Nicola Martin's Blog, page 3

5 reasons your novel’s main character sucks

They’re so smart (allegedly), they’re so charismatic (allegedly), but here are some of the reasons you might have a sucking … Read More

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5 things I learned from my unpublished ‘drawer novel’

Like most writers, I have a ‘novel in a drawer’; an unpublished masterpiece (lol no) that I think about every … Read More

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6 things to know if you want to write a novel this year

If your new year’s resolution for 2021 is to write a novel, then you’ve picked a great goal. Writing keeps … Read More

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5 writing mistakes that drive me nuts

Ever been so annoyed by a book you’ve wanted to throw it across the room? Maybe it’s a character or … Read More

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Write the story from the sidekick’s perspective, too – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

During one particular rewrite of Dead Ringer, I felt like I’d tied myself up in knots. My protagonist was breaking … Read More

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One word you should remove from your writing vocabulary

You might assume this is a philosophical or motivational blog post, and I’m going to tell you there’s no such … Read More

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Revisiting Gone Girl: 5 things writers can learn from it

Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl defined and popularised the psychological suspense genre. These days, the crime fiction shelves are packed with … Read More

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Let your readers hear your protagonist’s thoughts – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

Dead Ringer started life as a third-person novel, until my agent suggested I make it first-person. This was a big … Read More

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How my new mantra is helping me stay sane (and productive)

I’ve recently put in place a simple new motto and it’s amazing what a help it’s been, in terms of … Read More

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Why growth mindset is the number one thing you need to become a better writer (and a better person)

‘Growth mindset’ might sound like one of those annoying buzzwords, but it describes an attitude shift that has helped me … Read More

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