The 2025 London Book Fair included a panel discussion featuring two hugely successful independent crime fiction authors: JD Kirk and LJ Ross. They shared their self-publishing journeys and insights into creating bestselling books.
Get your writing year off to a flying start with this masterclass packed full of advice and inspiration from the
How many words in a novel? Here are the average word counts and page numbers by genre – so that you know what to aim for!
The 2025 London Book Fair included a panel discussion featuring two hugely successful independent crime fiction authors: JD Kirk and LJ Ross. They shared their self-publishing journeys and insights into creating bestselling books.
You need to market your book. But what if you really, really, don’t like marketing? You became a writer to write, after all – not to sell. Here are some ways to approach marketing if you really don’t like marketing.
If you want to get traditionally published, you need to submit a compelling book proposal to agents or publishers. This masterclass with Scott Pack will maximize your chances of success.
The 2025 London Book Fair included a panel discussion featuring two hugely successful independent crime fiction authors: JD Kirk and LJ Ross. They shared their self-publishing journeys and insights into creating bestselling books.
Nicola May is a self-publishing sensation, and the author of a dozen romantic comedies. In 2019 she hit the #1 Kindle bestseller spot in the UK with The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay. Now she’s signed a three-book deal with Hodder. Jon Reed asked her why.
Twitter: Huge distraction? Waste of time? Like shouting into an empty field? That’s what Saul Wordsworth used to think. But now his Twitter comedy character Alan Stoob has become a bestselling book, and may become a Hollywood movie. He reveals how he did it – and how you can create your own Twitter character.
Read More
Want to write science fiction? Have the confidence of your own strangeness, says Matthew de Abaitua.
Read More
Have you ever wanted to write about food? Award-winning food writer and journalist Andrew Webb shares his advice for capturing the culinary.
Read More
In our first children’s publishing themed issue we’re delighted to have an exclusive interview with Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman. She speaks to our contributing editor Lucy Coats about her path to publication, top writing tips – and the need for greater diversity in children’s books. This issue also features Kit Berry, Kate Wilson, Hilary Delamere, Steven Lenton, Nicola Morgan, Tom Evans and Suzanne Collier.
Read More
There are more options than ever for authors to self-publish print books. But they really boil down to three business models: Commission-Based, Upfront-Fee or Subscription, says Sarah Juckes, who outlines the pros and cons of each. Which one is right for you?
Read More
Kirsty McLachlan of DGA Ltd answers one of your most commonly-asked questions: “How do I get an agent?” She reveals ways to get noticed – and avoid languishing in the slush pile.
Read More
Ben Galley is the self-published fantasy author of The Emaneska Series. Zealous about inspiring other authors and writers, he also runs the popular advice site Shelf Help, and is the co-founder of ebook store Libiro. Ben became a successful full-time ‘authorpreneur’ at the age of 26 and within a few years of publishing his first book. Jon Reed asks him how he did it.
Read MoreWordPress is the blogging software I always recommend. It is flexible, extendible, easy to use – and free. But there is more to it than writing a personal online journal. You can use it to build a website, promote your books – and build a community. Here are 10 ways to make the most of it.
Read MoreWhile some publishers view digital as a dystopian nightmare, Alastair Horne considers six science fiction themes and how they illustrate a more positive future for the industry.
Read MoreSome called it the ‘Quietly Confident Fair’, some the ‘Smiley Fair’ – and one literary scout called it the ‘Fair of the Partial Submission’. There were no empty stands – and the Halls were buzzing. So what really made the 51st Bologna Children’s Book Fair tick? What was hot (and what was not)?
Read More
In our science fiction and fantasy themed issue ‘High Priestess of British Steampunk’ Liesel Schwarz reveals her path to publication, while self-published fantasy author Ben Galley reveals how he became a successful ‘authorpreneur’. This issue also features Matthew de Abaitua, Keith Mansfield, Alastair Horne, Anna Lewis, Nelle Andrew, Tom Evans and Suzanne Collier.
Read MoreMany careers advisors say that you need to make yourself visible by blogging in order to get a job. But this is not necessarily the case: your blog could be working against you and killing your job prospects instead of helping you land the job you so richly want, says Suzanne Collier.
Read More
