The power of NO
The life of a published author is a tricky one. We expect the hard work, the industry rejections, life on the bread line and a tiny bit more attention than we had before - but what many writers don't expect is the vast number of unreasonable...
The Big Secret to Getting Published
The big secret to getting your book published is…there’s no secret. So if you’ve clicked on this article thinking I'm going to tell you the holy grail of making it to the NYT bestsellers list - then sorry, because the real answer is very long and boring. Let's get...
One Book – Launched Two Years Apart
My readers are confused and I owe them an explanation. As a writer I love to make people feel things – ALL the things; happiness, curiosity, sadness, excitement, every thrill of a decent read. So, you can imagine my dismay, when I realised I'd also been...
How to Deal with Criticism
‘How do you deal with bad reviews?’ people ask me. ‘I’ve never had one, I’m an amazing writer!’ I reply. Then laugh maniacally – because it’s not true. EVERY writer gets bad reviews at some point in their career. Along with sleepless nights, virtually no...
Why Can’t Female Protagonists be Lovable Aholes Too?
I’ve got a question for you. What makes a great female protagonist? A strong and fearless role model? A sweet and caring girl? Somebody who treats everyone around her with love, respect and humility? Well...they sound like pretty good traits for a human, full...
Why You Need To Leave A Book Review
Hey, did you enjoy the last book you read? Oh, you did! Well that’s fantastic...did you leave a review? No? But why? I can’t tell you how many times I have had this conversation. As an author I may be a bit biased when I say this but please, for the love the book...
10 Ways Writing a Book is Like Having a Baby
They say that nothing compares to having children. The pain! The ecstasy! The sense of responsibility, anticipation and complete and utter delusion that goes with expecting your first bundle of joy, carrying it, birthing it and living the life of a mum. Well I’ve...
Why We All Need Fantasy Fiction Right Now
I think most would agree that the world is in a bloody mess right now. I can’t switch on the TV or flick through Twitter without turning it back off again. An Orwellian reality looms, like a prequel to a post-apocalyptic teen movie, Facebook post after post sending me...
3 Unique Ways to Plan your Novel
Are you a visual thinker and struggling to plan your next novel? Four years ago I decided to write my first book. I had a great story in mind, a bunch of interesting characters and a most importantly of all a huge desire to do so. I’ve been a writer all my life; in...
Why YA is Bigger than Ever
I wasn’t aware that I had written a YA novel until my manuscript was snapped up by UK publisher Accent Press for their YA division. ‘Fantastic!’ I thought...then I ran off to look up what YA meant. ‘Young Adult’ literature (or its slightly raunchier big sister ‘New...
How to Find Inspiration
I had a giggle with a fellow author the other day. “I offered to beta read a friend’s first draft,” she told me. “Except she was worried I might steal her idea.” And we laughed and laughed and laughed. Why? Because if you are a writer by trade, be it a fiction author...
Love or Romance?
I write Romance Fantasy novels for young adults. When people ask me ‘why did you choose to write Romance?’ I answer ‘I didn’t’. Very few writers choose what genre they wish to specialise in before they start plotting story lines and ideas, they simply write the kind...
Modest Writers don’t Succeed
Welcome to my first blog post as N J Simmonds for my brand new author website. So seeing as you're reading all about me, I thought it was fitting to begin my blog journey by dispelling the biggest of writing myths. To be a good writer you need to be modest. You know...