Mentoring Writers Resource Box: Recent Episodes
Ann Brady
Mentoring Writers Resource Box podcasts offer new and developing authors assistance as they travel their writing journey (whether self- or traditionally published). We mentor adult writers of all ages worldwide while mentoring under 18's through our sister organisation Kids4Kids.org.uk. With over thirty years’ experience as an award-winning author, speaker, writing mentor, and publishing consultant our Principle Mentor, Ann Brady, offers practical tips which will help new writers open the door to discovering the many facets of creating, developing and writing a book. We also offer advice on marketing and the publishing aspect of the writing process. Each of the 10-to-20-minute episodes are fact-based, conversational mentoring sessions which will help keep you focused, increase your confidence, and bolster your creativity whilst helping you write. www.mentoringwriters.co.uk
Sometimes we find that the stories we read, in fact a lot of what we read, are too often overloaded with far too many meaningful words. However, they can also be overloaded with an excessive repeat of words that only describes or explains what the writer has previously told us. This is not only a waste of space but a waste of the readers time. Being concise in your writing helps produce a more satisfying read. Today's podcast offers a few pointers on why and how you should be more concise when writing.
Today we discuss the reasons for having an author email list. What the benefits are and how you can utilise this method for promotion of your book and for maintaining a closer contact with your readers, followers and subscribers to your website, blog, etc.
One thing I stress when dealing with any writer is that writing should and must be fun. And yet often I discover writers who feel stressed about the various aspects of the process. Either because they can't get started, have suddenly some to a full stop some 30,000 words in or, are wondering how to finish their novel. My answer is to stop worrying. Let go and start to have fun with your writing. Today's podcast is all about why writing should be fun and how have some with your writing process.
Making sure you have characters that are realistic means describing them vividly. It is your job as the writer to ensure that your reader can envisage the characters in their mind when reading about them. Todays podcast gives you some insight into how to do this.
In this podcast I wanted to share with you a few writing tips that I think may help you when it comes to writing your story. Remember, most stories have already been told just not in the way you will tell it. And that is what writing is all about. By using your imagination, emotions, experiences etc and by thinking outside the box you should be able to produce a great masterpiece.
We all know that reviews are good but remember not all are relevant or genuine, and if a bad one is given it's hard to remove it. Today we discuss the various ways you can attract readers to follow and interact with you, other than just by leaving reviews.
Being a ghost writer can be both easy and hard. The easy part is that you are taking someone else's ideas and helping them create a story or writing about their life. But it can also be hard especially if writing a memoir. In this case you must remember to ensure you write as if the person in the memoir but also are able to do it without losing your own writing style. In this podcast we explain more.
Becoming an Indie Publisher for the first time can be daunting. One of the things you really need to understand is why and how we use ISBN numbers. In todays podcast we briefly explain the history of ISBN's, why they are needed, where you get them from, and their use.
We have all probably heard about quick writing authors. Those writers who appear to churn out a new book as easily as if baking a cake. You are may be one of those authors or perhaps one of the many hundreds of other writers who sit and wonder how do they do it. In this podcast we will look at what it takes to understand the craft of getting your story down on paper without stressing out over it. Hopefully this will help you become a more speedier writer.
Writers fall into differing categories having varied genres and styles. Even though a writer may have the idea for a good book without the right characters and themes the story could fall flat on it's face. Today we look at some famous stories covering the differing elements of theme and examine how you can express themes in your writing.
The Ten Penners is an off-shoot Group of the Gold Coast Writers organisation in Australia. Recently they launched their latest anthology. Today I talk with the ladies involved in the group, what the group means to them, and about their new book. Their book is available on Amazon.com, in bookshops or from their website - https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners
Having taken a few weeks off from podcasting I thought today I'd share a few stray thoughts about writing with you before I throw myself back in to the uploading of some new and interesting podcasts. This one includes how an author changed the way one of the Big 5 Publishers looked at writing the blurb on the back of her books.
What is the definition of a contract? Well, simply put it is an agreement that is legally binding between two or more parties. In today's podcast I want to have a quick look at what you should include in any contract you either create for your business or in any contract one you are considering signing.
These days Vanity Presses are trying to become more legit. But some are still hanging on to their bad habits and that means taking innocent newbie writers for a ride. There are even others jumping on the band wagon in a hope of making a fast buck with some sweet talking. Today we discuss becoming more aware of these dangerous waters.
When writing children's books many aspiring writers believe that it is an easy process. Or they have read that there are certain elements that, whilst relevant for novels, you can overlook in kids books. This is not the case. Today we discuss some of the more important misconceptions that all writers should be awar of before starting to write.
We are all aware that all great athletes would not be where they are without the assistance and support of their coaches. And the same can be said for writers. So, if you have ever wondered, ‘Do I need a writing mentor,’ well in this podcast we ask you some questions and give answers that will help you decide.
Writing a memoir is not an easy experience but if you would like to think about taking on such a task on then in this podcast we are offering some basic guideline tips to help you get started and how to get your story across to the right readers.
As a childrens book author you should be loooking at sharing your work with children. One of the best and easiest ways of doing this is through planning school visits. In this podcast we discuss how to go about organising your school visits.
No matter what genre or style you write your story in, whether for book, stage or screen, you always need to make sure you have a good, no a great protagonist. In this podcast we discuss what makes a good hero/heroine and we offer samples from a couple of popular films to help you get the feel of our theme.
In light of the confusion over AI and it's effects on writers, today we are discussing why you should consider having both a copyright page and an ISBN for your ebooks. We will doing further podcasts about how AI, plagiarism, copyright and how it could affect your work in the future.
Marketing is probably every authors nightmare. I often stress that authors are a business and you are, which means you need all the help you can when its comes to getting your work out there. In this podcast, I want to look at digital marketing and how you could utilise it to help your promotions and marketing programme.
Following the release of the new app 'Threads' we offer you some quick buttlet points which give you the pros and cons of what Threads is all about. We will report more about this new addition to the Facebook/Instagram/WhatApp family as we discover it.
Today I am 'In Conversation With'... Welsh Author MK Jones. Mary has written who series of books using her geneology background as inspiration. She shares with us details of her latest books and the forthcoming ones she is currently working on. Mary also shares some usefult tips for all new and developing writers of all genres.
If you are including any illustrations in your written work, including your cover, and are publishing the book yourself then it is important to understand the need for good bleed. Today we talk about the need for the exacting measurements needed to produce a perfect copy of your book. Thanks go to OldMateMedia (Australia) for their assistance in producing this podcast).
Should you be worried about TikTok? We talk today about what has been happening and is still happening across the world over the app TikTok. Also why and how Governments, military organisations and even businesses are reacting to having the app on corporate devices.
Every good story needs a good plot. But what happens if along the way you forget or omit something from your plot? Or maybe you end up going of at a tangent by introducing another plot? In this podcast I talk about understanding plot holes and how to mend them.
With social media being one of the most prominent advertising platforms, today we talk about how to create and use IGTV videos to enhance your marketing strategy.
If there is one thing all fiction books need, no matter what genre, it is a solid ending. Although you make have decided how your story is to end actually creating the right format for your story is crucial. Therefore, in today's podcast we are offering you some tips to ensure the ending of any story is a good one.
In this podcast we offer you some tips and ideas to help you prepare your book for marketing, as well as to how to create your marketing plan.
What is the difference between villains and antagonists? In today's podcast we discover more about the types of villains there are and how to write them so they feel human.
There are many programmes available to assist writers. But have you ever thought of using Google Docs. They are not just for MAC computers but are a great resource that will aid you in your writing journey. Why not check out what Google Docs has to offer.
A fun interview with Welsh author Claire Donald writer of a variety of children's picture books including the successful Mother Earth Weeping which is used in primary schools today.
We've all heard that comment BYO… bring your own when it comes to attending a party. We,, today we discuss how BYO your Book can be a simple but great tool for marketing your book on a one-on-one basis. Check it out now.
Being able to add tension, pacing, narrative structure, elements of seeing, and character development are both necessary and important if you want to add suspense to your storyline. The success of suspense in a book will take it from a simple story to a page-turner. Find out why and how.
Getting readers to view your blogs can be difficult so today we offer a few ideas from lour fellow authors to help you garner more readers and encourage others to follow you.
You have a desire to become a writer but with a difference. You are wanting to offer your writing services to other writers, businesses, news sheets, blogs etc. But what do you charge for these types of services. Today we discuss how you do it and what the prices should be.
Want to write but don’t have the confidence to start. Well here is a way to help you learn the craft of writing. It's called journaling. It is a writing process used by many writers, new, developing and even established, as it helps develop the art of creating themes and scenes within the mindset. Listen to learn more.
You have a desire to become a writer but with a difference. You are wanting to offer your writing services to other writers, businesses, news-sheets, blogs etc. But what do you charge for these types of services. Today we discuss how you do it and what the prices should be.
Today we discuss why there is a benefit for authors to ensure they offer a digital version of their books. And this includes children's picture books. We explain the 'Look inside' part of Amazon and briefly why you should have a copyright in all your books even the kids ones.
With more and more children's books being written and published are you up to date on the word count? If not, hopefully this podcast will help you decide how many words are, or are not, enough for your next book.
One of the joys of writing picture books is deciding on the images that must compliment the story. After all, pictures tell 50% of the story and therefore they need to be great. In this podcast I talk about finding and working with an artist/illustrator and some finer points you need to know.
What do you do when you think you have been verbally attacked unnecessarily? As a mentor this recently happened to me and it was not nice. So this is how I resolved the problem and how I turned it into a positive for other authors.
When writing it is often too easy to fall into the trap of writing the same old same sentences. Today we talk about you can vary your sentences with the easiest of adjustments, whether it be adding words, removing them or simply just placing them in a differing order.
Becoming a writer can be easy or hard depending on your mindset. In the final part of this 3-part podcast we conclude with our learning from established writer/authors from across the generations. Having been kind enough to share their perspective on how writing should be approached in order to achieve success, we conclude this series and hope you have learnt much to help you in your writing.
Becoming a writer can be easy or hard depending on your mindset. Understanding the genre and style of your writing is also an important part in any writing. In the second of this 3-part podcast we continue learning more from established writer/authors from across the generations, as they offer their perspective on how writing should be approached in order to achieve success.
Becoming a writer can be easy or hard depending on your mindset. Research plays an important part in any writing genre or style. In this 3-part podcast we take on board advice from established writer/authors from across the generations. What is offered is their perspective on how writing should be approached in order to achieve success.
With audio books becoming more and more popular we give you some tips about the best places where you can sell your audio book in order to gain the best return for your efforts.
There are two important but broad elements on Story Setting - Time and Place. In this podcast I explain why it is relevant that you master the art of including both time and place in your writing so as to ensure you produce the best story you can.
What is a writer and what are the benefits for anyone to be able to write regularly. In this podcast we talk about the therapeutic aspects of writing and why you should be doing it.
There have been and there are a lot of ongoing changes happening in Indie publishing and none more so than in the world of Amazon, the home of Indie publishing. This podcast covers some of those changes may have already affected you or that might be doing so in the near future.
A special thank you message with updates to all our listeners about Mentoring Writers from our Mentoring Principle.
In the second of this two part podcast we conclude explaining how to set up your own writing goals. We offer tips and ideas as well as explaining about why you should reward yourself in order to achieve success in your writing.
In this two part podcast we talk about setting your own writing goals. We offer tips and ideas on what you should include to give you the best benefit of having writing goals. We explain why you should set goals and how to reward yourself for achieving them
With Xmas almost upon us there is still time for authors to promote their books both for those last minute buys and for the post Xmas sales in the New Year. Here we talk about some ways you can do this.
Contacting with readers through your blog posts is quite an important and relevant part of promoting both you and your work. In this podcast I have taken some ideas given me by other more established authors and shared them with you. I hope you find them interesting and useful.
Writers love reviews, but are you able to write them. If you can write a review, no matter what the subject or who for, then it will make you a better writer. Learn more how to do this by listening to this podcast.
If you want to be a good writer then it is important to remember that you also need to be a good reader. It's not just a question of reading for pleasure but of also becoming a professional reader in order to write a great book.
Whether we are publishing, creating your website, or writing blogs etc we all need to use keywords so that the search engines can link with so that our readers will be able to discover our content easily. Here are a few short tips on searching for the best keywords.
When it comes to writing it doesn't matter whether you are a new, developing or even an experienced writer there will come a time when you find there are some writing problems you may need help with. In this podcast a few famous authors have shared a few of their tips that help them get through those difficult moments in their writing process.
With summer upon us we writers often the warmer weather starts to sap our brains and suddenly we find ourselves stuck in our writing. Today I am going to give you a few quick suggestions on how to try and overcome the lethargy you might be feeling.
Today's blog podcast is more about me praising you and showing why support is needed by you, to someone else and from your family and friends. As the titles says if you have a book, poetry, blog, or any other piece of work out there in the media world, well I say to you all Well Done. Listen to hear more.
When writing we often get carried away, using words that really are totally unnecessary to the story. Here are few quick tips to help you understand a few terms you should not be including in your manuscript.
In the final of this two-part podcast I will conclude discussing those important elements that all new and developing writers should be aware of when starting to write a novel. These are based upon quotes from famous authors.
In the first of a two-part podcast I am going to discuss some important elements that all new and developing writers should be aware of when starting to write a novel. These are based upon quotes from famous authors.
We have all heard of having at least one good plot in your story. But what about the sub-plots that should also be in there. Remember there are important connections between main plot and sub-plot so listen to discover more.
Have you ever wondered if maybe your lack of success isn't down to poor writing, marketing or being in the right place at the right time? Well, it could be that you are, in fact, afraid of success. Listen to learn more as we discuss reasons why and how to overcome this.
This podcast is aimed at mainly Blog writers, although it does include tips which are still useful for anyone who writes. I will be talking about the basic needs to put a bit of oomph into your writing, whatever it may be.
Writing for children is a joy and a pleasure. None more so when you are creating picture books. Today I am going to discuss the fundamentals of preparing a children's picture book ready for traditional publication.
Today's podcast is all about listening to music whilst you write. Although many writers enjoy peace and tranquillity when creating their stories many others love listening to music. Here are a few good reasons why music can be helpful when writing and why you should create your own writing playlist.
When it comes to covers, picture books and other images we often forget that illustrators and artists as the creator of this work are the official copyright holders. Sometimes though authors try to use images that they believe are in the free domain. This is not always the case unless stated. In this podcast we look at the copyrighting of artistic works and the use therefore.
When it comes to launching a new book we authors need to creative and open-minded. In todays podcast I discuss the various ways you can promote your book in order to reach a wider audience.
Having been nicknamed the 'Fairy Godmother for Aspiring Writers', Ann has decided to podcast some of the questions she gets asked about the writing process. This is to become a regular podcast so if you have any questions you want answering then email them to contact@mentoringwriters.co.uk placing 'Q&A Podcast' in the subject box.
When trying to promote your new book how do you get the information to those potential readers across the world. Here we give you some idea on how to expand your global reach.
When writing a novel or a story of any kind one of the best elements to enhance your tale is the addition of dialogue. Not just good dialogue but great dialogue. Writing effective dialogue is a sure way to keep your readers head inside your book. In the second of this two part podcast we explain how and why great dialogue is the way to go.
When writing a novel or a story of any kind one of the best elements to enhance your tale is the addition of dialogue. Not just good dialogue but great dialogue. Writing effective dialogue is a sure way to keep your readers head inside your book. In first of a two part podcast we explain how and why great dialogue is the way to go.
Receiving an email from a wannabe writer who wanted to be a writer but felt unsure whether or not they could succeed at the craft we responded with the following response. A few tips on what our principle mentor learnt from the experience of her first journey into the writing world.
A short podcast on understanding what DPI (dots per inch) means and how you utilise them in your book and cover design formatting.
We conclude our two part podcast where we explain what being an Author business is all about, and we offer you the types of business options available to you. Courtesy of ALLi - The Alliance of Independent Authors:
Authors often forget they become a business the moment they publish, whether it be a book, short story, media post, blog etc. In this two part podcast we explain what being an Author business is all about, and we offer you the types of business options available to you. Courtesy of ALLi - The Alliance of Independent Authors www.allianceindependentauthors.org
Making sure readers believe the world you have written about is extremely important. Only if they do will your book be a success. Today we discuss four important elements to ensure that your story is realistic and vivid.
Do you need an editor? Today we look at this important question and what you can do to help ensure your manuscript turns out to be the very best it can be.
Rather than sitting and writing and end up suffering with the health issues associated with being hunched over a computer, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc, why not try using voice to text. Here we explain the benefits of trying this more modern way of writing. You never know you might find it works for you.
No matter what genre or style, fiction or non-ficton you write in one of the most important elements before starting is to get your facts right. There is no need in writing historical fiction based in the 19c and using modern language or creating an academic book only to find you have quoted the wrong expert on the subject. It just doesn't work. Here are some tips to ensure you get your facts correct and where to find the right ones.
In todays quick blog we want to offer you a few simple tips to help make your social media more useful to you and your brand as an author.
No matter what genre or style you write your fiction in you still need to know your theme. Choosing a them that best suits your story plot is all important. Today we offer you some useful tips on the differing types of themes that you can implement into your story to create a great book.
In order to make your readers sit up and take interest in your story you really should have introduced some interesting conflict. Todays short podcast offers some ideas on the various ways you can do this.
Monotasking is where you have learnt the ability to concentrate on one job at a time. Today we discuss how learning to monotask will help you not just with your writing but in all the varying aspects of your life.
The question is do you market your current work and backlist or do you start writing your next book. Here we discuss some helpful tips which will show you the best route to choose and why?
Do you want to become the next crime or thriller writer? In this podcast we talk about writing a mystery and what is required to make it a good book.
If you are thinking of starting or have already commenced producing your own podcasts, then todays podcast will help you understand how to create a press kit which help you promote your show to new listeners.
Today we look at the process of an author recording their own audio books. We examine what is involved, what is needed and whether or not it is worth the author's time and effort in producing the recording to achieve a good quality result.
This podcast is aimed at listeners who are authors or potential authors living and publishing in Australia, although some of the content will apply to all Indie Authors. We explain how to submit your book to the Australian Library system. The link to the Prepublication Data Service website is:
It is eesential that when writing about your characters they must not only be relevant to the story but they must stand out. Characters need to be described vividly and be exacting in their role within the story to keep the readers engaged.
As an author I am always willing to share what I have learnt with new, developing and even established authors. Here I offer you a number of tips that I hope will help you improve your writing ability.
Wanting to attract a literary agent? Here we offer you some advice on the principles of writing a good query letter, what it should and should not include, how to do it and what happens afterwards; including the downside to not getting a response!
Who is the narrator of your story? In all stories knowing this is important, even in a children's picture book Here we offer a quick explanation on why you need to get your POV correct from the very start of your story.
Many writers sometimes get feelings of negativity when it comes to their writing. This podcast takes you through the steps of how to recognise, learn to cope with and overcome this side of your creativity, changing them into positive feelings, thoughts and ideas.
Your book is published and now you need to market it. The question is how? Here are a few quick tips and ideas to help you get started.
Often when I receive manuscripts for review and editing the formatting which has been done by the author can make the flow of the story have a few hiccups. In this podcast we offer tips to assist you in giving your manuscript a profesional image.
We offer a short interview with new writer, we have called Jim, who explains how and why he came to writing late in life and his view point on being a successful fiction writer, or not as the case may be?
Being a successful writer is relatively easy. That is if you follow a few simple rules. Today we offer you some very useful tips on how to improve your approach to writing in order to develop your style towards becoming a successful author.
Choosing which tense to use when writing your story can sometimes be difficult. How ever with some care and understanding you should be able to find the right one to suit your storyline.
Understanding what you are worth is very important if you want to be able to write well. If you do know yourself then you will also know your characters and this further enhance the type of story you write. Learn more on understanding both your self and your characters.
Today we offer you an understanding as to why and how you can have a minor secondary or third antagonist within your story. The approach is slightly different and done correctly it won't hurt your story.
After a break from podcasting we explain where we have been and why there has been an absence. We also give you a quick run down of our plans for 2022 and going forward. We hope you will join us. Happy New Year everyone.
Writing usually starts at an early age. That is when you start school. But what about those youngsters who decide they want to take writing seriously. They amaze me with their open mindness and ability to create wonderful stories. Listen why?
You want to be a writer? Listen to this podcast for some useful tips on how to start and go about creating your first manuscript regardless of what genre or theme you want to write about. All authors have to start somewhere - well this podcast tells you how.
Remember, words are our game. They are important to us and we should use them wisely. You are the wordsmith of your tale and need to get your dialogue right, as well as making sure every word counts without being over excessive in their use.
Whenever you are writing fiction in any genre you need to attract, enthrall and keep your readers stuck to their seats; much like watching a great movie. To achieve this end we writers have to introduce conflict into our literature. Here's how.
We all, at some time in our lives, need help with a problem. And the easiest and most effective way to get that help and to learn new things, is to be guided by a person with experience. Working with a Mentor can help you to diversify your skills, build networks and even achieve career growth.
Deciding whether to opt for an imprint as an Indie is one of the most important and earliest decisions you need to make when self-publishing. In this podcast we offer good reasons why you should have an imprint and how to get one to suit you.
Getting readers is sometimes difficult. Here are a couple of tips on how you can engage readers through your social media and blog posts.
We all at sometime or another will have had those moments of self doubt, feelings of depression, and dare I say it, even cases of poor mental health with authors falling in the top 10 of sufferers of depression. Today I welcome lovely Irish lass Pauline Clarke who is a mental health advocate and promoter of Mindfulness - something we can all practice. Learn more.
When Indie Publishing one of the most important elements of the procedure is to ensure that you get your metadata correct. But what is metadata and what function does it play in the promotion of your book.
Today we discuss how authors go about getting a great press release. We will look at the format and the information you need to supply, and how to approach editors.
Today we offer an explanation of what an ISBN is, an ASIN, whether or not you need to include one in your book when Indie Publishing, and where do you obtain one from.
This one is for children's book writers. Today we discover the four most important elements that is characters needed to be part of a good kids book.
This is the concluding part of a three part podcast which offers tips and advice on how you can become not just a writer and author but a best selling one at that. Learn what it takes to start writing a book and how to succeed at it.
This is the second part of a three part podcast which offers tips and advice on how you can become not just a writer and author but a best selling one at that. Learn what it takes to start writing a book and how to succeed at it.
This is Part 1 of a three part podcast which offers tips and advice on how you can become not just a writer and author but a best selling one at that. Learn what it takes to start writing a book and how to succeed at it.
Ade Bowen is an award-winning children's entertainer, stand up comic, author, illustrator, marketing expert, dad and husband as well as being an all-round funny guy. Join Ade and myself as we put the world to rights and talk about him coping with entertaining children throughout lockdown amongst other things happening in his life.
Today I discuss how to go about finding those characters who will make your writing and stories come to life. Discover how to help your readers learn not only to fall in love, hate or misunderstand your characters but also to care about them.
Symbolism? What is it? Especially in writing. Hopefully through this podcast Ann is able to help you understand not only what it symbolism is, but how you can use it within your writing.
Historical fiction/romance is one of the largest genres of writing. In today's podcast we give you some 'tips and how to's' in order to assist those who wish to write in this genre. We hope this helps you understand how to go about creating your first historical novel.
Often writers forget that they are in business. Todays podcast highlights some of the ways in which you can use your writing talent to develop, grow and enhance the business side of being a writer, a blogger, illustrator, etc. Remember readers are leaders!!
This is the second of two podcasts where we take a look at how Indie authors can utilise and use Instagram to develop and grow their reader following, as well as their business. The podcast offers you some fabulous ideas, know-hows, and tips to make this social media platform your own.
Through these podcasts we take a look at how Indie authors can utilise and use Instagram to develop and grow their reader following, as well as their business. The podcast comes in two parts, and offers you some fabulous ideas, know-hows, and tips to make this social media platform your own.
As a self-published/Indie author what is the legal standing with depositing copies of your work (regardless of format) in accordance with the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2013? In this podcast we give a summary of your responsibilities in complying with this legal requirement.
What does a Writing Mentor do when she suddenly feels fed-up and starts wondering what life and her job are all about? This happened recently to author, mentor and podcaster Ann Brady. Here are her thoughts on the subject as she tells how she overcame the feelings bothering her.
If you want to write fantasy fiction then you need ensure you get the right format for your storyline. Here are a few questions and tips for you that we believe will help you in planning your next fantasy book.
There are times when one can suddenly find that sitting down to write or in fact starting to do anything that requires an effort is a chore. You find an excuse to do something, anything rather than the job in hand. We call that procrastination. Today we look at how you can overcome this problem.
Writing rom-com fiction is not for everyone yet it is becoming more and more popular. Here we discuss how one writer discovered how to overcome the pit falls of writing steamy novels in order to deliver good sex scenes and therefore exciting books to read.
How do you know if the publishing contract you have been offered is genuine or even worth the paper it is printed on. Ann tells us about an author friends first experience of being approached by the wrong type of publisher and what you should be aware of?
Sometimes we writers have too much to say. We will explain about how to control the urge to include all you know on a subject, or want to put in a storyline, from being included. It's not easy but its worth remembering Less is More.
Maureen Edwards is an American English Academic who turned author and who was mentored by Ann through a Mentoring Writers Book Programme. Today we learn more about the journey Maureen undertook with Ann in order to produce her first successful debut modern fictional novel titled 'It Is What It Is.'
All writers need to know that what they write is going to be read. In other words you need to know that you writing for and finding your ideal readers. Today we explain how you can do this so as to ensure your work hits the right spots.
Anton Chekhov had a method for using props in his writing and stage plays which proved both interesting and relevant to the final outcome of the story being told. In this podcast we explain more of his methods and how you can use them in your writing.
If you want to use technology to help you with your writing process then why not try one of the writing apps currently available. Scrivener is supposedly one of the best apps on the market at present. Here we receive some useful know how from an experienced user.
All writers including non-fiction ones should be aware of who their ideal readers are. Unless you do how will you know what to write for them and how to attract them to your finished work. Today you will pick up some tips and ideas to help you understand the prose.
In this Interview Ann Brady talks to prolific author, experienced school visitor, workshop creator and YouTuber Colin R Parsons. Colin's books cover a variety of genres and his YouTube videos are aimed at helping children and adults to learn more about th
In this podcast we offer you some advice on how to adapt your sentences so you are showing not telling when writing your story.
Today we discuss the use of speech tags and actions tags and how to lose that common word said and replace it with some action writing.
Understand some of the mistakes that niggle editors when they receive your manuscript for review and edit. And also learn about overcoming some of those grammatical rules and myths that can be kicked out the window.
Has that Gremlin Writers Block hit you? Today we discuss ways in which you can overcome the frustration of that gremlin through exercise etc.
Whether you are submitting to an editor, agent or publisher you really do need to ensure your manuscript is formatted correctly. Not only do these tips help with children's manuscripts they can be adapted for all types of books.
I'm sure many of you will have heard of the TV Detective Columbo. Let me explain to you how the world of TV fiction was used to develop the sales training programme for one of the top coffee providers in the world. You will be surprised at how simple the art of words can bring two worlds together.
Ensuring your story is enticing to readers is the one job all writers really want to achieve. To do this you need to understand where your story is going to go. By drawing up an outline on the crisis, conflict, characters and scenes it will help you produce a book that will flow, and be the best it can possibly be.
A story is only as good as the journey it takes its readers on and part of that journey is allowing readers to hold hands with your characters. Don’t just have good characters, make sure yours are great. Here are some tips to help you create them.
You've written your book but need to fund getting it published. One of the newest ways of doing this is to create a fund from future readers willing to support your reading. Today we talk a bout using Kickstarter to fund your book launch.
Getting your name and details of your book out into the world is as important as writing the book itself. One key element all authors should have is a good Media or Press Kit. Here I list the necessary items needed that you should include in yours.
An informal interview with trained musician, musical educator, professional photographer, writer, poet and now mentor Lis McDermott. She had me laughing by throwing a few surprises into the conversation. A fun interview.
Having doubts about your ability to write? Think your work isn't good enough but a bit wary of approaching anyone professional? Well think about joining a local writing group. You will be surprised at how helpful they can be in helping you overcome your fears and help get you into your writing stride.
'Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder' especially when it comes to choosing books. We all pick a book up by looking at the cover first. Today I chat about some pet hates that many authors have when it comes to book cover designing.
Last of a three-part podcast to help Indie authors be the best self-publisher they can be. We will cover all the areas of the books Development, Production, Cover Design, How Dependencies affect the process, Marketing, and Distribution.
Second of a three-part podcast to help Indie authors be the best self-publisher they can be. We will cover all the areas of the books Development, Production, Cover Design, How Dependencies affect the process, Marketing, and Distribution.
First of a three-part podcast to help Indie authors be the best self-publisher they can be. We will cover all the areas of the books Development, Production, Cover Design, How Dependencies affect the process, Marketing, and Distribution.
Have ever wondered who else is in your relationship besides you and your partner? As a writer you will be surprised to find that we live with other people, if only in our minds, which can at times be worrying. It's even worse for a Mentor like me?
You’ve written a GOOD story, but it's not that good? The reason is probably due to there not being a crisis in it. Or not enough of them to make the story GREAT. Learn how to change the way your story reads.
If you want to keep your readers with you throughout the book then you need to ensure your story has some great chapter endings. Mini cliff-hangers will go a long way to ensuring your readers don't put your book down until they've finished reading it.
Interview with Paula Sheridan, award-winning author, entrepreneur and CEO of The Page Turners Awards who talks to us about her writing and how our listeners can enter the 2021 Page Turners Awards Competition. This is also available as a full video to view on our YouTube Channel - Mentoring Writers Resource Box
Wanting to know which publishing route to take? This podcast will help you learn more about the options open to you as both a traditional and Indie writer.
Being an author isn't just about writing a book and telling a story. There is far more to the job than that. That is why it is important you set yourself the right expectations, otherwise you might not achieve the success you want.
Are you suddenly lost? Wondering who you are? Well here is some friendly advice from someone who understands exactly what you are going through. Remember you are unique. And worthy of being a writer.
This is the second podcast on what you should be doing to market your book whether you are traditionally published or an Indie author. This is where the hard work really begins - the marketing.
You've written your book and might even have had it traditionally published. But that doesn't mean to say you can sit back on your laurels and do nothing more. This is where the hard work really begins - the marketing.
Today we answer some of the more common questions raised not just by Picture Book writers but by all writers. Listen in and see if we answer your questions.
We writers have heard about Beta Readers. How they are important and relevant within our writing journey. Today we discuss why you should have one and how to find them.
Where do you go to get the ideas for a children's adventure story? Why, to the children themselves. Hear what you can learn from the very readers you are trying to impress.
What to do when the nagging finger of doubt starts waving to you and starts telling you what better things you could be doing. Remember, there is nothing better than writing!
Writing for children is both a joy and a privilege as we authors are involved at the beginning of many children's learning through our books. Here we offer you a quick guide on the basics off how to start writing a picture book for children.
When the world or your problems start to get you down but you need to write how do you cope? Here we try and offer you some useful tips which hopefully will help you achieve your goals despite those pressures.
The unique quality of ‘audio drama’ allows writers to build a private and exclusive picture in the mind of each separate member of the audience. If you fancy having a go at writing for audio drama then check out what Neville Teller has to say here.
Good storytellers differentiate between a crisis and conflict; whilst beginning authors often focus on the exciting crisis rather than the conflict that makes readers care about the characters enduring the crisis. Here's why you should try both.
You’ve written your book and need to promote it. One way of doing it is to find ways of advertising through literary journals and magazines. It's a good way to link your book to local interest subjects. Here's how.
This blog podcast looks at the way movie makers use trailers to advertise their movie and how you can utilise and adapt their techniques to promote your horror book.
In the 2nd part of this podcast about writing a children's book we continue with working with an illustrator, how to revise, how to edit and cut out the dross and finally how to publish.
This two-part podcast concentrates on some easy steps to writing a children's book. We start with generating a concept that works, creating a character children will love, knowing the length to write and structuring a good plot.
Whether you are doing it live or online you should always be prepared when it comes to doing storytelling sessions. Here are a few tips and ideas to help get you started.
Every author should have a website that compliments their written work. In this podcast Award-winning website creator and author, Ann Brady offers you some tips to help create a good author website.
Getting your book noticed takes more than just telling people about it through social media. In this podcast, we suggest alternative ways for you to promote your book. A good book press release can work wonders if you choose your media wisely.
Are you new at writing and want to write a novel? Well like all good things it’s important to practice. Learn why and how writing short stories can help you and benefit your overall writing.
You’ve published your book and want it to do well. But whatever you do don’t rely on reviews alone. It takes more than gathering reviews to make you a great author or to get your book selling. Check out our ‘positive ways’ advice in order to achieve success.
Many Indie Authors forget how important good editing is. If you want your book to be well presented and to do well then make sure you find a good editor and a proof-reader before pushing that publish button.
Whatever we do in life we usually set ourselves goals. Writing is not different. Having goals for your writing journey is very important if you want to succeed and produce the best product you can – your book.
If the idea of starting to write on your own concerns you why not look at the idea of joining up with a writing buddy. Here we show the positive side of having a co-writer to help you start along your writing journey.
Everyone appears to be blogging these days. But the question is: are you doing it right? Today we look at how you can set up your own blog posting site or improve the one you already have in order to increase your followers.
Being able to tell the difference between plot and plot point is very relevant in any storytelling. With the help of 'The Handmaid’s Tale' and 'Where the Wild Things Are.' our speaker will show you that understanding the difference is also equally important.
Today we discuss how to understand why the first draft isn’t always the finished one but only the beginning. The problems experienced by the speaker shows that even the more practiced of authors can find it hard sometimes getting beyond that first draft.
Being able to find the right setting where our characters are comfortable isn’t always easy. Here are some useful tips to help you understand the process of researching those out-of-the-way places that entice readers to want to find out more.
This is a question often asked. Here we endeavour to explain the difference between the various editors but in particular what the role of a copy editor is and how relevant they are to making sure your manuscript is the best.
In a follow-up to Part 1 we explore the use of using emails lists and ‘freebie Reader Magnets’ in gathering our desired readers around us. By doing this we create and increase our followers which leads to other benefits such as more book sales.
It doesn’t matter if you are a new or established writer or blogger, we all need to gather our readers around us. Learn to understand how you can use ‘Reader Magnets’ in order to entice those desired customers into your world.
There comes a time when we have to look inwards and discover if we are approaching things wrongly. This includes how we perceive and talk to others regardless of what age they are. Here’s how our Mentor discovered the Us and Them syndrome!
Many authors wonder whether they should incorporate a Prologue into their book. It’s a good question so here are a few reasons as to whether you should or shouldn’t have a prologue, foreword. Preface or introduction.
Today we offer a few simple tricks to help new and developing writers get the best from Facebook by increasing their number of likes.
The question is do I need a copyright notice? We think you do. Here’s why and what’s involved in creating one.
Sometimes it’s hard being a writer. You hit that gremlin, that wall, the one we refer to as writer’s block. This inspirational blog is aimed at helping you rethink why you write and what those precious words mean to you, me and everyone else?
How should you present your manuscript when submitting it to an agent or publisher? Here we off you some friendly advice on how to make your work look good when placed before a publisher’s editor.
This blog is aimed at tempting you into changing your writing style by looking at writing in the second person; something very few authors fail to attempt. Give it a go and see how you do.
Many Authors face the awkward decision as to what they should put in their correspondence when approaching an agent or a publisher who they want to look favourably at their manuscript. Here I offer you a few useful tips and ideas…
In this blog, we offer you some tips on how to create a great synopsis to help you when approaching agents and publishers.
This is the second episode of a two-part podcast where I discuss the type of mistakes a large number of new and established authors make when it comes to marketing. Learn how not to make those mistakes…
When marketing your book, and yourself, you need to ensure you get things right. In this two-part podcast, I discuss the type of mistakes a large number of new and established authors make when it comes to marketing…
When writing manuscripts, the writer needs to be aware of the correct amount words required to suit the genre they are writing in. Whilst not set in stone, word count is important when it comes the publisher. Find out why…
That is the question. It doesn’t matter if you are a newbie or someone who has been writing for awhile now, you can still benefit from a writing workshop or retreat. Listen to hear how and why you should at least attend a workshop every so often.
In the final part of this four-part podcast, we will talk about trying to get a book deal with a traditional publisher.
The aim of part three of this four-part podcast we will talk about getting a book deal and how to get your book in front of a literary agent if you are not self-publishing
The aim of part two of this four-part podcast talks about completing your story and what happens once you have finished. We also discuss editing and beta readers.
The aim of this and the following 3 podcasts is to inform new and developing writers on how to approach the craft of writing, supply ideas on what to write, and how to go about preparing your writing format and storyboard planning.
Ann talks about being consulted by young people. She tells us how one young man asks an important question and how a young 13-year-old lady, in particular, shows her maturity in her reaction and responses to the idea of being published.
From Dr Seuss to Julia Donaldson picture books have been around for some time and the market appears to be growing. Here is some useful advice on how you can become a good picture writer. We will cover: # Memorable Characters # Repetition # Rhythm and Rhyme # Baddies # Don’t forget the Illustrator
A writer should always be comfortable and settled in where they write. Here we discuss a few places where you can feel at home while letting your creative juices flow.
Today we ask you whether or not you are an Author? Good question but is it one you are prepared to answer if you have just started the writing journey? Listening to this podcast will show you that yes you can say you are an author, that you can stand up and be counted in the writing world. All it takes is confidence. Find out how.
Today Ann looks at how one addresses making new plans when things don’t work out, the way they should; usually through no fault of your own. This is how Ann coped with such a decision – with a strong heart and wit!
In part one Create a Writing Schedule podcast we covered being committed to writing, internal momentum, external factors and how interruptions can derail your writing efforts. We continue in part two by looking at: # Planning Your Writing Schedule # Organising Your Writing Ideas & Research # Creating a Routine Time for Writing # Developing Healthy Writing Habits
This podcast, although aimed mainly at those writing for children, it can be utilised for any writing project with some adaptions. In part one we cover becoming committed to writing as well as: # Internal Momentum That Gets You Writing # The External Factor to Make Time for Writing # Interruptions That Derail Your Writing Efforts
Mentor and author Ann Brady will talk about her journey into writing and what happened after she reached that important age of retirement.
If you have started writing but are not sure whether it’s a novel or a novella you are creating. Today’s podcast talks about word count in genres for adult writing. Children’s word count will be covered in another podcast later.
Today we discuss where to look for inspiration when wanting new and exciting ideas for your writing. You will be surprised where and how you can attain these.
Many authors and writers live their writing life to a certain set of rules. By doing this it helps them cope with the two worlds they occupy: the one of their imagination where they write what is flowing their minds – and the real world of everyday living. In this podcast, we explain what these rules or Commandments are and how they can help new writers settle into the craft of writing.
New writers often feel nervous about their writing. In this Blog we explain how you can gain some writing experience by entering competitions. It’s a great way to build confidence and enhance your writing ability.
Before starting to write every writer should understand the basics and that starts with some technical knowledge. To get the ball rolling we offer a summary of some basic tech skills you need to know; including: # Using Styles # Track Changes # Creating a PDF
This podcast introduces you to Mentoring Writers, their principle mentor Ann Brady and the Kids4Kids Organisation aimed at helping younger writers. Ann will introduce herself, and tell you what Mentoring Writers is all about.