Success Story – Moonlight in Odessa

November 17, 2010
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Success Story – Moonlight in Odessa

An interview with Janet Skeslien Charles In the Spring of 2008 I attended Janet Skeslien Charles’ writing course in the infamous Shakespeare & Co bookshop on the left bank in Paris. On the last evening of the 6 week course when we brought in snacks to share together with our writing, Janet was bursting with happiness, as her agent had received several strong offers for her debut novel Moonlight in Odessa. Eighteen months later it has been internationally acclaimed and published in ten languages (check out some of the covers here). It was one of Publishers Weekly top ten...
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I’m Not a Real Writer

October 26, 2010
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I’m Not a Real Writer

The belief “I’m not a real writer” is one of the biggest emotional monsters living in the writer’s psyche. It’s not just new or unpublished writers who feel or think like this, ALL writers can sit in this category including those with several books under their name:  journalists who wish they could write fiction, romance novelists who think that aren’t literary enough, writers who have hang ups about their spelling or education, have day jobs unrelated to writing, or believe that they are too normal. Do you want to change your mind? Do you really want to change the...
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Write Your Tagline and Logline

October 21, 2010
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Write Your Tagline and Logline

A tagline is a memorable phrase that sums up your book and makes people want to read it. A logline is a one- or two-sentence summary of your plot that does the same job.  Both have their uses. Writing your own tagline and logline is valuable because You have an instant answer to the irritating question ‘What is your book about?’  And you can answer it whilst adhering to the fundamental rule Never talk about your book!  When a friend or stranger asks you what you are working on, you can tell them succinctly, and with confidence. They build...
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What is Your Book About?

October 14, 2010
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What is Your Book About?

After reading the article ‘Never talk about your book’ you are now faced with the problem of how to answer the question ‘What’s your book about?’ without endangering your novel in the process. Your instinctive reaction will depend on your natural conversational style and whether you are an extrovert or introvert. Admittedly no one fits in a nice little box; some outrageous extroverts clam up at the mention of their creative work and suffer from ‘I’m not a real writer’ syndrome. Likewise those who consider themselves a reserved character may relish the chance to discuss their next masterpiece. Either...
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Never Talk About Your Book

October 14, 2010
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Never Talk About Your Book

Pretty much the worst thing you can do to yourself, and your book, is talk about it before you’ve finished writing it. The temptation can be strong, especially in the early stages when you’ve got this brilliant idea that excites you and keeps you up at night. Resist, resist, resist. Later, when much of it is under your belt but no-one else has seen evidence of its existence, it can difficult not to mention something that is such a vital part of your life. Before you do, prepare a succinct give-nothing-away answer to the question ‘what’s your book about?’...
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