Leigh Matthews's Blog, page 2
October 17, 2013
It’s Nearly November – Which Means Another Novel is on the Horizon.
It occurs to me as we head into another NaNoWriMo that I should draw attention to my first novel, The Old Arbutus Tree, a result of November 2011′s 1667 words-a-day challenge, and discuss my approach to having a successful stab at the (entirely voluntary) ordeal. Going into that National Novel Writing Month with no plot, […]
August 26, 2013
Querying literary agents.
If writing a novel is like having a baby then finding a literary agent must be a little akin to sending your child to finishing school. Make that novel round out its vowels, walk tall with a pile of heavyweight classics on its head, be seen but not heard… give it a fighting chance at […]
March 22, 2013
Why Waiting for a ‘Normal’ Month Just Does Not Work for a Freelancer
In recent months I’ve experienced a lot of change in my life and, while this has been a good thing, it means that I’ve been waiting until things ‘settle’ before taking a firm grasp on where I’m at, professionally, financially and otherwise. It’s now almost April, almost my birthday, and I have an upcoming visit […]
March 16, 2013
Free Online Courses to Enhance Your Medical Writing Career
When you work for yourself and are continually pitching, proposing, bidding and, finally, writing, it can seem that there’s never enough time to dedicate to ongoing professional development. Working as a medical writer, it is easy to become complacent. You’re always reading the latest studies on heart attack prevention through diet, or how Lyme disease […]
March 5, 2013
Important Life Lessons from Day Three Without the Internet (sort of)
Welcome to my lovely new abode, perched on the third floor of an East Vancouver apartment building, with a balcony big enough for a desk when the weather turns warm. I even have my own office space where I can hide all the writerly things (read: thesaurus, pile of notepads with nonsensical scribbles, hip flask). […]
February 21, 2013
What Kind of Writer Am I?
It has been almost three years since I handed in my notice for my job in the UK, sold or gave away most of my possessions, hopped on a flight to Canada with my, then, partner and cycled from Montreal to Vancouver to start a new life. With all that change came a chance to […]
