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How To Avoid Stereotypes When Writing Diverse Characters

How To Avoid Stereotypes If you Googled how to avoid stereotypes, you’ve come to the right place. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll know September 2017 saw the launch of my new B2W book, Writing Diverse Characters For Fiction, TV and Film (Creative Essentials). Marginalised characters have been a focus of B2W for years, so it made sense that I finally pull all my resources and experiences with this important element together, in one handy guide. So, from talking to the Bang2writers, a common cry is: ‘I want to write diverse characters … but I’m SCARED of getting it… Read More »How To Avoid Stereotypes When Writing Diverse Characters

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It’s Time To Quit Stalling And Make That Jump

So, I’ve posited before that of ALL the people who might get in the way of their progress? It’s actual writers themselves. Many writers may go so far to express disbelief at this. It’s not hard to understand why. When they’re just beginning on their writing career path, they’ll say things to me like: ‘I can’t wait until I ‘make it’!’ ‘When I get my first opportunity, I’m going to grab it with BOTH HANDS!’ ‘I’m gonna do this, whatever it takes!’ I don’t mean these guys don’t mean the above. I believe absolutely they do. But they still get… Read More »It’s Time To Quit Stalling And Make That Jump

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Why You NEED To Stop Spamming Everyone Online NOW

When you spend as long online as I do on social media, you tend to notice the patterns and pitfalls people fall into when trying to get the word out about their products and services, especially when it comes to crowdfunding campaigns and Amazon listings. Most people seem to know the difference between spam and useful content when they see it, yet there seems to be a weird disconnect between people and what they actually post online themselves! As a result there are places online that are literal no-go areas for finding anything as they’re chockfull of junk! But what… Read More »Why You NEED To Stop Spamming Everyone Online NOW

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12 Easy Steps To Beat Procrastination

Procrastination can be a huge problem for writers. Here are some easy tips and tactics from professional writers to banish this monster forever! 1) Rise up and move You need to change your mindset so you can get back to work as soon as possible. Challenges will only prove difficult when you don’t attempt to solve them. And in this case, all you need is a change of mindset. So rise up, keep moving! Do some jogging, running, stretches or any exercise that will help you change your POV and then get to work. MORE: 7 Motivational Quotes From THE… Read More »12 Easy Steps To Beat Procrastination

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5 Things I Learned Writing My Debut Crime Novel

So, just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock or in outer space, my crime novel The Other Twin is OUT NOW! Published by the mighty Orenda Books, you can find all the details about The Other Twin HERE, or check out the graphic below … Sound interesting? Then please me do a favour and add it to your Goodreads shelf! In the meantime, here are the lessons I learned I writing The Other Twin – some of them are to be expected, others are quite surprising … Let’s GO: 1) You gotta start as you mean to go on Okay, okay… Read More »5 Things I Learned Writing My Debut Crime Novel

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How to Fail As A Screenwriter – EPIC EDITION

I get a lot of messages from people asking if I have ‘any writing tips’ for them – my answer is always, ‘YES! LOADS!’  But I was in a silly mood today so I thought I would flip this notion on its head and offer up some HORRIBLE writing tips, that are absolutely GUARANTEED to make you fall flat on your arse as a writer. (You’re welcome!). Here we go … 1) Don’t both studying craft Intuition alone is enough to guide you through the components of a brilliant script and story! You know it. 2) Research is for losers… Read More »How to Fail As A Screenwriter – EPIC EDITION

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10 (More) Commandments For Successful Writers

Following the previous post in this vein, 10 Commandments For Successful Writers by the lovely Emma Pullar, Derin Attwood decided to throw her hat in the ring and lay down the law for Write Club, too! I totally agree with numbers 2, 7 and the last one … Well, all of them to be honest. Over to you, Derin — And enjoy, everyone! 1) Write! Otherwise you are not part of the Write Club. You can join the thinkers’, or dreamers’ or wannabes’ clubs, but the writers’ club is exclusive. 2) Set goals Write regularly and set goals. Keep to… Read More »10 (More) Commandments For Successful Writers

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How WONDER WOMAN Proves The Power Of Untold Stories

No Real Spoilers So the news and reviews and first weekend figures are in: Wonder Woman is an epic box office SMASH! This is great news not only for female lead characters, but female directors as well. Patty Jenkins has done a HUGE turn to female filmmakers everywhere. Whilst it’s obviously completely and utterly wrong that ONE film had so much to prove like this, that’s a conversation for another time. For now, I for one am delighted that Jenkins et al has pulled this off, against the odds. BRAVO! So now I’m going to take a look at the… Read More »How WONDER WOMAN Proves The Power Of Untold Stories

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5 Strategies For Successful Self Publishing On A Tight Budget

Self publishing has given a large group of writers a new opportunity to market themselves, reach a large audience and even make some funds in the process. Aren’t we all looking for such opportunities? To make the most of them, however, you need to have a good idea about what self publishing entails. Being a successful self published author is all about strategy. Even if you don’t have a lot of money to dedicate to the process, it’s still important to do a bit of preliminary planning. Here’s everything you need to know about publishing a book on a tight… Read More »5 Strategies For Successful Self Publishing On A Tight Budget

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Top 10 Commandments For Successful Writers

The first rule of Write Club is: you do not talk about Write Club. The second rule of Write Club is … wait! Perhaps we should talk about it?? Over the years, I’ve learned a few things about what is acceptable behaviour in writing circles and what is considered bad manners. Perhaps you’ve already broken some Write Club rules. Dare to read on? Are you tough enough to take a punch to the face and come back fighting. Yes? Then chew on these, suckers (Arf)! Enjoy … RULE #1 Writers Shall Not Ask Other Writers to Write Their Book for… Read More »Top 10 Commandments For Successful Writers

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4 Easy Ways To Track Your Online Buzz

We’ve all done it before. Come on, be honest! You see that little rectangle box and all you have to do is type your name and you can see how many times you come up. It’s a little narcissistic, but it’s also human … … I’m speaking, of course, of Googling yourself. Whether you admit it or not, it’s perfectly natural to want to know who’s talking about you online! This is even more true with authors. If someone wrote a blog about your book, you want to know so you can see if it did anything for your sales. Or… Read More »4 Easy Ways To Track Your Online Buzz

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How To Be A Successful Writer, Defined By 5 Facebook Memes

Do you love memes? If you love memes, join the club! They seem to be everywhere these days. ‘A picture tells a thousand words’ is an adage has always been a favourite of mine as a writer. Its application to screenwriting is obvious, but even as a novelist CREATING WORD PICTURES helps us keep own track so that we ‘show, don’t tell’. This is why memes are so popular in the internet age, especially on platforms such as Facebook. Memes are defined as: So, for the uninitiated, memes have always been here, it’s just now they’re much more obvious and in… Read More »How To Be A Successful Writer, Defined By 5 Facebook Memes

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