Roz Morris's Blog, page 9

Self-editing lessons from Peter Jackson’s Get Back Beatles documentary

I’ve been watching Peter Jackson’s documentary about the Beatles album Get Back. It’s eight hours long, and quite repetitive, but I find it mesmerising and epic. It enshrines the miracle of creative work – start with nothing, mess about with it, seize on fragments and work them to smithereens, abandon them maybe, mess around a… Continue reading Self-editing lessons from Peter Jackson’s Get Back Beatles documentary

A bridge too far, the haunt arrives in mysterious ways

The fairtytale bridges of a Surrey wood, a daring thing about Alan Weirdstone Alderley Edge Garner, the haunt arrives in mysterious ways, psychogeography, lots of news and a little horse. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/4996b689156a/bridg...?

Not a fast writer? You can still build a successful publishing strategy – guest spot at @IndieAuthorAlli

The classic advice for authors, particularly indie authors, is to pump out a lot of books fast to build a big backlist and keep your readers interested. But that pace of writing and production doesn’t suit everybody. Exhibit A, the introduction to my newsletter. For a long time, slow-burn authors in the indie world weren’t… Continue reading Not a fast writer? You can still build a successful publishing strategy – guest spot at @IndieAuthorAlli

Questioning our notions of home – memoirist and writing coach Jennifer Lang

Where is home? What does home mean? For memoirist, essayist and writing coach Jennifer Lang, that question takes a while to unravel. In her early 20s she married a man from a very different background and lifestyle, and their life path has been full of choices and dilemmas. These are the subject of her collection,… Continue reading Questioning our notions of home – memoirist and writing coach Jennifer Lang

Aim to make your book perfect – why it’s worth it and how it’s possible

An online discussion has got me thinking. Actually, snarling a bit. On a forum, an author was taking her first steps to self-publish a literary novel. She’d already worked with an editor, but wasn’t certain the manuscript was ready for publishing. Should she get another beta-read? One member answered: ‘is that a good use of… Continue reading Aim to make your book perfect – why it’s worth it and how it’s possible

Ghost plane and other things

A ghost plane, novels now on Pretty Bookshelf, writing techniques that are now autopilot for me, Kindle storyteller award judging (I'm a judge!) and a little horse. All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/f60e01339e0e/a-gho...?

Your first pages – 4 more book openings critiqued at @Litopia by literary agent @agentpete author @anniesummerlee and me!

I’ve just guested again at Litopia, the online writers’ colony and community. Each week they have a YouTube show, Pop-Up Submissions, where four manuscripts are read and critiqued live on air by literary agent Peter Cox @agentpete and a guest, or sometimes two. This time the other guest was longtime Litopian Annie Summerlee @anniesummerlee ,… Continue reading Your first pages – 4 more book openings critiqued at @Litopia by literary agent @agentpete author @anniesummerlee and me!

We are all united by our need to find meaning – Carolyn R Russell

Carolyn R Russell writes flash fiction, short stories, poetry and YA fiction. At the heart of her work is a constant curiosity about meaning in life and how we find it through navigating everyday troubles. In October she’s releasing a collection of flash fiction and short stories – Death and Other Survival Strategies. She says… Continue reading We are all united by our need to find meaning – Carolyn R Russell

Essential storytelling details I now include on autopilot – and learned by being edited

When I emailed my first novel manuscript to a publisher, I thought I knew what I was doing. I was already an experienced editor of non-fiction. Also, I lived and breathed stories (husband is an author, we talk fiction all day and night). I could get a story into the air, through storms and turbulence… Continue reading Essential storytelling details I now include on autopilot – and learned by being edited

It began with a hat

It began with a hat, Dave of Legend, books I'm working on, the allure, tragedy and majesty of mountains, a little horse.
All in my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/6caa636c6926/it-be...?