5 Questions About Writing With . . . David Wake
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Self-publishing on December 13, 2024
David Wake writes science fiction, adventure, comedy and, most recently, fantasy. 
An advocate of indie publishing, he co-wrote Punk Publishing with Andy Conway on why and how to self-publish. He’s published 14 novels and has been a guest of honour at SF conventions.
More information: www.davidwake.com. Sign up to receive his latest news via his mailing list.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
It’s the other way around. I like writing, so it’s other things, real life stuff, that gets in the way. The trick is to make writing part of your lifestyle. You write, say, in the mornings, and always do that. Then writing is easy, part of your every day routine. I get twitchy if I’m not writing something.
I have, and do and will do in the future, set myself targets. Most successful writers I know, and I’ve read about, tend to write 1,000 words a day. But, if you set yourself a target, then you can feel a failure when you don’t reach that arbitrary number. But we shouldn’t. And maybe this chapter, that paragraph or whatever has to be written slowly.
So, make it part of your lifestyle.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer?
Perseverance. Bloody mindedness. Kindness.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I really don’t do enough and I should. I go to SF conventions and sell to fans there. I occasionally do Amazon Ads. I’m too English and hate blowing my own trumpet. It’s a problem for me. I’m great at turning readers into fans, but rubbish at turning strangers into readers.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
Wikipedia for research, obviously. I did an MA in Creative Writing. There’s loads of stuff on YouTube, but a lot of it takes a lot of time to say nothing.
I’ve written a program to help me with a few admin things when writing. For example, it does an automatic word count for the target I shouldn’t be setting myself.
As for organisations, the best is New Street Authors (http://newstreetauthors.com/), which I co-founded and co-run. It’s a collective for independently published authors.
Andy Conway and I also co-wrote a book, Punk Publishing, on why and exactly how to self-publish. (http://punkpublishers.com/)
A top tip for other writers?
Just keep going. And work out how to use Word’s styles – fiddly, but worth it once you get them working for you, rather than against you, it really helps.
And be kind.
About The Jackdaw’s Choice (The Daughters of Égraine Book 1) – published November 2024
Mara dreams of peace and the return of Red Mill’s men from war, yearning for the day she can marry the blacksmith’s apprentice. But when a brutal goblin raid strikes her village, Mara must lead the women on a desperate journey into the unknown…
The Jackdaw’s Choice begins the spellbinding Daughters of Égraine trilogy.
Kickstarter, Audiobooks and Limited Edition Print Runs
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Promotion, Resources, Self-publishing on November 29, 2024
New Street Authors is a collective of independent authors. We aim to support each other and increase our publishing knowledge. To this end we have a monthly guest speaker via Zoom. In November it was Oriana Leckert who is Head of Publishing at Kickstarter.
These Boots Were Made for Kicking!
Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform aimed at creatives such as authors, artists, crafters, who need to raise money to fund projects such a hardback book print run, video game production, board game manufacture and so on.
Two particular uses of Kickstarter appealed to members of our group and I’m highlighting them here because there might be others who would like to fund their writing in this way.
Audiobooks. Audiobooks are growing massively in popularity. Possibly because, in our busy world, they allow multi-tasking, such as driving or doing chores at the same time as enjoying a book. Most traditional publishers now produce audio versions of their books alongside the paperback and e-book.
But the cost of producing a professional audiobook can be prohibitive for independent authors and/or risky. There is no guarantee of sufficient sales to recoup costs. This is where Kickstarter comes in. An author can ask for funding to produce an audiobook. If sufficient backers signup the project can go ahead at no financial risk to the author (assuming he/she has costed the project correctly). If there are not enough backers, the project doesn’t go ahead but the author has lost no money.
To attract backers, the author offers rewards for different levels of investment, as well as a copy of the audiobook. These rewards might be in the form of physical books, mentions on the acknowledgements page, artwork from the book and so on.
Limited Edition Print Runs. An author selling books at a genre-specific convention directly to readers who are hugely enthusiastic about their reading matter, might find that having a limited edition print run specifically for that event will attract large numbers of buyers. These buyers are getting an edition of the book which is not available elsewhere. But these are not books that can be cheaply produced via KDP. They may have gold sprayed page edges, a cover that is printed on the inside as well as the outside and various other expensive special effects. Upfront capital is needed to produce books like these. And Kickstarter can be a way of generating that capital in return for giving investors access to limited edition rewards.
Of course, the backing of investors has to be worked for. It’s not simply a case of putting your project on Kickstarter and waiting for the money to roll in. You will have to publicise and shout about the project in order to attract backers. But if you fancy creating something from your writing that requires capital, it might be worth a shot. The only thing you have to lose is your time.
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Chris Penhall
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors on November 19, 2024
Chris Penhall writes uplifting stories set in gorgeous places. 
A member of The Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists Association, she won the 2019 Choc-Lit Search for a Star competition, sponsored by Your Cat Magazine, for her debut novel, The House That Alice Built, and has since written five more books. The House That Florence Left is the fourth in her Portuguese Paradise series.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write, and do you set daily targets?
I am disciplined and I am motivated, but I don’t really have a set time to write or daily targets, although I have tried to work like that. A lot of my work has been deadline driven, with many different projects on a given day, week, or even month, so I’m used to prioritising, adapting, dealing with other things urgently, then making sure I’ve done everything in time. So when I write a novel, which is a long-term project, I behave in the same way.
When I’m working on a book, I strive to write something every day. This doesn’t always work but after six books, I don’t beat myself up about that so much. As far as word counts are concerned, some writing sessions provide a couple of thousand, some provide a couple of hundred, and very occasionally a couple of sentences. But whichever it is, I’m staying connected to the book.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
Imagination – all writers have that. Tenacity – you have to really want to do this, in order to ride the waves of success, disappointment, success etc. etc! Also, you have to love writing for the sake of it. You are spending a lot of time in your own head, so you’ve got to enjoy being there…!
How do you market yourself and your books?
I’m still learning how to market myself and the books. My publisher does a lot of marketing, thankfully, which is great as I think it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not used to it. I have always done things that are related to books and reading, so I’m continuing to do that, but now sometimes as an author, rather than a reader.
I have worked for BBC local radio for many years, and way back in the last century for Radios One and Four, so I lean into my audio experience and background as a way of marketing myself and therefore my books. For instance, I have a community radio programme called Books and Tunes in which I chat to other writers, and before that I made my own podcast called Talking to My Friends About Books – in which I did just that!
I have also hosted events and interviewed other authors at The Essex Book Festival and have been a judge for a short story competition the festival ran in conjunction with the Essex Gardens Trust. A few years prior to that I was a long-list judge for the BBC Essex radio play competition for two years.
And I have a blog on my website in which I feature interviews with authors.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I started writing my first novel many years ago and when I got stuck I enrolled on an online course, which helped me develop the characters, the plot and actually get to the end of the book. A few years after that I invested in a mentor with a literary consultancy, and that is what got the manuscript to the level that won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star Competition.
After that I did an online course with Future Learn – because basically I enjoy developing my skills, and I have done one or two writing workshops too. I’m doing one in a few weeks actually.
I find chatting to other writers really helpful, but I have only just joined The Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists Association.
A top tip for other writers?
Write. Be tenacious. Pat yourself on the back whether you’ve written 5, 50, 500 or 5000 words today. Enjoy it. Remember why you’re doing it. And follow your dreams.
About The House that Florence Left – published October 2024
Bella Cresswell likes her life organized. But when she inherits her great-aunt Flo’s house in the Algarve, her life gets decidedly disorganized. She flies to Portugal hoping for a quick sale and to return home. Except there is a clause in the will stopping her. Before she can sell the house, Bella must ‘make it better’.
As she tries to fix up the dilapidated property, Bella discovers the faded walls are filled with the memories and secrets of Florence’s vibrant life. And, as she looks further into her great-aunt’s time in Portugal, she realises, there’s more to making it better than she first thought. Bella finds herself caught up in the charm of the lively Portuguese village, the eccentric and friendly locals and her handsome, yet mysterious, neighbour, Hugo.
But when it’s time to sell and say goodbye will Bella be able to return to her old life?
Or will she discover that some things are meant to be held onto forever?
The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Books on November 7, 2024
Previously I’ve waxed lyrical about Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series on this blog. 
Tragically, Lucinda died in 2021 and the final book in that series was completed by her son, Harry Whittaker. I’ve now read, and thoroughly enjoyed, one of Lucinda’s earlier books, The Midnight Rose.
This book is also a dual timeline story and features a character searching for their roots, this time it’s a man, Ari Malik, and he’s following up the story that his great-grandmother’s son died at a young age. The ‘present day’ part of story is set in 2011 at a UK stately home which is being used as a filmset. The main protagonist is a young actress who is being hounded by the press. The historical story starts in India around 100 years earlier and features a mixed race love story at that same stately home, Astbury Hall.
In this book it feels almost like Lucinda is practising (in an already accomplished way!) for the feat of literary engineering that is the Seven Sisters. The Midnight Rose is a wonderful and educational work of fiction which combines the modern theme of celebrity with the enduring themes of social class, prejudice, family dynamics and love in all is guises.
A recommended read. And please leave a comment below to let me know what you think!
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Claire Sheldon
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Books, Writing Handicaps on October 24, 2024
Crime author, Claire Sheldon
lives in Nottingham with her family, and a dog called Podrick. She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis but that doesn’t stop her writing. Perfect Lie was released in 2020 followed by A Silent Child and A Burning Lie. Her latest book A Dead Lie was published on October 24th 2024. Claire’s inspiration comes from hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and then later, Spooks.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
I use Scrivener so I input how many words I need to write and when I need to get them done by. Scrivener then tells me how many words I need to write each day. I try to stick to that and if I write more than that in a day, it just means I’ll get to the magic number quicker.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
If you’re writing for fun, then I don’t think there are any important qualities because you’re doing something you enjoy with no major goal in mind.
If you’re looking to get published then you’ll need patience (I have zero of that!) and perseverance, because it’s unlikely you’ll become the next best seller overnight. And even when you’ve written “The End”, there is still so much more work needed to get the book out there.
How do you market yourself and your books?
Social media is a great tool. I’ve joined several Facebook groups in my genre, such as UK Crime Book Club and Crime Fiction Addict. And also, a group called The Fiction Café Book Club, who are always happy to support authors.
In the real world, I’m part of a group that meets every month and we have different authors that come in and talk to us about their work. So, I occasionally run an event there.
It’s about getting your books out there and being “seen”. And, of course, supporting others, who will then go on to shout about your books in return.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I’ve got all of Stuart Gibbon’s “straightforward guides to” books, which have been really helpful for everything to do with police procedure. I also use Forensics for Dummies. And I’ve got The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, which details character traits for each emotion – great for those show don’t tell moments.
A top tip for other writers?
Never give up! Keep chipping away because you will eventually get there. It might be hard work but it will be worth it 😊
About A Dead Lie – published 24th October 2024
A DEVOTED WIFE. THE PERFECT MOTHER. A DARK PAST SHE’LL DO ANYTHING TO OUTRUN. MEET DETECTIVE JEN GARNER.
Jen’s life is a balancing act between her past as an undercover police officer and her present as a mother. Until a woman claiming to be her best friend, Chloe Seaward, shows up on her doorstep.
But Chloe died years ago during an undercover operation.
Caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with no one she can trust, can Jen uncover the truth . . . and keep her family safe?
Editing, Podcasting and a Flash Fiction Competition
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Competitions, Self-publishing, Writing on October 17, 2024
I’ve been buried deep in structural edits for the past month. 
This has involved improving character arcs, deepening internal conflict rather than relying on external conflict and trying to ensure that my secondary characters remain sympathetic throughout the book. After doing the major changes, I downloaded the document to my ancient Kindle to read, and I scribbled notes about all the additional things that needed changing. The manuscript is now covered in my scarlet Microsoft Word ‘track changes’ deletions, amendments and insertions. I wish my editor much luck in deciphering it all!
This is the third novel of my three book contract with Choc Lit and, at the moment, I don’t know what comes next. It may be time to branch out. Watch this space!
In other news, I have taken part in my first ever podcast. I chatted with Natalie from the US Fiction and Friends podcast for nearly an hour. It’s amazing how the time flies when you’re talking about reading, favourite books, authors and, of course, writing. The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple and Spotify.
I am also now part of New Street Authors and have my very own page on the NSA website. New Street Authors is a collective of indie authors with links to the Birmingham (UK) area. Regular readers of this blog will recall that I published several books independently prior to my career with Choc Lit. These books are still alive and kicking on Amazon and, therefore, I’m keeping up to date with developments in that area.
Finally, the New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2025 is now open for entries of up to 300 words. The entry fee is £10 and first prize is a generous £1,100! Second place gets £300 and the third placed writer will receive £200. £1 from every entry will be donated to the writing charity, First Story. Closing date is Friday 31st January 2025.
In my next post, crime writer Claire Sheldon will be answering five questions about writing.
Flash Fiction Opportunities
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Competitions, Markets, Short Story on September 10, 2024
Sometimes, in the midst of trying to churn out a novel, hook an agent or sell ourselves to a publisher, we forget about the fun side of writing. We overlook what drew us to pick up a pen in the first place.
Many years ago, short pieces of writing attracted me to this industry. I loved the satisfaction of sending a reader’s letter to a magazine, often swiftly followed by seeing it in print and receiving a small cheque in the post. Next came magazine articles and short stories. There were rejections aplenty but they helped build the thick skin and determination which are essential to all writers. And when the acceptances came, they were all the sweeter because of those previous failures.
Nowadays I rarely write short pieces and I miss the satisfaction of regularly finishing something, sending it out into the world and carrying within me the hope that it will find success. If a piece missed it’s target, I was disappointed but not distraught. The amount of time ‘wasted’ writing the story was not huge and by then I always had at least one other thing ‘out there’ and the hope that it would land on the right desk at the right time.
It’s different with novels. They take a LONG time to write, publishers and agents take a LONG time to respond and when the coveted acceptance finally arrives, it’s a LONG time before the book is actually published. I think that’s why flash and short fiction opportunities keep catching my eye. I’m tempted to take a break from the long game and have a bit of fun with something short!
Here’s a few of the things that have caught my eye:
Flash Frog
Flash Frog are looking for stories of up to 1,000 words. The website says: “We like our stories like we like our dart frogs: small, brightly colored, and deadly to the touch.” Flash Frog publishes a new story every week, accompanied by specially created artwork. Payment is $25 per story.
Seaside Gothic
Seaside Gothic is based in the UK and does what it says on the tin i.e. it publishes short pieces of seaside gothic literature. If, like me, you’ve never come across this genre, a full definition is on the Seaside Gothic website. The magazine’s next open reading period is 7th to 13th October 2024 and they pay £0.01/word. Full details are on their submission page.
New Writers Book Review Competition 2024
This one closes 30th September 2024 – so be quick! First prize is £50 and there is a limit of 1,000 words. Entry is free but you must subscribe to the New Writers e-newsletter. N.B. The novel or poetry collection you review must be published and available to purchase in the UK. And it must be the first novel or poetry collection published by that writer (but can have been published prior to 2024). See the competition website page for full details.
If you want to read some short fiction and play judge/editor by deciding whether or not that piece was successful in the big wide world, you might enjoy Hit or Miss? 33 Coffee Break Stories. 
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Sarah Rodi
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Books, Writing on August 27, 2024
Sarah Rodi has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it was her lifelong dream to write romance for Mills & Boon. She now writes Viking romance for them!
Sarah Rodi
Sarah is also the volunteer coordinator of the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. She can be contacted via @sarahrodiedits or sarahrodiedits@gmail.com. Or visit her website at sarahrodi.com.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
I’m usually motivated by a deadline! If I see one is looming, I divide the number of words I need to do by the number of days I have to write the book in, which usually sends me into a panic and motivates me to sit down and get it done. Staring at that first blank page is the hardest thing, but once you get going, you have something to work with and edit, and then it starts to flow. I struggle to write every day, but I aim for about 10,000 words a week, in between working and juggling family life. I have been known to write 20,000 words in a weekend when I’m up against it, but I wouldn’t recommend it, and steady, daily targets are definitely the best way to go.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
Passion to write and publish books. You need a spark of an idea, a way with words, the dedication to sit down and get those words down on the page, despite a busy schedule and friends inviting you out, and being committed to getting it written. Focus on the end result, but most of all, make sure you’re enjoying yourself while you’re writing. I believe if you are loving your characters and what you’re writing, your readers will enjoy your writing too. I certainly have a passion for writing and a need to share my characters with the world. I have the commitment, even if I never have enough time. But you have to create those opportunities for yourself to write. Make your writing a priority.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I often do a Blog Tour around the publication day of my latest release to drum up some excitement. I also write monthly blogs and newsletters from my website, offer giveaways, and create posts and videos on my Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok pages. I also volunteer with the RNA to make friends and help other writers. It’s not an easy thing to promote yourself, so I tend to focus on my books rather than myself. Last Christmas I ran a book review advent calendar where I created little videos about other authors and their books each day. That was fun and forced me to post something every day.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I studied English at university and then a postgraduate degree in journalism. My full-time job is as a magazine journalist, so I have always worked with words. I used to go on a lot of creative writing courses – in Fishguard, and on those run by Mills & Boon authors Sharon Kendrick and Kate Walker. These were incredibly useful. But it was when I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association that I really started to make some progress with my writing. I submitted to their New Writers’ Scheme each year to get a critique on my manuscript. This was invaluable in honing my craft. The RNA also hosts a Conference where you can pitch your novel to an agent or publisher. This is how I pitched my first novel to Mills & Boon. I would not be where I am today without the RNA, which is why I now volunteer as their New Writers’ Scheme coordinator to give something back.
Best book that’s helped me? The Emotion Thesaurus.
A top tip for other writers?
Keep going. Believe in yourself. If you’re writing a romance and need help, join the RNA.
About Her Secret Vows With The Viking – published August 29th 2024
All my stories begin with a tiny spark of an idea, and this one was no different. A Viking boy, wounded and left for dead. A Saxon girl, who rescues him. I do love a forbidden romance! And so Her Secret Vows with the Viking began.
Knowing her father would never allow her to marry a Dane, my heroine, Ædwen, and hero, Stefan, say their vows in secret. But when Stefan’s memories return and he remembers who he is and what happened the day he arrived on these shores, he cannot forgive Ædwen for hiding the truth from him, so he leaves.
My story starts almost two winters later, when Ædwen is distraught to be marrying the hateful Lord Werian. Her father has convinced her that her previous, clandestine union was invalid. Even though Stefan abandoned her, there has not been a day gone by that she hasn’t thought of him.
Anger has kept Stefan away these past years, and he has made a name for himself as King Canute’s right-hand man. But upon hearing about Ædwen’s impending wedding, his unsatiated vengeance and desire burns. He is determined to take his revenge on Ædwen and her father. He interrupts the wedding ceremony, announcing to the congregation that Ædwen is already married – to him – and he has returned to claim his wife…
I hope you enjoy it.
Conferences and New Directions
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Events, Lifestyle on August 16, 2024
There isn’t a writer in the world who doesn’t sometimes (or most of the time!) feel dispirited, discouraged and disappointed about the words they are producing (or not producing) and about their writing career in general. The best way to combat this is to come out into the world, blink hard in the bright light, and then TALK TO OTHER WRITERS.
Flying the flag for the Birmingham Chapter at #RNAConf2024
I spent the whole of last weekend talking to other writers at the RNA 2024 Conference. We commiserated with each other about what a tough and fickle mistress the publishing industry is. We clapped and congratulated award winners as they received their trophies. We exchanged tips and advice for navigating the writing world. And we followed each other on social media so that we can continue to champion each other in the coming months.
We were also bamboozled by a plethora of information from wonderful speakers. We filled our phones with pictures of their bullet-pointed slides and scribbled down nuggets of sage advice.
And, on Saturday night, we let our hair down and danced like no one was watching! And no one was watching – everyone was too busy waving arms, gyrating hips and booming out the song lyrics.
If you get the chance to go any sort of writing conference (or to a gathering relating to whatever passion floats your boat), please go! You will find your tribe. Like me, you’ll come home feeling a whole better (and totally exhausted!)
Everything I learned at the conference is now pointing me in a new direction for my books. It’s going to take a long time to come to fruition so I’m not going to jeopardise anything by revealing it yet. But watch this space!
A new direction that I can tell you about is an occasional new series on this blog, to be called ‘Five Questions About Writing With …’ It will reveal the lives and tips of a variety of writers across different genres. First up will be Sarah Rodi who writes Viking Romance for Mills and Boon. Stay tuned!
Finally, I’ve been playing around with Canva and produced a graphic for my very first novel, Bedsit Three. What do you think?
Bedsit Three is a psychological thriller featuring family relationships and it is now free to read on Kindle Unlimited for the first time ever! And only 99p to buy.
Book Group Recommendation: Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor
Posted by Sally Jenkins in Authors, Books, Lifestyle on July 30, 2024
I run a monthly book group. There are 12 of us in the group and I choose our books from the numerous book group sets available from Birmingham Libraries. We always get a cross-section of opinions on each book; some members will rave about the book and others will detest it so much that they can’t finish it.![20240707_151310[1]](https://sally-jenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240707_1513101.jpg)
Recently we read Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor (no, not the actress) and it provoked one of the best discussions we’ve ever had. It’s about an elderly lady in the late 1960s who joins several other older people as a permanent resident in a hotel. She longs for her grandson to visit so that she can show him off to the other residents. He doesn’t appear but Mrs. Palfrey strikes up an unlikely friendship with an impoverished young writer.
I found it an easy, gentle read but the novel has a lot to say about the issues and indignities of growing old, much of which is still relevant today, for example, loneliness, infirmity, abandonment by family and fear.
The ladies in my group are all retired and were open about their opinions on the treatment of older people, their fear of needing care, the advantages and disadvantages of ‘retirement villages’ and how we encourage our children to fly the nest and go away to university, but often they never return. We came to the conclusion that there has been no improvement in how we treat older people over the last 50+ years.
But the book is not all doom and gloom. The residents have eccentricities and there are lovely comic cameos plus a marriage proposal! I’d never heard of Elizabeth Taylor but she is a wonderful writer and creator of characters. Read her books!
On the subject of book group discussions, it was lovely to hear from a group who have read and discussed Waiting for a Bright New Future. They all enjoyed the book and found it uplifting (which was my aim!), the group favoured the character of Florence (she’s a colourful, middle-aged, tribute band singer and I loved writing her!), one member guessed the ending but the others were taken by surprise and there was general consensus that a sequel would be good in order to find out what happens to Stuart. I’m also aware of two other book groups borrowing the five copies of Little Museum of Hope in Birmingham Libraries. I have no idea what their verdict was! And I’ve just noticed that Amazon have reduced the price of the paperback to £4.65 (for how long, I don’t know), if you fancy a bargain.
If your book group has read a book that created a good discussion please share it in the comments!
Sally Jenkins 