The Creative Writing Blog

Middle grade fiction is wonderful to write and incredibly fun to read. It’s diverse and vibrant, and middle grade readers are ready for all kinds of adventures. But writing middle grade can...

There’s nothing that brings fiction to life like complex characters. To read them is a joy. But to write them… That can be a little trickier. How do you make characters memorable,...

Keeping abreast of publishing trends is a great idea for writers, whether they dream of becoming self published authors or are more interested in having their story turned into print books via ...

There are lots of things you can expect from the writing life: excitement, fun, creative freedom, deep rewards, lifelong friends. But another thing you can almost count on is the fact you will,...

Sometimes, writers have a swarm of ideas buzzing around their brains. Every overheard conversation on the bus, every dishwashing daydream, every insistent but why? from a child can spark off a new...

The world of chapter books and middle-grade books is a truly enchanting one. There are rollicking tales that are great to read aloud to early readers, beginner chapter books for children who are...

Have you ever read a book with a fantastic story, only to wish the dialogue was – well, a little better written?

‘The characters all sounded the same.’

‘Nobody talks like...

A truth many writers would rather not acknowledge is that the editing process is a big part of the writing process. And – what’s often even scarier – the rewriting process is a...

Are you wondering how to open a novel? You’re not alone. It can be one of the biggest sticking points writers face – not least because it’s often what will grab (or not!) the...

As all of us who have tried our hand at the writing life know, self doubt and an inner critic can be the biggest hurdles we face. But resilient writers are successful writers, and self esteem is a...

Writers of fantasy fiction are often curious about how they can extend their story into several novels. After all, you’ve created a rich, engrossing fantasy world, and a main character with...

Books on writing aren’t necessarily the only books that can help beginning writers hone their craft. After all, any work that inspires, motivates and educates is of immense value to fiction...

As you set about writing – or editing – a gripping novel, you might come up against the question of how to add tension to your story. Maybe you’ve got a great idea that packs in...

Stacey Halls is the author of The Familiars, which was the bestselling debut novel of 2019. Her second historical fiction novel The Foundling was published in 2020, and her...