Tag Archives: writers tips

The story that refused to write

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

I’ve been battling with a short story for what feels like a thousand years.  It’s actually been less than three months which is probably not THAT long given that it has quite a high word count but it’s going so … Continue reading →

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How to ruin your chances with an agent

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Susannah J. Bell

Who is the first agent you approach?  The best one, of course, whoever you think that may be.  In my mind, it’s the Curtis Brown agency.  So when the time came for me to start trotting my new novel around … Continue reading →

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Finished that big novel at last!

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Susannah J. Bell

It’s taken me eight years to get to the end of my Big Novel but it’s done!  At last!  Bring on the champagne! I really finished it over a week ago, wrapping up the last of the Killer Edit, and … Continue reading →

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A writer’s new year’s resolution

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Susannah J. Bell

My new year’s resolution for 2021 is to be a writer.  Now hang on a sec – aren’t I already a writer?  Am I not self-published?  Have I not been writing for years and years and years?  Am I not … Continue reading →

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This year has been less of a wash-up than I thought

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

Today I begin the brand new edit of a gigantic novel I have edited several times.  I’ve written about this novel here many, many times.  In another blog, I might even go and have a look at all those old … Continue reading →

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Microfiction

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

My writing isn’t going well.  If I had to blame anything, then I’m going to have to say it was the pandemic.  I did try.  I started an Exodus Sequence story quite early in lockdown but it was a mess … Continue reading →

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Writing Tip #1

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

First in a series of writing tips!  These are things I have learnt after many years of hard work.  With any luck, others will find some inspiration!

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Hunting down that elusive ending to your story

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

If you can’t find an ending to your WIP, there is only ever one reason for it:  something hasn’t worked earlier on. I’ve reached the end of novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of different ways: I knew … Continue reading →

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“To write is to rewrite”

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

“To write is to rewrite.  One writes for oneself, and one rewrites for others.” This quote comes from a character in Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s novel “The Labyrinth of the Spirits”.  The character is a writer, advising another, much younger writer.  … Continue reading →

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How do you learn to edit your novel?

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

You don’t.  I didn’t, anyway, yet I am a ferocious editor of my own work and a brilliant proofreader.  This latter quality has been discovered in my Real World job and everything that is written is brought to me;  I … Continue reading →

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