Tag Archives: writers

Mass Observation Day

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Susannah J. Bell

Mass Observation Day occurred on the 12th of May. I heard about it on the radio the day before so thought it would be interesting to take part. However, once I’d written up something on the day in question, I … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Life in Bloomsbury, On Writing | Tagged 12th May, a day in the life, am writing, diary, diary event, diary of a bloomsbury writer, mass observation day, novel writing, On Writing, Pre-writing, selling writing, writer, writer's diary, writer's resolution, writers, writers community, writers experience, writers life, writers problems, writing, writing a diary, writing career, writing community, writing from alter-space, writing life, writing notes, writing problems, writing process | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Getting Published | Tagged agent, agents, am writing, amwriting, diary of a bloomsbury writer, finding an agent, getting published, literary agents, novel writing, On Writing, selling writing, successful writing, writer, writers, writers community, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writing, writing career, writing community, writing fantasy, writing from alter-space, writing life, writing problems, writing process, writing tips | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged am writing, big novel, editing, end, final draft, finished, giant novel, last draft, long novel, my finished novel, my prizewinning novel, novel, novel writing, On Writing, Pre-writing, That Difficult Novel, writer, writer's tip, writers, writers community, writers experience, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writing, writing career, writing community, writing fantasy, writing life, writing problems, writing process, writing tips | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged 2021, am writing, diary of a bloomsbury writer, how to be a writer, new year, new year's resolution, writer, writer's resolution, writers, writers community, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writing, writing community, writing from alter-space, writing notes, writing process, writing tips | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged am writing, amwriting, my prizewinning novel, novel writing, On Writing, successful writing, the killer edit, tips for writers, writer, writers, writers community, writers experience, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writers unite, writers' life, writing, writing career, writing community, writing fantasy, writing from alter-space, writing life, writing notes, writing problems, writing process, writing tips | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged back to work, coronavirus, creative process, depression, drabble, Exodus Sequence, flash fiction, imagination, microfiction, pandemic, short writing, The Exodus Sequence, time to write, writer, writers, writers block, writers community, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writing | Leave a comment

How to keep going when you want to lie down and die

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

I approached an agent in the US recently, the first time I’ve ever done this. Perhaps, I thought wildly, my contemporary/portal fantasy novel will have greater appeal to the American public. As I’m not very good at pretending to be … Continue reading →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged badass, depression, despair, failing, finding an agent, health issues, imposter syndrome, literary agents, steamrollered, support, trying to get published, Tweets, writers, writers community, writers life, writing, writing community | Leave a comment

Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Susannah J. Bell

I was devastated to hear this morning of the death of Carlos Ruiz Zafón. He was my favourite author, someone whom I aspired to in my own writing. I wanted to spend the rest of my life reading his books. … Continue reading →

Posted in General, On Writing | Tagged author, author death, books, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, RIP, The Labyrinth of Spirits, The Shadow of the Wind, writers, writing | Leave a comment

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!

Posted in On Writing | Tagged believe in yourself, diary of a bloomsbury writer, how to write, life of a writer, tips, write with confidence, writer, writers, writers life, writers tips, writers unite, writing, writing community, writing from alter-space, writing problems, writing process, writing tips, you are a writer | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged am editing, big red edit, edit, editing, editing by hand, editing experience, editing on screen, final draft, first draft, proofreading, red pen edit, restructuring, That Difficult Novel, writer, writers, writers community, writers experience, writers life, writers problems, writers tips, writing, writing process | Leave a comment