Roz Morris's Blog, page 5

Burns so very, very brightly

Burns so very, very brightly. Competition judging begins. 'Ever Rest would make a terrific movie.' International love for my Nail Your Novel books (15 years and counting). A little horse. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/e74e7d166c40/burns...

Three rules for writing dialogue that contains exposition

You might be wincing already. Dialogue shouldn’t be used for exposition, right? Not entirely right. But often, it goes wrong. We’ve all seen dialogue scenes where it’s clear the characters are only talking so they can give information to the reader. It might be just a line, it might be an entire ‘speech’ or ‘explanation’,… Continue reading Three rules for writing dialogue that contains exposition

A train turned to stone

A train turned to stone; Turn Right At The Rainbow; tossers; how to write emotion in your novels and memoirs; training dressage horses with kindness and respect. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/73cfbd76419b/anoth...

‘My friends easily guess what I’m writing about because I become obsessed’ – novelist and short story writer Sara Hosey

Sara Hosey says her stories arise from obsessions. So far these have been ADHD, The Twilight Zone, feminism and places that are gritty and unexpectedly beautiful. She once stayed for months at a cottage on an island in the middle of a lake, reachable only by boat, with an intrepid cat for company. I began by asking… Continue reading ‘My friends easily guess what I’m writing about because I become obsessed’ – novelist and short story writer Sara Hosey

How to write with emotion and give the reader ‘all the feels’ – podcast interview at @thecreativepenn

I’ve recorded another guest spot at Joanna Penn’s now-legendary podcast on writing, publishing and book marketing! Over the years we’ve chatted about numerous aspects of authorly work and life. This time we’re discussing how to write emotion, in fiction and memoir. Why is this important? Oodles of reasons. Readers of these kinds of stories are… Continue reading How to write with emotion and give the reader ‘all the feels’ – podcast interview at @thecreativepenn

Author newsletters needn’t be a bore and a chore – podcast at The Indy Author

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author should send a regular newsletter to tell readers about special offers and news of upcoming releases. It is a truth less universally acknowledged that this is really awkward for some authors. If you aren’t releasing books frequently or making things that are suitable for special offers.… Continue reading Author newsletters needn’t be a bore and a chore – podcast at The Indy Author

Themes: be a leader, not a lecturer. Here’s how

I’ve been editing a novel where the author dearly wanted to explore weighty themes. But they were suffocating the book. What do I mean by a theme? It’s a meaning, an ordering force, that shines out of the book’s content, bigger than just the story. Often writers consider the theme to be the most ‘serious’… Continue reading Themes: be a leader, not a lecturer. Here’s how

The old quiet places

The old quiet places, Alan Garner and the work of time, I spoil an author's dreams, a little horse. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/69758bb72d7f/the-o...

The fierce imperative to create – poet and novelist Alan Humm

Alan Humm has been in the creative arts all his life. He’s the driving force behind the poetry magazine One Hand Clapping, which has featured well-known authors such as Hilary Mantel, Ali Smith and Colm Toibin next to those who are less well known. This year he has several projects of his own that are… Continue reading The fierce imperative to create – poet and novelist Alan Humm

Memoirists, essayists, poets: don’t miss this chance to win a publishing deal

This is the International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition, sponsored by Vine Leaves Press. I’m one of the judges!We’re looking for unpublished memoirs, poetry, personal essays, vignette collections and creative non-fiction – all stuff I love to read, so I’m looking forward to the manuscripts. And the deadline is fast approaching. Doors close on July… Continue reading Memoirists, essayists, poets: don’t miss this chance to win a publishing deal