Pantster or Plotter? My Unfinished Journey...
I find the pantster v plotter debate fascinating. I've only really become aware of it as my first two books were being published -...
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tomalanauthor
Apr 305 min read
Editing: Second Time Around
A little background: I wrote The Last App between 2018 and 2020. Then, during the Covid lockdown, between March and July 2020, I wrote...
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tomalanauthor
Apr 195 min read
Meet the Cast of The Last App
Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/flat-design-couple-arguing-silhouette_41339855.htm">Freepik</a> The set-up: Mick...
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tomalanauthor
Nov 21, 20233 min read
To Title Your Chapters, or Not to Title Your Chapters...?
I'm grateful to @kctorawrites and @ElisaSaphier for asking questions on Twitter about naming (or not naming) chapters in books. They made...
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tomalanauthor
May 20, 20235 min read
Add a Catchy Title...
If you use Wix for your website you'll know that 'Add a Catchy Title' is their default invitation to write a new blog post. I thought it...
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tomalanauthor
May 6, 20237 min read
Write What You Know...?
It's an old adage, but I decided I'd stick close to it for my debut novel, Hitting the Jackpot (Bloodhound Books). It's the story of Jack...
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tomalanauthor
Apr 7, 20234 min read
I've Written My Book... Now, Can I Design a Front Cover...?
My publisher emailed asking me to pick some book covers that I thought would give the design team an idea of the type of thing I'd like...
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tomalanauthor
Mar 4, 20235 min read
Editing: Through the Eyes of a Debut Author
Hitting the Jackpot is my debut novel, so it's my first experience of being 'edited'. This post isn't going to be a 'how to' guide,...
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tomalanauthor
Feb 19, 20233 min read
Isn't One Pseudonym Enough...?
Two pseudonyms? Yes, I agree, it's a bit much. But there is an explanation - well, there are two... When I moved to Spain (2006) to teach...
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tomalanauthor
Jan 29, 20235 min read
Meet the Cast of Hitting the Jackpot
The set-up: Cindy (millennial, Aussie, gig-economy fitness instructor) is divorcing Jack (millennial, Brit, gig-economy English teacher)....
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tomalanauthor
Jan 29, 20233 min read
So, Where Shall I Set the Action...?
This is Cricklewood, in North London. My book (Hitting the Jackpot) is about Jack, Lottery jackpot winner. Seeing as his wife (Cindy) is...
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tomalanauthor
Jan 17, 20233 min read
How I Wrote a Romcom - by Accident
So, right, confession time - I didn't set out to write a romcom. Who, me? Don't get me wrong, I like romcoms, well, I like the films. I...
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tomalanauthor
Jan 9, 20234 min read
After the First Draft...?
I felt a huge sense of relief when I finished the first draft of Hitting the Jackpot. There was my story on screen - beginning, middle,...
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tomalanauthor
Nov 27, 20225 min read
Writing During the Spanish COVID Lockdown...
March 2020, Spain entered lockdown - but what a lockdown. We could leave our homes to buy food, go to the health centre, or visit the...
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