Advice for Aspiring Writers

In this blog post, we have gathered advice for aspiring writers from ten of our authors. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, trying to overcome writer’s block or want to know where to start, we hope these authors can offer you some helpful words of wisdom.

Douglas Bruton, author of Blue Postcards (2021), With or Without Angels (2022) and Woman in Blue (2025).

‘There’s lots of writing advice out there. But for me there’s only one really good piece of advice – write and write and write. Oh and read a lot too. Challenge yourself. Put in the 10,000 hours – write to stretch yourself. Write for your own pleasure and really enjoy it. Getting published by a big name publisher is really hit or miss. So write because you want to, have to, need to. Just write. And then write some more. And keep on writing – on and on and on.’

Jenna Warren, author of The Moon and Stars (2022) and The Hometown Bookshop (2025).

‘Write what you enjoy, whether it’s fanfiction, surreal fantasy, or whatever. I think it’s helpful to read widely, because I’ve learned a lot from reading books outside my genre, but ultimately I think you have to write what you love, and explore subjects that interest you. Writing a novel is a long process, so I think it’s important to enjoy it.’

Clare O’Dea, author of Voting Day (2022), a Fairlight Moderns novella, and Before the Leaves Fall (2025).

‘Be disciplined, finish things and then move on. Try out different forms and don’t get stuck on your first manuscript forever. It might not be the one.’

Allan Radcliffe, author of The Old Haunts (2023) and Blurred Faces (2025).

‘The key thing I’ve learned is to have a flexible mindset, so that if something isn’t working, you can flip the script, kill off characters, start again from scratch if necessary. All first drafts are rubbish, and it can be hard to see a way through that tangled wood but hacking away at a text can also be fun.’

Alan Robert Clarke, author of The Prince of Mirrors (2018), its sequel, Valhalla (2020) and The Redemption of Isobel Farrar (2023).

‘The clichéd advice to aspiring writers is ‘if you want to write, read’. That’s undeniably true, but I’d also say ‘if you want to write, write.’ If you have some talent, the more you write the better you’re likely to get. But it definitely needs a certain discipline. Ernest Hemingway said of the writing process ‘there are no failures of talent, only failures of character.’ I tell myself that on the days when I know I should be writing, but really can’t be arsed. It makes me sit down and do it. And hey ho, some days, it’s not complete crap after all. Thanks Ernest.’

Lynda Clark, author of Beyond Kidding (2019)

‘Don’t worry too much about writing X words a day. Just doing some writing is more important than a specific number. And consume as many stories as you can, whether they’re books or TV or films or videogames or things your neighbour tells you. I think the more varied your input, the more interesting your output. But then maybe I’m just a massive slacker.’

Katherine Mezzacappa, author of The Maiden of Florence (2024).

‘Read widely but well. Put simply, if you read garbage then you are more likely to produce it. Remember that writing is a habit, not a hobby. Do it daily; don’t wait for ‘the right moment’ as that is now. Don’t worry about how good what you write is each day, as you can go back and revise tomorrow. You’ll never be able to revise a blank page.’

Richard Smythe, author of  The Woodcock (2021)

‘Take your work very seriously indeed, and yourself not seriously at all.’

Elizabeth Mac Donald, author of A Matter of Interpretation (2019)

‘Having been an aspiring writer until very recently, I would say – Never give up. Persevere. And along the way, hone your craft as best you can.’

Gill Darling, author of Erringby (2021).

‘Susan Sontag said it best: “Love words, agonize over sentences, and pay attention to the world.”’

If you enjoyed the advice from our authors, you can view our list of authors here and read their full interviews.