Serious about writing a novel?

If you are serious about writing a novel – like me – please consider the following, all learned from Anita’s course at Castle of Park:

Join the Romantic Novelists’ Association – I know it sounds naff, but it is for middle market fiction and just has a silly name! They have a new writers’ scheme that gets you a fantastic crit and their meetings allow you to rub shoulders and network with the best.

Also, read Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’
Get a dictionary of slang and another of names, buy The Writer’s Handbook or The Artists and Writers Yearbook.
Know that the average length of time it takes to get a novel published is EIGHT YEARS!
Know that only 1000 authors in the UK can live off their writing
Know that age is no barrier to getting published
and that luck and skill are both vital!

Good luck

Jo