Articles

Read stories from our experts and community, and find out more about the world of writing in our exclusive interviews with authors, agents, publishers, editors, and screenwriters.

Join us at our first-ever online writing festival

This year is a special one for us at the Professional Writing Academy, it’s our 10-year anniversary and we’re celebrating it a little differently…

How to have confidence when marketing your book

SilverWood Books’ Debra Penrice explores the tools to help you market your book. However, before picking your strategy, she explains why confidence must come first.

Disability representation in the publishing industry

Course alumna Penny Batchelor, author of My Perfect Sister and Her New Best Friend, explores disability representation and action in the publishing industry today.

How we designed a crime scene investigation course for writers

Police Advisor Graham Bartlett details his experiences designing our unique online course where writers race to ‘solve a murder’.

Does self-publishing compromise quality?

Busting the myths: conventional publishing versus self-publishing

Publishing director Helen Hart offers insight into conventional publishing and how you might benefit from retaining more control in a hybrid, professional self-publishing process.

How do you write a funny book?

Faye Brann explains how to write a funny book

Comedy Women in Print winner Faye Brann explains how her experiences in improv comedy gave her the confidence to pen her first novel.

Michael Lynes on independently publishing his debut novel

Michael Lynes shares his experiences of publishing his first novel Blood Libel and learning how to promote himself online and find his readership.

10 NaNoWriMo tips from a published author

Bestselling author Heidi Rice successfully completed NaNoWriMo. Here’s what she learnt from the process.

UK police and firearms: how to write gripping and credible drama

Police Advisor Graham Bartlett explains when UK police carry firearms and how to write credible crime fiction without losing an ounce of the drama.

Getting published during a pandemic.

Penny Batchelor on getting a book published during a pandemic

From Zoom book launches to online lit festivals – alumna Penny Batchelor tells us about her debut novel My Perfect Sister and her journey to publication in 2020.

How to revolutionise your online research.

Why OSINT is an essential tool for writers

Adam LeBor explains how you can revolutionise your online writing research and security by understanding Open Source Intelligence (OSINT).

Creative writing can help preserve our mental health

Introduction to Therapeutic and Reflective Writing tutor Anne Taylor explains how writing can preserve our wellbeing.