I recently read and enjoyed the debut novel of American author, Julie Compton, called Tell No Lies. It’s billed as a legal thriller, but, as Julie tells me, she never actually intended to write one! Nonetheless, The Crafty Writer persisted in asking her about writing (and not writing) legal thrillers and her road towards publication with Pan MacMillan. Continue reading ‘Legal thriller by name, but not by nature?’
Author Archive for Fiona Veitch Smith
In my job as a new writing editor for a commercial magazine I frequently get submissions from people whose basic written English is not of a publishable standard. The same can be said for some students on my creative and non-fiction writing courses. Some of these writers have English as a second language and others as a first. I try to tell them, as kindly as possible, that they are putting the cart before the horse: if they would like to write something that may one day be published they need to get the basics right first. Otherwise, it’s like a fashion designer whose shoddy sewing cheapens what could have been a sensational outfit. Continue reading ‘Do you write ‘publishable’ English?’
I’ve just come across a website that features interviews with authors. This one caught my attention immediately as it is an email conversation between Markus Zusak, whose book The Book Thief was recently featured in our Book Club, and non-fiction history writer Susan Campbell Bartoletti, author of Hitler Youth. It makes fascinating reading into the respective processes and world-views of two very different authors: one a middle-aged American woman (sorry Susan!) and the other a young Australian man. Continue reading ‘Writers in conversation’
In this fourth session on writing for performance our guest is Jeremy Herrin, who will be chatting to us about New Writing for theatre. Jeremy is Associate Director at Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne as well as running the New Writing department. He has directed productions at the National Theatre, The Royal Court, in the West End and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg. He has also enjoyed directing short films and radio plays. Continue reading ‘New Writing for theatre’
I’ve just had a short story published 18 months after submitting to Aquila children’s magazine. It’s the first of a two-parter. I submitted it as a three-parter (as per their contributors’ guidelines) but then the editor asked me to cut it by 1000 words and make it a two-parter. Yes ma’am! I said. What does this tell you about magazines? Continue reading ‘Magazine ‘lead times’’
In our series on scriptwriting (see writing short films and writing for radio) we have explored some of the outlets for writing for performance. This week we speak to ex-Eastenders writer Richard Stockwell about writing for television.
Richard was an actor who had time on his hands, so started writing plays, then moved into television. His plays Bad Blood and Killing Time have been produced many times, in 10 countries and in several languages - most recently touring in California. He wrote for the BBC’s premier evening soap Eastenders for two years. He is also the Programme Leader for Drama and Scriptwriting at Northumbria University. Continue reading ‘Writing for Television’
In the increasingly competitive world of mainstream publishing, it’s hard to get a book deal - and that’s an understatement. In the gap between self-publishing and mainstream publishing are the independent publishers. These small publishing houses take on work that might be overlooked by their larger competitors, and while they do not have the resources to market books in any major way, many talented authors have found a home with them. For some, they hope that it will be a stepping stone into mainstream publishing, for others, like the acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid, who chose to approach independent publisher Flambard Press with her anthology of short stories, Stranded, it’s a strategic move.
The Crafty Writer spoke to first-time novelist Rosalie Warren about her experiences with an independent publisher. Continue reading ‘Independent publishers - an author’s perspective’
It’s that time of year again when I have to cough up for a writing market yearbook. I started buying these books six years ago with The Writer's Handbook being my tome of choice. But in those days I was focused on fiction writing and writing for magazines. About three years ago I switched to the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook when I broadened my writing to include stage, screen and radio. I felt that it offered more for scriptwriters than the Writers’ Handbook. As I also write for and teach writing for children, I started buying the Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook as well - all tax deductable, of course! This year, I’ve been asked to review the Writer's Market UK. Continue reading ‘Writer’s Market UK 2009 - Review’
Steve Chambers has written for theatre, radio, TV and film – his feature film Hold Back the Night won the audience prize at Cannes ’99 Critics Week. He has written episodes for Casualty and Byker Grove and adapted ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ for BBC Radio 4’s Classic Serial. He is currently developing a number of new ideas for broadcast and in development with a new feature film with NE film-maker Sarah McCarthy. A director of Bruvvers Theatre Co as well as New Writing North, he also works as a script mentor and teacher of dramatic narrative fiction. Steve was kind enough to answer some of our questions about writing for radio: Continue reading ‘Writing for Radio’
Did I tell you I’m having a short film made? My very first script has been included in the Stingers 6 programme with Northern Film and Media in Newcastle upon Tyne. FNA films in Gateshead are producing the film and Michael Steele will be directing. After a series of script consultations with various stakeholders, I am putting together the final touches on the script (more about this in a later post). Michael is busy casting and Zahra from FNA is hunting down locations and jumping through a zillion hoops. If all goes well, we should start shooting next month.
I wrote the script for ‘Not In My Name’ (working title, ‘Enemy Lines’ about a British soldier returning from Iraq and getting caught up in an anti-war protest) while attending a 10-week short film course at the Tyneside Cinema in Gateshead, run by Peter Dillon. Rather than setting myself up as an expert with one film not-quite-in-the-can, I asked Peter to tell us more about writing short films. Continue reading ‘Writing Short Films’
Welcome to The Crafty Writer, published by Fiona Veitch Smith, a freelance journalist, author, playwright and writing teacher. This site is full of information and resources to help you on your journey to become a better writer. 
