I recently received some advice from a publisher friend. He said:
‘The days of the one-off novel are over. If you want to get published, you should consider a series.’
Now while I hope it is not entirely true that the one-off novel will no longer find a place on the shelf (one would think literary novels would still flourish in the singular) I see the marketing wisdom in conceptualising a series of novels. Seeing the two series I’ve been involved in are children’s picture books, I thought it best, when talking about novels, to ask someone who knows what she’s talking about. Come in, Ruth Downie! If you don’t already know, Ruth, who is an old friend of the Crafty Writer, has written a bestselling series of Roman mysteries known as the Ruso novels. Continue reading ‘Writing a series: tips from Ruth Downie’
I’ve just revised the content of my Christian writing course which used to be housed at my old site, but now has a brand new home all of its own.
This five part workshop is aimed at people who want to explore writing as part of their Christian walk – you can work through the material on your own or as part of a discussion group. Topics covered include:
It’s completely free and you can go at your own pace. Hope to see you there!
I’ve been giving tips on writing children’s picture books over at the very popular Morgen Bailey’s blog. I talk about my process in writing the Myro the Microlight series for Nick Rose Publishing and the Young David Series, including David and the Hairy Beast and David and the Kingmaker for Crafty Publishing. You can read my top tips including limiting narrative arcs, putting sub-plots in the illustrations and foregrounding story and backgrounding message. Also check below for other posts on writing for children.
I’m frequently asked to help people make sense of the various publishing options currently available. So I’ve put together this guide to help you distinguish between the different forms of publishing and help you make an informed choice as to which route to pursue.
What are the defining differences between traditional publishing, self-publishing, print-on-demand services, and co-publishing? Continue reading ‘What’s the difference between trad publishing, self-publishing and POD?’
Your Crafty host, Fiona Veitch Smith, has just had an anthology of short stories published as an e-book. For a limited period only, Crafty Publishing is giving away free downloads of Different Tracks.
Continue reading ‘Free e-book giveaway’
In light of last week’s very informative guest blog from Morgen Bailey on overcoming writers’ block, I’ve been thinking about ways I deal with my frustrations. One of them is to take time out from writing and express myself through another art form (however badly!). If you would like to try this yourself, read about why I enjoy being useless at the clarinet. Do you find doing something else helps you with your writing? If so, let us know!
I’ve recently been interviewed by the prolific book blogger, Morgen Bailey about my literary thriller The Peace Garden. In the interview she asked me if I ever experience writers’ block. I said ‘no, I never have. I’m full of ideas; my problem is finding the time to get them all out.’ It also reminded me of the time I was interviewed for The Christian Writer. I was asked if I needed to ‘wait for the muse to arrive’ before I started writing. I said no, I’m too busy to waste my precious writing time which is already under threat by other work and parenting responsibilities. When I’m given the gift of time I just get down and write. And if the muse did arrive? I’d ask her to go down stairs and do the dishes! But does this mean writers’ block isn’t a genuine problem for other writers? As Morgen Bailey has just published a book on this very subject, I thought she would be a good person to ask … Continue reading ‘Overcoming writers’ block’
I’ve recently read The Long Song by Angela Levy. Set in the twilight years of slavery in Jamaica, this passionate and witty novel is a masterclass in writing historical fiction. To read my review, visit my new author blog. To learn more about how to write historical fiction, Ruth Downie, author of the Ruso Roman mystery novels, did a series of guest blogs for The Crafty Writer a couple of years ago:
- Writing Historical Fiction 1 – Creating your historical world.
- Writing Historical Fiction 2 – Doing the research.
- Writing Historical Fiction 3 – Using fact in fiction.
If you enjoy reading books like The Long Song and the Ruso series you will also enjoy my literary thriller, The Peace Garden, which deals with the aftermath of the Soweto Riots and its repercussions in the lives of two young lovers. To find out more, read Ruth Downie’s review of The Peace Garden.
Well it’s that time of year again and we are all desperately trying to buy just the right present for our loved-ones. Books are always a popular gift and while we still have them in physical form, we should enjoy them. As writers (which the majority of readers of the Crafty Writer are) we all need to pull together to keep the industry afloat. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti e-book (in fact I’ve recently released my own novel,The Peace Garden on e-book) but I do still love holding a ‘real’ book in my hand. And so do most young children. A few years ago I wrote a guide on how to choose a good children’s book. I think it’s worth repeating here, but before I do, may I just recommend two of my own children’s books that have been recently published? David and the Hairy Beast and David and the Kingmaker are beautifully illustrated tales which address issues commonly faced by young children, such as their sense of identity and self-worth, facing fears and making friends.
And now, here are those tips for choosing a good children’s book (apart from mine!): Continue reading ‘How to choose a children’s book for Christmas’
It’s here! David and the Kingmaker, the latest book from your charming Crafty host, Fiona Veitch Smith, has arrived from the printers and is ready to ship to bookshops. It looks absolutely gorgeous. As usual, my illustrator Amy Barnes has done an incredible job. I did a reading of the book on Sunday to a lively group of under 7s and their parents. They loved the antics of the sheep and were wide-eyed when Young David was chosen to be king.
I know everyone says it, but this book and its prequel, David and the Hairy Beast, will make great Christmas presents. You can place an order through any bookshop in the world (that’s right, anywhere on planet earth) or, if you want it quicker, you can order directly from the Crafty Publishing website.
If you are in the Newcastle upon Tyne area on Saturday 26 November, Amy and I will be giving a talk about our creative process and how picture books are written and illustrated. Click here for directions and details.
Welcome to The Crafty Writer, published by Fiona Veitch Smith, a freelance journalist, editor, author, playwright, screenwriter and writing teacher. This site is full of information and resources to help you to become a better writer. 
