Nicola Martin's Blog, page 5

Are cashback websites a good way of saving money?

I’ve been using cashback websites like Topcashback and Quidco for a couple of years now. Here are my experiences – … Read More

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You’ll have to rearrange your life in order to write a novel – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

If there’s one myth about writing that I hate, it’s the myth that great novels were written in snatched 5-minute … Read More

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My favourite thing about being published in The People’s Friend is…

…the illustrations! It’s magical to open up the magazine and see a short story of mine brought to life with … Read More

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To Newcastle in a flash: my experience of reading at Virtual Noir at the Bar

One unexpected upside of a global pandemic is that it makes “travel” much easier. Virtual travel, to book events, anyway. … Read More

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Build compelling characters using reality TV archetypes

For guaranteed drama, take a leaf out a casting director’s book and use reality TV archetypes to build fascinating characters … Read More

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How to use reality TV to create dynamite characters for your fiction

Here’s a writing assignment for you: turn on the TV! The reality TV casting process provides a devilishly fun way … Read More

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Joining a writing group will save your soul – Things I learned while writing Dead Ringer

When I look back and try to identify the ONE thing that took me from slush pile to publication, it’s … Read More

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The one thing I changed about my writing process that took me from slush pile to publication

I made one (very simple) change to my writing process a couple of years ago thats been truly transformative. Previously, Read More

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Short stories published in The Sunday Express and The People’s Friend

In the last month, short stories of mine have appeared in the Sunday Express S Magazine and The Peoples Friend. Read More

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Interview with Nathalie Buscombe, Dead Ringer audiobook narrator

Find out the secrets of audiobook narration in this interview with one of Dead Ringers narrators, Nathalie Buscombe. Youre also Read More

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