for writers

Resource Library

Welcome to the resource library for writers! Here you can browse through my collection of blog posts, advice, and recommended resources on all things writing, editing and publishing. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re starting out, thinking about self-publishing, or submitting to agents. 

the revision stage

Editing

the writing stage

Writing craft

agents and publishers

Traditional publishing advice

indie authors

Self-publishing advice

author interviews

Author Journeys series

books for writers

Recommended reading

  • Book cover for Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, watercolours in pink, blue and yellow splash against the title
  • Book cover for Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, a cat dangles from a rope by the book's title which is against an orange background
  • Book cover for Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, classic painted artwork of people talking and moving around, with an orange border
  • Book cover for The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglist, a black and blue cover with an image of emotional words
  • Book cover for The business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman, a mustard yellow background with the book's title encased in white circles
  • Book cover for Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, faded text with inked edits against a white background
  • Book cover for Scene and Structure by Jack M. Bickham, a simple blue cover with white text
  • Book cover for The Penguin Guide to Punctuation, a simple cover with purple, white and black strips
  • Book cover for The Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein, a blue background with an open book containing trees, houses and clouds
  • Book cover for Paper Hearts: Some Publishing Advice by Beth Revis, a red typewriter on a piece of paper, with a fading green star heart
  • Book cover for Paper Hearts: Some Marketing Advice by Beth Revis, a blue typewriter on a piece of paper, with an orange tick
  • Book cover for Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice by Beth Revis, a blue typewriter on a piece of paper, with a pink heart
  • Book cover for Stephen King's On Writing, King writes pn a typewriter against a greyscale window
  • Book cover for How to Write Black Characters: An Incomplete Guide by Salt & Sage Books, a blue cover with a black woman wearing gold hoop earrings, red lipstick and an afro hairstyle
  • Book cover for Writing: A User Manual by David Hewson, a black cover with a brown eye close-up along the top
on the web

Useful links

Literary agents

QueryShark – Search for agents and keep track of responses. Note: not all UK agents are listed in the database.

Bookends Literary YouTube – Lots of informative videos on traditional publishing from this team of literary agents. 

Manuscript Wish List: Find out what agents and editors are looking for.

Writer Beware: A useful page about literary scams and red flags to watch out for when submitting to agents or publishers.

Complete Guide to Query Letters: A guide to query letters from Jane Friedman.

Writing and editing

Writing with Color: Writing resources and guides on writing diversely.

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions: Giant list of world-building questions from Patricia C. Wrede. 

Conscious Style Guide: A guide to conscious/mindful language, covering things like health, disability, ethnicity and race, sexuality, etc.

Historical Thesaurus of English: Research the usage/origin of English words and phrases. Useful for historical fiction authors. 

Writer Beware – Editors and Editing: Fantastic page on what different types of editors do, and how to avoid unqualified or questionable editors.

Organisations

Society of Authors: Trade union for authors.

Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) – Non-profit organisation for self-publishing authors.

Romantic Novelists’ Association: Encouraging romance authors and promoting the writing of romance fiction.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association: For published authors writing in sci-fi/fantasy and similar genres.

The Crime Writers’ Association: They support and promote crime writing/crime authors of all kinds.

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: For writers/artists working across kidlit.

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