Sarah Webb's Blog, page 3

The Key Ingredients of a Successful Popular Fiction Novel

I've been reading a lot of popular fiction recently. For two reasons: there are loads of cracking new books out by some of my favourite writers, and also I've been quite tired and a bit run down and there's nothing like curling up in bed with a comforting book when you're feeling under the weather. [...]

Some Words of Encouragement for When Writing Is Hard and You Have Been Knocked Back – Lessons for a Writing Life

One of my friends in writing is having trouble finding an agent. They like her writing very much, but they say the market is difficult and they just can't take a risk on someone new at the moment. This must be really tough to hear – that you're good but circumstances beyond your control are [...]

How a Book Advance Gets Paid – (You Don't Get All the Money Up Front!) – and why the news from the London Book Fair re: Kathleen MacMahon's advance is good news for all Irish writers

The news from the London Book Fair that Irish writer, Kathleen MacMahon has received £500,000 for her first book, This is How It Ends is very cheering for writers and the book trade alike. Little, Brown are clearly madly in love with the book, describing it as 'literary commercial fiction', ie a perfect book for [...]

No-one at Home Understands My Need to Write! Does This Matter? Does Ben Read Your Books, Sarah? (Ben being my long suffering partner-type person).

Does Ben Read Your Books? (Ben being my long suffering partner-type person). I'm often asked this and the answer is no. Ben has read a few of my adult novels – When the Boys are Away for example, mainly because he remains convinced it is about him. Well us really. It's about Meg and Simon. [...]

Lonely Beasts, Butterflies and Other New Books for Children

Some reviews (by me!) of recent books for childrens and teens. Enjoy! Picture Books Picture books for younger children are enjoying a resurgence at the moment, with Irish author/illustrators like Oliver Jeffers and newcomer, Chris Haughton at the fore. Jeffer's app for iPads, The Heart and the Bottle, has topped the app charts and shown [...]

News from the Eason Women's Fiction Night – Popular Fiction Rocks!

Eason Women's Fiction Night on 31st March The lovely folk in Eason organised a fab women's fiction night and invited 35 women writers from all over Ireland. Attending were: (and apologies, I know I won't get them all!) Cecelia Ahern – in white lace and fab platform shoes Cathy Kelly – meeting lots of her [...]

Writing When You Don't Want To Write, That's What Makes You a Writer

'Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day'. Norman Mailer I read this Norman Mailer quote on Sheila O'Flanagan's Facebook page yesterday and it's been ringing in my ears ever since. I'm not feeling great this morning – I've spent the last few nights working on an Arts [...]

The Kind of Editorial Feedback That Writers Live for and Dream About – I wanted to share it with you

Dear Fellow Writers and Readers, I got the most wonderful email from my editor today – the kind of feedback that makes all the hard slog so worthwhile. So I wanted to share it with you. I've taken out any spoilers, don't worry. I got an equally lovely one from my other editor too, a [...]

Titles How important are they and how do you pick the right one?

The title for the next Ask Amy Green book – book 4 in the series – has recently changed from Party Drama-rama to Love and Other Drama-ramas. And it was difficult enough to find a new title. The story changed quite a bit at editorial stage, so the old title didn't really fit anymore. Originally [...]

What Makes a Good Book – according to Patricia Deevy, Editorial Director at Penguin Ireland and Others

Right, a quick blog on what makes a good book, prompted by an Irish Pen meeting last night. The following comments were made by the panel – Ciaran Carty, Patricia Deevy, Bob from The Gutter Bookshp and Margaret (a reader): Ciaran Carty, ex film critic of The Sunday Tribune, has moved New Irish Writing to [...]