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Have you signed up to my occasional newsletter yet? As a thank you, you’ll be sent a link to download a free collection of some of my previously published short …
Ask The Agent – Adam Gauntlett
Simon Whaley chats to agent Adam Gauntlett, about the narrative non-fiction market, and his recent experience of becoming a published novelist. Adam Gauntlett is an agent in the Books Division …
Ghosting Around
As writers, we have the skills to bring our stories to life. Understanding the importance of structure, grammar, and how to entertain readers in an engaging way also means we …
Thinking Paths
Every writer should have a thinking path. When I learned that Darwin, Dickens, and Wordsworth had one, I wanted one too. And it has transformed my writing process. I’ve always …
Kiddy Commerce
Simon Whaley chats to two children’s authors about their different writing businesses. I have a huge admiration for authors who write books for children. I wrote one once. Once, being …
Hotbank Crags
My photo of Hotbank Crags on Hadrian’s Wall can be seen in the Viewpoints section of Outdoor Photography magazine (issue 308 – out July 2024). It was taken in August …
Ask The Agent – Kerry-Ann Bentley
Kerry-Ann Bentley graduated with a First-class degree in English and United States Literature from the University of Essex. Then she earned her Masters in Caribbean Literature and its Diasporas from …
Pitching to Conferences
Running workshops at writers’ conferences can boost your writing business. Simon Whaley chats to two writers about their experiences. With the writing conference season approaching, many writers are packing their …
Find Your Way As A Freelancer
My first published magazine piece was a word-search puzzle in 1989. They sent me a postal order for £3.50 as payment. (It was a long time ago!) Although I was …
Lost in the Golden Valley
“Off to Hay-on-Wye?” enquires the cyclist waiting alongside me at the traffic light. “Golden Valley,” I reply, through my open car window. She beams. “It’s beautiful. But that’ll be the …
Carlisle Cathedral
As cathedrals go, Carlisle’s could be classified as compact. Some tourist guides may refer to it as the smallest of the Church of England’s ancient cathedrals, but it still has …