tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888873163917801442012-02-03T07:48:08.501ZNicola Morgan, the Crabbit Old Bat, is an award-winning author of around 90 books, fiction and non-fiction across many genres. She gives crabbitly honest advice to determined writers, both on this blog and in her books, WRITE TO BE PUBLISHED, WRITE A GREAT SYNOPSIS, and TWEET RIGHT - the Sensible Person's Guide to Twitter.Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger5341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-32375871925258829372012-02-03T07:09:00.002Z2012-02-03T07:43:21.952Z

I'm uncomfortable about the dominance of Amazon. As someone who is doing some self-publishing, I have no choice but to use them and, of course, I cannot pretend for one moment to be disappointed by the income I get from them. Mixed feelings, then. They provide enormous opportunities but they are also trying to rule the world, which I don't like. Despite what I might sometimes say, I don't even

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22222910845464639802012-02-01T07:09:00.003Z2012-02-01T07:28:41.719Z

Many of you will have seen this picture going round on Facebook and Twitter. It's Henry Miller's "work schedule". Or not a schedule in our modern sense, but a list of rules to keep himself focused. I love being reminded that it's not just today's writers who have distractions. It's always (presumably) been hard to focus on the difficult part of our work, hard to stay positive in the face of

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-6380521380617876282012-01-30T07:06:00.003Z2012-01-30T07:54:36.518Z

What if your book has a few clunky sentences and/or punctuation errors when you send the sample chapters to a publisher or agent? Does this matter? After all, isn't that what publishers' editors are for? Yes, it does matter. And your book may well never reach a publisher's editor if your manuscript, covering letter and synopsis have the marks of a writer who doesn't have full control of language

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-9348000564320467802012-01-27T07:05:00.005Z2012-01-27T07:05:00.482Z

A new event for your diary: on June 8th and 9th, in London, The Literary Consultancy is holding a fab-sounding conference entitled The Literary Conference: Writing in the Digital Age. I'm on a panel with Kate Mosse, chaired by Guardian literary editor, Claire Armitstead. This is an event I'm REALLY looking forward to! We're going to be talking about what the new publishing models and

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-10982176771804999612012-01-25T07:08:00.019Z2012-01-25T07:08:00.142Z

Would you like the readers of this blog (and me) to help shape your pitch, that tricky paragraph that goes in the covering letter and hooks you a fabulous agent and/or publisher? Well, we've done that on this blog before and we're going to do it again. Hooray! Here's what to do:A. First read some of the previous posts about pitches and hooks. For example, this one and this one. B. Second, read

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-88756450704966957842012-01-23T07:02:00.010Z2012-01-23T07:02:00.546Z

You may remember that last year I started a set of Crabbit's Tips for Writers. Here's No 5. To find the others, go to the list of labels on the right (scroll down) and choose Crabbit's Tips for Writers. You can also go here to download the pretty pdf and print it out, if you so wish. Crabbit's Tips 5: Ingredients of Poor Writing You will have spotted that I’m not suggesting you insert these

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-36155630188219126582012-01-20T07:00:00.009Z2012-01-20T07:32:50.811Z

Announcing the launch of Write a Great Synopsis - hooray! All your troubles are at an end. Well, the ones relating to writing synopses, anyway. And that's quite enough to be going on with. To celebrate, I have a crazy price promotion until the end of January: Write a GREAT Synopsis and Tweet Right - The Sensible Person's Guide to Twitter will each be stupid cheap on Amazon. I'm aiming for 99p,

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-77746602649351419222012-01-19T10:02:00.002Z2012-01-19T10:02:00.725Z

Today, the WAGSynopsis blog tour visits How Publishing Really Works and dances all over Jane's house. Tomorrow, I will be over at Talli Roland's sparkly blog. Both those posts give you chances to enter the BIG WAGSynopsis Comp, with prizes of actual synopsis critiques from actual me. Tomorrow, Friday, is OFFICIAL LAUNCH DAY, when the book will OFFICIALLY be available. Certain eagle-eyed people

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-80714853211436030762012-01-18T07:04:00.000Z2012-01-18T07:04:00.132Z

No, I haven't gone entirely mad. Or even, I venture to say, a tiny bit mad. Nor have I started to believe the self-publishing-is-the-answer-to-everything and the publishing-is-completely-broken rubbish. I am, as you know, a published (more than 90 books) author who has also ventured into self-publishing, and who is enjoying it. I dare even say succeeding, though John Locke need not watch his

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-64309833409664111872012-01-16T07:20:00.046Z2012-02-01T11:32:03.868Z

At last, Write a Great Synopsis – An Expert Guide is available. (Henceforward, WAGSynopsis, or if you’re feeling cheeky, WAGS.) As the responses from early readers came in pre-publication, I admit my heart started to sing. The book seemed to have achieved just what I wanted: the removal of stress, and the sudden delighted realisation from writers that the synopsis is nothing at all to panic about

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-61065214521384414312012-01-14T14:29:00.001Z2012-01-14T14:29:00.138Z

I have no words to add to this.

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22747138404253677832012-01-13T07:26:00.052Z2012-01-29T20:48:20.649Z

I was asked this on Twitter the other day. The reason the conversation arose is that a successful writer has been bugging the pants off people on Twitter. (Please, if you know who I mean, do NOT identify him on my blog. I have no desire at all to embarrass the poor chap. Besides, I hear there are more than one bug... Erm, person who bugs.) Poor chap? Hang on! His book has done fantabulously well

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-79711515012257750022012-01-11T07:24:00.002Z2012-01-11T13:19:37.860Z

With permission, I'm reproducing this email from reader Elizabeth Dunn: "Dear Nicola,I have just read Rachelle Gardner's blog [sorry, can't find it, but anyway] about books with foreign settings being difficult to place in the US market. It is rather disheartening as I am writing my upper middle grade book about a British boy being dragged off to a month long holiday in Venice. Most of the

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-63127706043995643602012-01-09T07:07:00.004Z2012-01-09T07:07:00.187Z

To those who keep asking when Write a Great Synopsis is published: NEXT WEEK! On Friday, officially, though it's likely to be available slightly before. Also, it will be crazy cheap until the end of January. Under £1. Yes, really. I will be doing a price promotion for both Tweet Right and WAGSynopsis but I must emphasise that this will only be till the end of January, when they will return to a

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-86214892806570630732012-01-07T08:26:00.001Z2012-01-07T08:26:33.251Z

I bring you interesting news of a great short story competition. Thanks to Tom Vowler for telling me about this. Short FICTION, the visual literary journal, has launched its 6th annual short story competition. First prize - £500 + publication Runner-up - £100 There's no restriction on theme. Stories must be previously unpublished (in print and online) and should not exceed 5000 words. Entry is

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30085842848148189322012-01-04T07:09:00.018Z2012-01-04T07:09:00.373Z

To Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Dear Ms Sturgeon,  As the previous Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland, I wish to draw your attention urgently to a matter that harms both patients and writers. Until recently, the NHS Scotland held a copyright licence, enabling staff to photocopy important information and writers to earn income

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-46805442515548664392011-12-31T16:17:00.002Z2011-12-31T16:56:24.479Z

I wasn't going to blog today, or even tomorrow, but I had a bit of happifying news to end the year with today, and it relates to you. I had my first royalty statement for Write to be Published and I was very pleasantly surprised at the figures. So, I'd like to thank you all for your support! It doesn't matter whether you bought the book: so many of you recommended it or chatted about it on

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-85937679295951250872011-12-27T13:19:00.000Z2011-12-27T13:19:17.230Z

I did a blog tour when Mondays are Red came out as an ebook. I thought I'd put the links all in one post here, for future reference. Some of the posts are of particular interest to writers. Podcast interview for In The Wishing Chair - me talking to Rebecca Brown. In which I meet an unappreciative reader - a funny story for Bookwitch. What makes a debut? On Catherine Caffeinated. (Of special

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-23385917978682362782011-12-24T16:30:00.004Z2011-12-24T18:39:56.544Z

Do you know a teenager with a new Kindle? Want to recommend some selected books? Well, I've found a list of books they might try. Each one is by a published author, many of us established and experienced at writing for teenagers. Prices will vary because it's our publishers who set the prices. HOWEVER, Gillian Philip's FROST CHILD and my MONDAYS ARE RED are published by Gillian and me so we've

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-88346592663278275522011-12-19T07:01:00.002Z2011-12-19T07:01:00.148Z

Dear Lovely Blog Readers, Good news: you can have a short rest from me! I am taking a break. I've got family coming for Christmas, much entertaining to do, a husband and daughters to love, friends to cook for, and a self that also needs a little bit of care and relaxation. I then have a daughter who is going to South Africa on January 5th, for a few months with a documentary film-making company,

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-37923544665885483132011-12-16T07:00:00.015Z2011-12-16T08:52:07.148Z

Last week I was on the Mondays are Red blog tour - see the links on the right for any posts that interest you. One of the posts was particularly relevant to writers, especially fiction writers and poets. It's the one I did for Mary Hoffman on releasing your inner synaesthete. Mondays are Red is said to be "about" synaesthesia. It's actually "about" the power of language, more than anything.

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-52926286467813826792011-12-14T07:26:00.017Z2011-12-14T07:26:00.784Z

Characteristically sensible post here from Rachelle Gardner. There's nothing I haven't said myself, but it's all succinctly phrased and, especially if you are new to the approaching-publishers-and-agents lark, useful. There are two points that I thought I'd elaborate on: Pitching several books in different genres. Why not? Because although you can have a wide writing career later, you need to

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-44068912360726421522011-12-12T07:04:00.005Z2011-12-12T14:26:33.483Z

Here is the fourth in my series of Crabbit's Tips for Writers. See the sidebar for links to the others. You can either read it in the post below or you can go here and download the complete document and print it out. Enjoy! If you wish to quote from these pages, please see the copyright notice at the end. My position I have had many (around 90) books published by mainstream publishers of

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-78534131612911131712011-12-08T07:10:00.005Z2011-12-08T07:18:46.845Z

One of the first things we learn about point of view (POV) is that if you're supposed to be telling the story (or that section of the story) from a certain character's viewpoint, you can only say what that character could know or think. For example, if we're in Fred's head, we can't have Fred tell us something that Joe's thinking, only what Fred thinks Joe's thinking. So, writing from a single

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-41593742741647065942011-12-05T07:00:00.006Z2011-12-05T07:29:15.915Z

Well, duh, Crabbit fool. Surely a debut is just a first book, different from your second only by virtue of being first. No, not necessarily so. And if you think like that, you may never write one. Or rather, it may never be published, which makes it not a debut. I recently wrote a blog post for Catherine Ryan Howard about debuts - on the subject of Mondays are Red having been my debut, although

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-42873367296902913132011-12-02T07:10:00.002Z2011-12-02T07:10:00.719Z

I promised to come back and tell you the rest of the end-story from Write to be Published. For the first part, go here. For today, you'll need tissues. Again, this is reproduced with kind permission of Snowbooks. PUBLISHING DEAL – FORGET THE CLICHÉS So, what is it like, that moment when you realise you are really going to be published? It’s different for everyone, but let me tell you how it

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-17499834834707185632011-12-01T06:53:00.000Z2011-12-01T06:53:00.450Z

Here's your chance to recommend books to buy and give this Christmas. I recently had to give my "Books of 2011" recommendations for the Herald newspaper. Here's what I said: Hisham Matar’s Anatomy of a Disappearance would be compelling and moving even if it weren’t horribly autobiographical. This fiction, of a boy whose dissident father is abducted and never found, is gently written and

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-82895365682866241372011-11-30T07:26:00.003Z2011-11-30T07:26:00.710Z

Very useful post here from Writer Beware about the pros and cons of being published by a small publisher. Do read the whole post, as it contains wonderful advice, but can I draw your attention especially to these points? "Reputable publishers do not advertise for authors on Craigslist or in writers’ forums, or buy ads online or in print, or mass-mail authors out of the blue with invitations to

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-48823483506688786912011-11-29T10:17:00.000Z2011-11-29T10:17:54.756Z

Last week, I blogged about the wonderful Children's Book Tree at Blackwells in Edinburgh. I've now heard that so many children in so many situations of need have requested books that there's a serious danger that they won't all get one. Blackwells needs 15 people a day to buy a book for a child between now and mid-December. Please, help us get books to these children! You don't need to live in

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-29489148458767870162011-11-29T09:44:00.000Z2011-11-29T09:44:39.840Z

Lots of you joined in the MondaysareRed launch competition with gusto. Thank you! A great selection of the entries is below, taken from Twitter and the blog: Joanna Cannon had some amazing entries: Some Mondays are the beige corduroy of procrastination. Sundays are knitted in shades of childhood and the rose-tinted pull of yesterdays. Saturdays are the fresh white of laundered sheets,

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-52862933143053274722011-11-28T06:55:00.007Z2011-11-29T08:42:42.960Z

Have you ever known me to use emotional blackmail? Well, you're about to experience it! (But there's also a competition to reward you.) If you feel that I've ever helped you in any way or deserve a little something, now's your chance to reward me! (I am indeed cringing. I have no shame - I've learnt that shame is expensive.) See, Mondays are Red is republished today as an ebook and I'd

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-24283526233394848972011-11-25T10:09:00.001Z2011-11-25T10:09:51.510Z

I know I've already given you a post today (see below this post) but I'm far too excited not to tell you this. And I will also not be able to resist jumping up and down on Twitter a bit over the weekend, so I need to warn you about that. What? THIS. Do I have a clever daughter or what? Mondays are Red launches on Monday - did I say that already? - but it's always possible that eagle-eyed people

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-9778039606206561502011-11-25T07:06:00.006Z2011-11-25T10:04:10.183Z

Many people who read Write to be Published comment on the story at the end, when I tell the details of my difficult journey to publication. People often say I'm "brave" to have told it. I don't think so. I have nothing to hide. People see me now - strong, healthy, confident, full of ridiculous energy - and find it hard to believe that I was none of those things in my younger adulthood. For those

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-20102620575445389212011-11-24T07:27:00.020Z2011-11-24T07:27:00.141Z

Last year I supported a lovely idea from Blackwell's in Edinburgh and apparently the help of all of you blog-readers made a big, big difference. Let's see if we can do even better this year! What happens is this: on the lovely tree in the shop, staff hang book requests from children who are either vulnerable or have some reason for extra need. Then customers either come into the shop OR PHONE

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-14553488537578717432011-11-23T06:59:00.001Z2011-11-23T06:59:00.734Z

Praise is very like chocolate:It tastes great at the time. Too much of it is (regrettably) bad for you. It (regrettably) needs to be balanced with the sensible stuff. Once tasted, you want more and more of it. People give it to each other to show love, to bribe them, to make friends, and because giving and receiving are linked. You should sometimes reject it. It has been scientifically proven

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-70068637890953781002011-11-21T07:05:00.005Z2011-11-22T12:31:30.459Z

I often exhort aspiring writers to "be professional" and someone recently pointed out that I have never actually explained what that means. Which is not very professional of me as a professional advice-giver. Writing may be a passion, but if we want to be published it is also a job. We must intend to earn money from it and we must therefore enter our profession and our industry with certain

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-68646629988402807172011-11-18T07:09:00.068Z2011-11-18T10:06:37.999Z

Bookshops are far more important than some people seem to think. Writers and readers need real bookshops and the passionate, expert booksellers who work in them. Amazon are expert sellers and, indeed, quite passionate about selling, but they are not passionate, expert booksellers. I don't object to the fact that they sell lots of books, of course - I simply object to how little they care what

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56850746764468865702011-11-16T07:00:00.011Z2011-11-16T07:38:46.727Z

Here is the third in my series of free CRABBIT's TIPS FOR WRITERS. This one is Crabbit's Tips for Approaching Agents and Publishers. For the ones I've already published, see the label "Crabbit's Tips for Writers" by scrolling down the righthand sidebar. Or, for the full list see the first post here. For today's tips, either read them below or go here for the free downloadable pdf, to print out

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-47497581468534512282011-11-14T07:15:00.040Z2011-11-14T08:12:58.825Z

I've chosen this synopsis by Louise Kelly because it nicely shows how you can (and should) convey the tone and voice of your story in your synopsis. Louise's worries whether, although the comic tone fits the novel, some vocab/phrasing doesn't match age range. Also, she introduces a new character right at end. Is this odd/wrong, she asks? It's a novel for children of 9-11 (I'm guessing.) Kip

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-78610016153591581242011-11-11T07:00:00.000Z2011-11-11T07:00:10.856Z

Every year, I encourage buying books as gifts at Christmas (or any time, tbh.) My effort this year has three parts: PLUG A BOOKSHOP - Giving you the chance to nominate your favourite bookshops, particularly the ones near you. That post is coming soon. PLUG A BOOK - Giving you the opportunity to plug a book you have enjoyed this year and want to share. That will also come soon. ERM, PLUG MYSELF -

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-40617382383908767342011-11-09T07:03:00.010Z2011-11-09T07:03:00.066Z

Here is the second in my series of free CRABBIT's TIPS FOR WRITERS. This one is Crabbit's Tips for Getting Published. Last week's was Crabbit's Tips for Writing Fiction. For that and the full list, see that post. Next week will be the one on approaching agents and publishers and I will be publishing one every week or more often until they are all up or I've run out of energy. This might happen.

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-39162068747731904752011-11-07T07:20:00.021Z2011-11-07T07:20:00.510Z

Please accept my apologies for hijacking my own blog to plug something of my own. Normal advice will be resumed soon. Recently, my agent and I were delighted to get the rights back to my first novel, Mondays are Red, and now we are publishing it again as an ebook. Very exciting for me! Here is the gorgeous new cover designed by Andrew Brown of Design for Writers. I love it. It's fiery and red

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-24558229339912482952011-11-04T07:17:00.008Z2011-11-04T21:53:13.058Z

Please help blog-reader Fiona Maddock with her synopsis problem. Fiona says: "Please find attached my synopsis for my debut novel, Ghost In The Machine, 86,000 words.  The genre is techno-thriller and it's for adults. I hope it appeals to men and women, but especially women, because I like reading stuff like this, so I've written my own, because girls like gadgets too. What's wrong with it?

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-63236217443876643342011-11-02T07:09:00.003Z2011-11-02T10:01:04.963Z

In my absurd desire to pander to your every whim and propel you towards publication at no financial gain to myself, I have written a series of free guidelines for writers, called CRABBIT’S FREE TIPS FOR WRITERS. This series will consist of: 1. CRABBIT’S TIPS FOR WRITING FICTION 2. CRABBIT’S TIPS FOR GETTING PUBLISHED 3. CRABBIT’S TIPS FOR SUBMITTING TO AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS 4. CRABBIT’S TIPS

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-21468230924630588802011-11-01T07:13:00.001Z2011-11-01T09:50:54.762Z

Two pitches for your perusal today. First, Josiphine Noire would like our help with her pitch for Captive of the Sea. It is a YA historical novel set during the decline of the Viking age. Josiphine says, "Right now I feel like my pitch is...stale. I can't think of a different word for it. If I saw it on the shelf the chances that I would read it are slim at best." Readers, can you help?!

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-16354267917263417812011-10-31T07:01:00.002Z2011-12-28T17:23:52.648Z

I've always known that the best way to learn something really well is to teach it. You think you know something but until you put it into words for someone else to understand, you don't know if you know it properly. And you might find you don't. My point? While writing my forthcoming book, Write a Great Synopsis - An Expert Guide, I have learnt something extra about how to write synopses. I

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-2902411099412193092011-10-28T07:07:00.002+01:002011-10-28T16:01:48.855+01:00

I have the results of the Coco chocolate competition! The standard was stunning and you'd clearly had lots of fun writing them. I chose a shortlist and then lovely Joanne Harris very kindly chose the three winners. Here's what she said: Hi Nicola, GREAT shortlist! I wanted to try all of them... Reluctantly, I have to choose only three. They are as follows, equally and in numerical order: 2, 4

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-62245017375651599102011-10-27T07:22:00.004+01:002011-12-28T17:23:09.041Z

Well, I have decided. Possibly. Yes, I am - almost - certain about the title for my forthcoming guide to synopsis-writing. But I could change my mind at any moment. You may remember that I asked for your help, and help you did. Many of you. I said I'd give a free copy to the person whose suggestion I chose, but that became complicated because so many of you were so helpful and in the end what I

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-91613645209743368492011-10-26T07:15:00.004+01:002011-10-26T07:15:00.659+01:00

I draw your attention to this excellent overview of the changing situation in publishing vs self-publishing. Libby Fischer Hellmann has used both avenues, and therefore knows of what she speaks. She compares how things were eighteen months ago with how things are now, listing changing pros and cons of each route to publication. My message has always been, "Whatever you do, do it with eyes wide

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56013939766867694182011-10-24T06:51:00.003+01:002011-10-24T15:14:55.139+01:00

Planning to pitch a non-fiction book? Aimed at the general, commercial (as opposed to specialist) market? Would you like advice from someone who is or has been all of these things: a) bookseller (of a rather influential variety) b) a publisher (of general, commercial non-fiction) and c) an author? Look no further. Today we are talking about 21st Century Dodos: A Collection of Endangered Objects

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-86816599909487913932011-10-21T07:03:00.005+01:002011-10-25T18:32:14.631+01:00

Introducing the second brave synopsis-spotlight-provider, Margaret Kirk. If you don't know how these spotlights work, please read the previous one here, and the post here in which I introduced both the task and my forthcoming book on how to write a synopsis. Which is what all this is leading up to. (And, by the way, I have - I think - chosen my title for the book. To be revealed soon!) In your

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30101178952991542862011-10-19T07:01:00.002+01:002011-10-19T07:49:46.337+01:00

I'm delighted to bring you an interview with a blog baby. (A blog baby is one of my blog-followers who gets a publishing deal.) Stephanie Butland is now the proud author of a brand new debut, How I Said Bah! To Cancer. Apart from the weird way in which she found her agent, her story is a classic case of write the right book, in the right way etc etc etc. Oh, and though I would never reveal

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-46960024842922181162011-10-17T07:09:00.003+01:002011-10-17T08:19:12.971+01:00

...is that I can't work out a short enough title. LOL, as they say. Would you like to have a bit of fun at the same time as learning something (perhaps) about title choices for ebooks? There's a free copy of the book (ebook - you can choose pdf or Kindle version) for the person who either comes up with the chosen title or whose suggestion is nearest. In fact, there will be two free copies going

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-86364758616983665502011-10-14T07:06:00.004+01:002011-10-25T18:06:53.000+01:00

As you know, I'm writing a book on synopsis-writing. Last week, I offered you the chance to have your synopsis put under the spotlight, with a view to a) blog-readers commenting construcively and b) possibly having your synopsis (and some comments) featured in the book as an exemplar. The first brave writer under the spotlight is Jackie Buxton, with Glass Houses, which she says is general fiction

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-63906715473755901472011-10-12T07:03:00.000+01:002011-10-12T07:03:00.167+01:00

It has come to my attention that it is a long time since I mentioned chocolate on this blog. There is very little excuse. Chocolate, I have always argued, is essential to all but the most peculiar writer, loosening the wordsmithing parts of our brains and cloaking our thoughts in necessary sensuousness. My long-suffering therapist suggests that the reason for my silence on the subject is that

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-10405733673204481402011-10-11T09:17:00.000+01:002011-10-11T09:17:09.637+01:00

My recent post about creating a 25-word hook for your book generated a huge response - 115 comments so far. And, as I said there, I was preparing a talk/workshop on the subject, at Wordstock. That event has now happened and I promised the workshopees that I'd blog again and give everyone another chance to pitch a 25-word hook. And here I am. Do, please read that post first, but I will recap or

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-7199731743750739272011-10-10T07:09:00.014+01:002011-10-10T07:09:00.084+01:00

I am writing a book about how to write a great synopsis. I know this will make you fall at my feet in gratitude and that you are already almost literally drooling with anticipation. Possibly even literally, but I prefer not to think about that too closely. Calm yourselves and go and take a cold shower or something. Because I know it will be hard for some of you to wait for a book of such

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-57035331239202382892011-10-07T07:10:00.003+01:002011-10-07T07:10:00.083+01:00

Yes, both, all in one post. I'm so good to you. Listen with Crabbit is actually Watch with Crabbit today, though if you want to listen to earlier Audioboos, do go here. Today's question is best answered in text form, because it requires me to include some links. The question comes from Rebecca Brown, who says: I have a question; only a theoretical interest sadly but I'd still like to know. Say

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-59491143092653642312011-10-05T07:12:00.001+01:002011-10-05T07:12:00.218+01:00

OK, I'll admit it: I'm a bit of a fan of Catherine Ryan Howard. Catherine is one of self-publishing's success stories and that success has come about through her being clever, nice, strategic and a very engaging writer. I think her attitude to the whole business is utterly professional and she is well worth listening to. I read and enjoyed her first highly successful memoir, Mousetrapped: A Year

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-81637401361820072072011-10-03T07:10:00.003+01:002011-10-06T23:28:55.810+01:00

Writing for teenagers is a tough way of earning a living. Virtually impossible when you write stand-alone books like mine. Most teenagers understandably tend not to buy books, preferring to borrow them from their school library - which is FAB from a cultural, social, emotional etc point of view but from an earning-a-living point of view, not so much. (School library borrowings don't provide

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-79625415692194571692011-09-30T07:02:00.020+01:002011-09-30T07:02:00.722+01:00

Next weekend I'm doing a gig at Wordstock, a festival of words organised by 26, an organisation that aims to "inspire a greater love of words, in business and in life." They call them gigs in order to play on the Woodstock/Wordstock thing but I promise I will not have a guitar with me, and I will not sing, not even a little bit. But you have the opportunity to send a part of yourself to

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-77346390995525053092011-09-28T07:12:00.004+01:002011-09-28T08:00:12.246+01:00

Really interested in this video on David Maybury's blog, which I came across last week. People are criticising trade publishers a lot at the moment - and I have some criticism myself - but I was inspired by the people in this video. I love their real passion for what they do. I love their knowledge and their willingness to share with each other. They are looking ahead; they are being positive,

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-35687596910844692802011-09-26T07:35:00.002+01:002011-09-26T07:35:00.049+01:00

I am not here. As you read this I will be relaxing by doing some school talks in Devon for the Appledore Festival. How is this relaxing, I hear you ask? Because yesterday a very stressful thing will have happened and anything will be relaxing by comparison. What is this thing? My parents will have been in the audience of an event I'm doing. For the first time. Ever. My parents. Yes. Thank

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-5211494265109264022011-09-23T16:56:00.002+01:002011-09-23T17:02:38.323+01:00

Today's Audioboos answer several questions. Badly, I confess. First, I attempt to answer Captain's Black's vexed question about pitching a cross-genre novel. Mumbles, mumbles, gah and gah again. And then, as if that were not enough, I attempt even more pathetically-and-yet-with-some-futile-attempt-at-authority to answer Vanessa Gebbie's question about how to use the internet without wasting

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-40151295117928553392011-09-22T06:59:00.003+01:002011-09-22T07:31:46.918+01:00

This is adapted from a much earlier post, but that one has been lost in the tangle of brambles and ivy, and I thought it could do with an airing. Especially since I'm in the middle of a novel revision and editing is uppermost in my mind. I guess that the possible methods for self-editing are similar to the possible methods for weeding your garden.Go from one end to the other, picking out all the

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-3615275898484089612011-09-19T07:20:00.002+01:002011-09-19T09:36:16.252+01:00

During the conference event that I mentioned here, I said I would make my powerpoint presentation available to anyone who wanted to see it. So, I include the link below. Please note - it can't make full sense without me there to talk about it. This was just the bare bones and there was a great deal of explanation about each slide. Also, the formatting has disappeared in the transition to Google

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-65665365066815735972011-09-17T10:00:00.000+01:002011-09-17T10:00:05.361+01:00

Today I'm speaking at the Society of Authors conference in Edinburgh. My topic is Building an Online Platform and I will first be explaining to the audience that in forty minutes it is impossible to say even a decent fraction of what they need to know, and therefore that I will be putting a small resource list on my blog. So, here it is! It is only supposed to be a starting point for beginners

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-88675083842493321072011-09-16T14:31:00.002+01:002011-09-16T15:04:47.874+01:00

Unusually, a second Friday post for you, following from this morning's Litlinks. There must be a good reason for me to do something so apparently unnecessary... Yep. I am speaking at the Society of Authors conference tomorrow and since I'm going to be haranguing people into using different media for their blogs and online presence, I thought I should follow my own advice and at least set a good

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-87324419329971119832011-09-16T07:02:00.001+01:002011-09-16T07:02:00.437+01:00

Becky did a fab job of last Friday's Crabbit Litlinks but frankly I don't pay her enough to ask her to do it again. On the other hand, she does most of the research anyway... But, you'll need to be quick because, exceptionally, I have another post going out later today. Watch this space! WEIGHTY LITLINKS Recycling titles? http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/sep/09/

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-2440151946408903792011-09-14T07:11:00.017+01:002011-09-14T07:11:00.612+01:00

Something fun, inspirational, creative, useful and collaborative. As part of its campaign to save the short story format on BBC Radio 4, the Society of Authors has come up with a wonderful wheeze, and anyone on Twitter (that's anyone, right?) can join in. Launching on 14 September 2011 for five consecutive weeks, Simon Brett, Neil Gaiman, Joanne Harris, Ian Rankin and Sarah Waters will lead a

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-47500936035894268282011-09-13T07:10:00.001+01:002011-09-13T07:10:00.646+01:00

Just an excuse to quote from my favourite play really, as there's no fury whatsoever in this post. Sorry to disappoint you. No, just that I'm going all trendy and starting to do some Audioboo thingummies. If you don't know what an audioboo recording sounds like, click here to hear me talk briefly - briefly because Audioboo doesn't let you do anything other than briefly -  about Write to be

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-4209316220093041642011-09-12T07:06:00.004+01:002011-09-12T07:29:11.060+01:00

Yesterday, I did a workshoppish eventish thing for aspiring writers at the Stirling Off the Page festival and I promised that I'd put something from it up here. I'd created a list of questions that I think writers need to ask themselves to assess their readiness for publication. And here it is! If you find the questions hard to answer, that suggests you and your book are not yet ready for

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-2264570964194958362011-09-10T14:23:00.005+01:002011-09-10T17:28:45.085+01:00

IMPORTANT note to all new arrivals here: Blogger has eaten my sidebar info and spewed it all at the bottom of the blog. Go down there and you'll see my other info, Facebook, Twitter, book covers etc etc, as well as recent posts, topics/labels and my favourite writing blogs. This is REALLY bad timing as I have events coming up and always like to send new writers and readers over here. If anyone

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-75050356781545979252011-09-10T12:27:00.000+01:002011-09-10T13:59:32.402+01:00

Apologies for my absence over the last ten days and thanks to wonderful Becky for taking over and replying to comments. And for her great Crabbit Litlinks on Friday. Where was I? On holiday. In Spain. Do I have some souvenirs? Oh yes. A very sharp knife and a narrow escape from a sinister landlady. Anyway, please bear with me while I rush to prepare and deliver a few weeks of many speaking

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-52296232570600125822011-09-09T07:10:00.058+01:002011-09-10T14:08:06.589+01:00

Crabbit's Friday Litlinks are brought to you by Becky Hearne, my wonderful assistant, otherwise known on Twitter as @Bookshop_becky. Over to you, Becky! Becky dons the Crabbit hat and her best pair of shoes. Looks around with a hint of nervousness. WEIGHTY LITLINKS 1. An argument against agent-publishers (by an agent). I tend to agree with him, but on the other hand, I have heard of some

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22096139843587954992011-09-07T07:22:00.000+01:002011-09-07T07:22:00.042+01:00

Today, my blog has been invaded by aliens, barely controlled by Jonathan Pinnock. I tried to tell him that this was no666tonbutarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhh... YOU WILL LET THE MAN SPEAK, MRS MORGAN "Yes. I will." *eyes wobble alarmingly* Over to Jonathan. MRS DARCY VERSUS THE ALIENSOn page 246 of Nicola’s excellent book, Write to be Published, (you have all got a copy, haven’t you?), she

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-66869080997591784922011-09-05T07:03:00.003+01:002011-09-05T13:58:33.336+01:00

The Crabbit-box is a series of posts where guests come and sound off about something book- or writing-related and I give them free rein. Ish. Today's guest is Helen Yendal and Helen knows that I somewhat disagree with her on this point. Please add your comments. If you'd like to contribute to the Crabbit-Box, please see the Over To You page above. There is obviously no payment but you (again

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-66675473007962422352011-08-31T07:25:00.003+01:002011-09-10T09:57:35.965+01:00

I'm delighted to bring you some advice on children's writing from two experts, Sarah Stewart and Cat Clarke, who have combined to form a specialist consultancy for writers of children's and Young Adult fiction, The Lighthouse. The Lighthouse offers editorial guidance and manuscript appraisal for both published and unpublished writers. A little about Sarah and Cat Sarah was Fiction Editor at

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-62230193865082214352011-08-29T07:12:00.127+01:002011-08-29T07:12:00.696+01:00

You probably saw this announcement of the winner of the Bulwer-Lytton contest for bad writing. The winner - and note that this is for deliberate bad writing! - was American academic, Sue Fondrie, for this very short but very awful sentence: "Cheryl's mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-23752319865896131432011-08-25T07:30:00.001+01:002011-08-25T08:51:02.988+01:00

On Wednesday I was over at the History Girls blog talking about bugs that bite. And it's the last time I'll be there, I'm sad to say. It's a wonderful newish blog and I was honoured to be asked to join at the start but I've found that I simply don't have time to do it justice. Everyone over there works so hard and I don't like not pulling my weight. Also, it's a while since I wrote a historical

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-16337396551645995232011-08-23T07:17:00.000+01:002011-08-23T07:17:00.315+01:00

Yes, it's #TweetRightTuesday again and one week since the publication of Tweet Right - the Sensible Person's Guide to Twitter, which has had a lovely response and seems to be helping lots of people. During the last week at the Edinburgh Book Festival I've had a number of publishers deciding to recommend all their authors read it. (I like this idea because I get a tad worried when publishers say

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-12366634377639198592011-08-22T07:13:00.009+01:002011-08-22T07:42:04.720+01:00

Whipped into Shape is a series in which a reader of Write to be Published comments or asks a question about something in the book, perhaps asking for further information or sharing their own take on a topic. And then I add answers as appropriate and readers add comments. Today's contribution comes from Joy Spicer, who writes a rather nice looking blog about art, riding and family. Hi Nicola

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-12128984193809995512011-08-18T07:34:00.007+01:002011-08-18T09:02:32.233+01:00

Is the written word no longer enough? Apparently not! It feels as though as well as writing the book and promotional materials and blogs and press releases, writers now need to podcast and have their own Youtube channel. Soon, we'll be dancing. I'm working on it, trust me. (Well, not dancing.) I'm thinking of some podcasting ideas and I even attended a webinar on the subject the other day. Not

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-51053299632754757062011-08-16T07:01:00.005+01:002011-08-23T10:00:55.381+01:00

It's here! Where? There! Where? HERE! Last Tuesday I announced that I would announce the publication date of Tweet Right - The Sensible Person's Guide to Twitter very soon. (I couldn't say when, because I didn't know when it would actually be up there on Amazon.) When I realised that it was up there, looking good, it became the worst secret in the world over the weekend, when people discovered

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-54700552412570820442011-08-15T08:52:00.015+01:002011-08-15T09:04:17.307+01:00

A blog reader, Magnus, emailed me, saying: "After reading your posts on why self/vanity publishing can be a bad idea, I would love to read your thoughts about when s-p can be the right thing to do. Back in 2009 you blogged very briefly about suitable styles of book for s-p (and also what the s-p author should pay for) but it would be interesting to hear a little more detail, particularly if the

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-14897918352790748872011-08-12T07:23:00.005+01:002011-08-12T08:34:15.357+01:00

Whipped into Shape is a series in which a reader of Write to be Published writes about something in the book that helped or provoked them. It then becomes a practical teaching point or topic of further discussion for you, o blog readers. Today, I'm grateful to Laura Mary Sargent for sending me this very interesting piece about pushing the guidelines of Point of View (POV). POV is one of the

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-49279291627231178692011-08-10T09:55:00.001+01:002011-08-10T09:55:00.154+01:00

Three brave writers have offered their pitches to you for comment and constructive criticism. What do you think of them? And if you'd like to put your own pitch forward for the same purpose, please see the Over To You page above for details. It's a very, very good way to hone your hook before submitting to agents or publishers! Grave Communication by Calum Maclean YA crime novel Nelson is a

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-169504425603048742011-08-09T07:07:00.011+01:002011-08-09T08:57:20.414+01:00

And about time, too, I hear you say! Well, I was going to publish it in September but the nagging demand has been increasing so I thought, why wait? It's nearly ready, I'm nearly ready, the Edinburgh Book Festival is nearly starting. The designer - Andrew Brown of Design for Writers, @abaloo on Twitter - has finished the wonderful cover. I've ordered promotional cards and dreamed up activities

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-27417394895455833932011-08-08T07:35:00.003+01:002011-08-08T07:35:01.303+01:00

It's my huge pleasure to welcome a friend and fellow Scottish YA writer, the lovely and talented Julie Bertagna. Julie's latest novel, Aurora, is the final part of the trilogy which began with Exodus, published to great acclaim in 2002. With nine years between then and now, there can be little Julie doesn't know about the enormous task involved in writing a trilogy. And she's generous enough to

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Crabbit's Friday Litlinks bring you selected snippets of interest from the world of words. WEIGHTY LITLINKS1. The sneering chick-lit label (Guardian). I'm a bit embarrassed because I'd been feeling none too admiring of Louise Mensch and I wonder if I've subconsciously been affected by the silly focus on irrelevant things about her. If so, I apologise, I think. 2. Interesting piece about Ageism

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-19642003909974734102011-08-03T07:30:00.013+01:002011-08-03T08:20:48.284+01:00

I don't review books. In the past, I have done so for the Guardian and a few other places, but I don't on this blog. Until today. This is different. Or - and you'll soon see why I say this - it has differented me quite.  If my language seems somewhat unusual in this post, there is a reason. Last week a book mind-blew me and it necessaries me to speak about it. I have not yet recovered and I am

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-18511072486162112112011-08-01T07:04:00.004+01:002011-08-01T12:09:35.150+01:00

This is not about books, but it is about stories. Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the gala opening dinner for the gloriously renovated National Museum of Scotland. My husband and I have a small connection to this enormous, ambitious project and to see the reality of the plans and pictures that we've been looking at for so long was breathtakingly wonderful. None of my pictures will

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Crabbit's Friday Litlinks bring you topical bits and bobs from the world of words. WEIGHTY LITLINKS 1. Should the BBC cut its short stories? (The Guardian) I certainly think it shouldn't. I am very proud of my friend, author Susie Maguire, and Ian Skillicorn, director of National Short Story Week for working so hard to stop this proposed cut by setting up an online petition. If you agree with

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If a word or phrase doesn't add something important to your book, cut it. If it's there because you think it's pretty, rather than helping the story and the reader, cut it. If in doubt, leave it out. Your book will be better. In order to do this properly, you must read every word aloud. Please. Thank you. That is all.

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You may remember that the Awfully Big Blog Adventure recently had a fabulous online litfest. (All the archived posts are at that link, by the way.) During it, I ran a competition and I'm now announcing (although she already knows) that the winner was Rebecca Clare Smith. Well done, Rebecca! The task was to say what makes you crabbit, anything book- or writing-related. Luckily for me, I had the

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Those of you who have heard me do talks about Write to be Published recently will have heard me say this. It needs saying again. It is fundamental to getting published. A few weeks ago, I put a message on Twitter, asking something like, "Aspiring writers: what is your goal, your personal definition of what would be success for you?" Replies came back along the lines you'd expect, comments such

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Crabbit's Friday Litlinks brings you interesting, provocative and amusing links related to the world of books. I promise you no high-profile resignations or arrests in this batch of links. WEIGHTIER LITLINKS 1. Fiction 'improves social understanding' http://www.booktrade.info/i.php/34620 This is something I've written and spoken about before - I'm a big fan of the work of these researchers and

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-34400979804001242432011-07-21T09:07:00.000+01:002011-07-21T09:10:08.955+01:00

Today I blogged about agents, and one in particular, over on the Awfully Big Blog Adventure. Do go and see what I've said.  __________________________ So, yes, watch out for more news of that brand new and exciting venture, in which I republish Mondays are Red and Sleepwalking with the help of my agent. Separately, I will also be publishing a brand new non-fiction list, starting with Tweet Right

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A Pitch Pitch gives you a chance to develop the pitch of you work in progress and to have readers make constructive comments. See what happened last time for a sense of how constructive and helpful the comments are. If you would like to offer your pitch to the scrutiny of your fellows, see the instructions under Over To You. Oh, and while you're there, check out the other ways you can appear on

Nicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-63297288626421251742011-07-19T07:06:00.003+01:002011-07-19T09:41:15.317+01:00

Food for thought from Query Shark here. And then from Lynn Price here. Both American viewpoints but little they say is different over here. For "query letter" read "covering letter" - it's just that a US query letter is scarier to write because it has to sell your book and you on its own, without the recipient seeing your sample chapters at that stage. I particularly draw your attention to

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