by lesley | Feb 11, 2026 | Author Guide
Most of the people in the book industry I know will say ‘Yes, definitely.’ Even if you’re a talented writer, you’re probably too close to your work to be objective. Editors aren’t proofreaders (although they will make spelling, punctuation and grammar corrections as...
by lesley | Feb 4, 2026 | Author Guide
Most authors type the last full stop and heave a sigh of relief. All the hard work is done, now they can send the manuscript to the publisher and wait for their precious book to land in their hand. Sorry, but you’re just getting started – not at the end! It doesn’t...
by lesley | Jan 28, 2026 | Author Guide
When I talk to people about writing a book, the responses are pretty evenly split between: “I’ve been meaning to get around to writing a book.” And “I could never write a book.” (And, of course, there are a few people who have already achieved author status!) Both...
by lesley | Jan 21, 2026 | Author Guide
You might hear fiction authors discussing ‘narrative arcs’ and ‘plotting’, but even non-fiction books need stories. Why? Because people engage more and remember better when there’s a story that brings your point to life. The difference between a fictional story and...
by lesley | Jan 14, 2026 | Author Guide
I recently read an excellent post on LinkedIn about ‘inspiration’. The point was being made by a commercial copywriter, that professional writers can’t afford to wait for inspiration or we’d never be able to sustain a business! When you’re facing the task of writing...
by lesley | Jan 7, 2026 | Author Guide
When you tell someone you’re writing a non-fiction book, they’ll often ask if you’ve done your research. They’re usually thinking about fact-checking, verifying statistics, or making sure your content is accurate. And yes, that matters. But...
