This month I went to speak to one of the U.K.’s top selling authors, see below for Lord Jeffrey Archer’s top tips on becoming a best seller.
Mark Dawson’s renowned self-publishing show returns to London this summer. Link below.
And a summary of our dates still available this Spring.
Only a couple of spaces left on most of the following monthly retreats:
– Tutored Retreat, 4 days residential
Tues 11.4.23 – “How to Write a Commercial Novel”, with a fab Open University tutor, lots of handouts, great for beginners, inspiring and fun.
– Tutored Retreat, 4 days residential
Mon 15.5.23 – “Develop Your Novel,” sold out every time so far! Our most popular tutor. Nurturing, fascinating, rewarding.
– Tutored Retreat, 4 days residential
Mon 12.6.23 – “Memoirs with Marnie,” get great guidance from one of the best memoirs tutors in the country. Marnie is a magical mentor and will guide you through everything you need to know to write your life story. This Retreat will also feature one session on the basics of self-publishing, ready for when you finish your memoir.
Literally the last couple of places left on all three tutored retreats above.
– Just Write Retreat – no workshops, just ‘me-time.’
Mon 10.7.23, four nights, no tutor. No chores, own cosy room, like-minded company, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea/coffee/cake, supper with wine. Mini home gym and lovely countryside walks.
Just recently added to the schedule – lots of interest already but space is still available if you’re quick. No other retreats currently on the schedule, others may be added – follow us on social media, watch out for the new blogs, and keep reading the newsletter to find out first.
All of our retreats can be found on the themed events page listed here.
NB New dates for the late summer/autumn will be added, so sign up for the newsletter here to be the first to know – newsletter recipients find out first about new retreats! (FYI, later, we add each newsletter to the blog page, so you can always look back to see what you’ve missed afterwards.)
Mark Dawson self publishing formula London seminar – superb couple of days hearing success stories, advice on all aspects of self-publishing, and ongoing podcasts and webinars. Having self published my first couple of novels, I have a dream of returning to it one day in the future! Many call themselves hybrid authors, and have the best of both worlds, sometimes using different pen names. Last year they featured sessions with advice on getting the best out of ads, too. Tickets for the show now on sale here.
Lord Archer’s Tips on Becoming a Bestseller
1. A prima ballerina is there because of the hours of dedication. I could do 14 to 15 drafts before submitting to the publishers. I get up at 6 am and write for a couple of hours, every day, I look forward to it. Then I spend time thinking about the book for the rest of the day. Sometimes an idea will come out of nowhere and I rush to write it down before it’s replaced by something else. When I’m writing, which is most of the time, it’s forefront in my mind. I may take a break for several weeks and come back to it fresh.. But If you don’t put in the hours you won’t succeed. There are no shortcuts.
2. If you feature historical events, or real life facts, make sure they are accurate. One mistake I made created a stink – someone being read the Miranda rights, two years earlier than they were actually introduced. But if you are mixing fictional characters with real people from the past, you can make it up to your heart’s content as long as it stays within the parameters of realism and believability for that period.
3. Some people plan, but I have a general idea and I just write. Sometimes I have no idea where my characters are going to take me next. I go with the journey and see what comes out. But you may be different. Listen to others’ techniques, but don’t try to be them. You will know in your gut if you’re doing it the right way for you. Don’t be scared to ditch it if it’s not working. I once had to rewrite an entire manuscript, replacing one character with another. But it was better and it worked. Be brave.
4. Know your characters inside out, how would they react in certain situations? I don’t care what their favourite colour is, however. If that works for you, do it, but it doesn’t for me. What I do care about, is where they’ve come from, humble beginnings or fallen nobles. What drives them, what propels them forward in the novel. The reader has to care about the characters. If you don’t, they won’t.
5. Check, check and check again. It’s easy to miss a contradiction. Don’t rely on your publisher or editor – sometimes they miss them too. Make your final draft the best it can possibly be, then press send.
I got to interview Lord Jeffrey Archer in his home office in Vauxhall, after writing to ask if he would give me advice, having listened to his page-turner novels. The Clifton Chronicles saga, followed by William Warwick’s adventures, multi million sellers every one. He is such a good storyteller. One of his books, “Next in Line,”is based around the last few years of Princess Diana, but incorporated a made-up lover, much made up dialogue, and interactions with the novel’s main characters. My current novel, (yes, I’m still writing it, regulars!), “French Or Dutch”, is based around some real events 100 years ago – but only loosely. I was not disappointed and after his kind interview, I came away feeling inspired. Thank you very much Lord Archer and his assistant Alison for helping to make it happen.