventional life pathway box. For people who prioritise stability and predictability, this uncertainty triggers discomfort, which often comes out as scepticism rather than support.

Another reason is that many people associate writing with failure or struggle. The cultural narrative around authorship tends to focus on just how hard it is to achieve success in the literary field. When someone hears you want to be an author, they may immediately picture financial hardship, rejection letters and ongoing disappointment. They then respond negatively out of concern, however poorly expressed, for your future security.

Let me start this post by saying that yes, I do own a Kindle and, yes, I do make most of book sales as e-books. An e-book reader is an amazing piece of tech, it is so convenient when travelling, you have immediate access to millions of books at any time and they are handy when you are sharing a room or a bed and want to read without turning on the light. E-books are also cheaper to buy than physical ones. However all those factors cannot detract from the fact that 'real' books still win the day for many readers for many reasons. As an avid lover of books from a very young age, I will always reach for a physical book when given the option for the following reasons.

To begin with a physical book offers an experience that is more than just words on the page. Holding a book, feeling its weight, reading the blurb and turning its pages creates a sensory connection that digital screens can’t replicate. This tactile engagement helps you slow down and fully immerse yourself in the text, making reading feel intentional rather than just another screen-based activity. Plus you can't dog ear the page in your Kindle.
 
Printed books are also easier on the eyes. Screens emit light, often leading to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue, especially during long reading sessions. A paper book reflects natural light, allowing readers to read for extended periods without discomfort. This makes physical books especially appealing for deep reading, study, or winding down at the end of the day.

As an author one of the most common questions you get asked is, how many books have you sold? This can be a confronting question and a personal one, especially if your success in your field is only modest. The answer can be vague for example, 'oh, I'm not sure, I'd have to check my sales records.' Or you might choose to embellish your sales totals, which can lead to other questions such as, 'why do you still have a day job if you are selling so many books?' The reality is, for most authors, success is modest by corporate standards, where things are measured by the amount of money you make. However, despite this, most authors continue to write, even knowing they might never crack the big time or get anywhere near quitting their day job. So why do so many authors keep writing anyway?

The primary motivation for many writers is their genuine passion and love for writing. They find joy in the act of creating stories, poems, essays, or articles, and the process itself is fulfilling. As writers will often say, you don't choose writing, it chooses you. If you know that feeling of just having to get the words on paper, you will understand this reality.

Another important reason is that writing provides a powerful means of self-expression and introspection. It allows individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, even if their work doesn't reach a wide audience. The idea that your internal musings and ideas have not only reached but impacted other people is life affirming in the most amazing way. I will never forget a woman telling me that one line in my first novel inspired her to finish her university degree. I still get goosebumps when I think about it. And the funniest thing was that it was just a simple line of dialogue that most readers didn't give a second thought.
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When my book was first published, I was attending a regular appointment and naturally enough the topic of my novel came up. While I would not consider this person to be a friend, more of an acquaintance, they had come along on the journey to publication and were familiar with the whole process. After expressing good wishes that my sales would do well, I was taken aback when they asked if they could borrow a copy of the book. “Books are just so expensive these days,” they explained. Even though at that stage I was prepared to do just about anything to get my book into the hands of any reader, I saw red at this comment. They, however, seemed to miss the irony that they were dismissing my work as “too expensive” while I was going to have to pay on my way out the door for their expertise (which could also be considered expensive).

I did briefly consider lending this person a copy but before I agreed out loud, I pulled myself up and explained that I didn’t have spare copies to lend (what did I look like, a library?) as I had to keep my own stock ready to sell (hint, hint). Each copy I gave away, I explained, was income I was not receiving. Clearly this was still not enough to convince them, as they shrugged and said they would borrow it from the library sometime. 

On the surface, the idea of editing on your screen can seem like the more efficient choice because you can just get in and change things without the cumbersome process of making  changes on paper and then transferring them onto your digital copy. However there are many reasons why editing by hand is actually more effective and is worth considering as part of your writing routine.

Firstly, editing on paper allows you to engage with your writing in a more tactile and focused way. Reading your work on paper physically feels different than reading it on a screen. This change in medium helps you see your writing from a fresh perspective, making it easier to spot errors that you might have overlooked on a screen. The physical act of marking up a manuscript with a pen also forces you to slow down and consider each change more carefully. There is also evidence to suggest that when reading on a  screen we tend to skim over text whereas reading on paper engages a more thorough absorption of the words in front of us.
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