The Crafty Writer has managed to persuade accomplished poet Joan Johnston to write a series of posts in which she will introduce readers to the beautiful art of poetry and encourage you to pick up a pen and sketch pictures with words. This month, Joan talks about the importance of listening. Continue reading ‘Poetry: are you listening carefully?’
Author Archive for Guest Blogger
For Valentine’s Day the Crafty Writer has asked Texan romance novelist Pollyanna Williamson (aka Tambra Kendall and Kelia Greer) to tell us a bit more about writing for this genre. And if you’re more interested in how much the flower industry generates than sighing over the roses, perhaps these figures will turn you on:
- Romance novels generate around 1.52 billion U.S. dollars in sales
- There are 51 million readers from all walks of life
- Romance comprises 53.3% of all paperback fiction sales in America
Do we have your attention? Good. Now over to Polly: Continue reading ‘Romance fiction: more than just sex’
It’s a well-worn theme on the Crafty Writer that it’s difficult to earn a living as a writer, but we don’t want you to give up in despair. So we’ve asked top copywriter Gill D’Achada, creative director of Mustard Seed Marketing and Advertising, to tell you about one way writers can make money: through copywriting… Continue reading ‘Getting Started in Copywriting 1′
In this seventh instalment of my creative writing course, poet Andrew Philip introduces us to the basics of writing poetry. Andrew has been part of Edinburgh’s Shore Poets since 2002. His poetry volume Tonguefire was published by HappenStance Press in 2005. He is now working on his first anthology. His poetry blog can be found at http://tonguefire.blogspot.com. I, for one, am looking forward to this guest post. Continue reading ‘Creative Writing - poetry’
In this first of a series of guest blogs by other writers, the Crafty Writer is delighted to have Science Fiction author Simon Morden share his views on how to deal with feedback. Simon is the author of the recently released The Lost Art and has also had a number of novellas and short story collections published. Simon says:
When you start writing, just showing your work – especially fiction – to anyone else is a nerve-wracking experience: assuming, of course, you don’t have such a gargantuan ego that you believe everything you do is wonderful. To those people, you may move along, nothing to see here, for you will learn nothing and never become a better writer. To the rest of us mortals who are prepared to have our hopes, dreams and very sense of self crushed beneath the withering sarcasm of others, good. There may be hope. Continue reading ‘Fiction know how - getting feedback’
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. 
