Writing Tips – Graeme Simsion

Graeme Simsion (photo: Michael Clayton-Jones)

Graeme offers his five writing tips. 

1. Enrol in a writing class – or at least join a writers’ group. A class will give you theory, discipline, feedback, industry savvy and encouragement.

2. Plan. Yes, some writers write by the ‘seat of their pants’ without a plan, and if that works for you, good luck and I’ll shut up. I bet it won’t. I bet you’ll get stuck about 25,000 words in, or later you’ll find you’ve written an unstructured mess. If that happens, go back and write a synopsis, then a chapter-by-chapter summary. Then start writing again with confidence you know where you’re going.

3. Write for publication. With everything you write (or almost everything) , think of where it could be published, and aim to submit it. It will encourage you to do your best, to screw up the printed manuscript you were going to send, and make it that bit better.

4. Write some short stories. They’re great for experimenting without committing a year and if you submit them for publication, you’ll get feedback and possibly a good line to add to your cv, enquiry letter, novel submission.

5. Re-write. Put your work aside, come back to it a couple of weeks later. Repeat several times. You can always make it better.

Graeme is the author of, The Rosie Project (published in paperback by Penguin, £7.99.) It’s also the book we’re currently featuring in our online book club, Book Corner.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.