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Stories from our community

The Road to Publication: Ten Things I’ve Learned as a Debut Author

I’ve wanted to be a children’s author ever since I was seven. For me, Narnia was where it all started. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe captured my heart and my imagination – and I spent far too much time in wardrobes as a child as a result. I never found a portal to…

Resilience

Eight things I wish I’d known before self-publishing my first novel

Discover the hard-earned lessons of self-publishing, from mastering book promotion to building an author brand. Learn what it takes to thrive as an indie author.

water

The Unexpected Author: Yvonne Vincent’s Journey to Bestseller Success

Bestselling author Yvonne Vincent tells how a lockdown project became a self-publishing phenomenon rivalling Richard Osman in sales.

From Draft to Bestseller: Lucy Steeds’ Success with Waterstones Book of the Year

Professional Writing Academy alum Lucy Steeds wins Waterstones Book of the Year with her debut ‘The Artist’. Read about her journey from student to sensation.

Heron stood in body of water

How judging competitions changed my writing

Mary Murray Bartolomé reveals what judging writing competitions taught her about craft.

Slogging at Blogging & A Jacket Full of Strange Tales

Slogging at Blogging & A Jacket Full of Strange Tales

We catch up with the Northern Wordsmiths as they launch their blog and debut their logo.

Passion, Tenacity and Self-Belief: The Path to a Publishing Deal

Writing a Novel alum Jo Morey shares her journey from course to book deal – and what she learned along the way.

Waging a War on Writers’ Block

Follow the journey of the Fiction Foundations 2024 alumni as they evolve into the Northern Wordsmiths.

The key to getting a publishing deal

Abigail Johnson, author of The Secret Collector, reflects on the path to publication following the release of her debut novel.

Alumni Community: Our events for October & November 2024

Alumni community: our events for October & November 2024

See what’s on in our Alumni community in September and October.

Alumni community: our events for June & July 2024

See what’s on in our Alumni community in June and July 2024.

Alumni community: our events for May & June 2024

See what’s on in our Alumni community in May and June 2024.