Keep on Movin' like a 90s boyband - and other writer tips

Opportunities including Journalism speed-mentoring. NCTJ Diversity Fund, Newsrewired conference, #Lovestoriesetc festival, Nero Book Awards

Write Reject Repeat - AI can’t spell unfortunately

Hello and welcome to Write Reject Repeat. If you are new here thanks for reading and please make sure to hit subscribe - it’s free. I’m Nicola, I’m nice (evil cackle, I would say that) and I live in the stunning Lancashire countryside. I work as a Senior Editor for National World where I manage editors across some big and small northern news titles, cook up strategy and work on all sorts of projects - including TV and podcast.

When I write now, I write opinion and travel, though my origins were as a crime reporter. I’m also a writer of fiction so I write about the trials and tribulations of both interconnecting worlds via this newsletter community with a dose of oversharing and a dollop of usefulness - I hope. Welcome! I start every weekly newsletter with..

My dear wordsmiths,

You look lovely today. OK, I can’t actually see you but we all need a positive comment once in a while. Words matter as we should know. I’m keeping this newsletter relatively short because, despite the relatively imminent arrival of spring and my knee (ski) injury slowly recovering, I’m in a proper low mood which has not been helped by my inability to move properly - who knew I’d miss deadlifts.

Day job work has been pretty all-consuming which is why despite so many lovely writers reaching out to feature - I haven’t got myself organised or even motivated to get organised which is much the same thing. I have plenty of Q&As promised and times for specific dates but I simply haven’t had time to chase. Don’t be shy - reply to this email if you want to promote you and your work plus share some wisdom, all via Q&A.

In the meantime here’s some inspirational cheesy words, courtesy of some 90s legends.

Get on up when you're down
Baby, take a good look around
I know it's not much, but it's okay
We'll keep on movin' on anyway

5ive

Enough of that - you can tell it’s been a long week. Today I thought I’d share some writer tips (with my author rather than journalist head on) following my experience of writing two novels, one of which resides in the digital equivalent of a dusty drawer and another which has just been re-drafted for imminent and optimistic dispatch to agents. Watch this space.

Obviously I’m right at the beginning of my author journey, essentially, which is not to say that writing novels does not take years and decades (sob). I’m firmly of the opinion that anything takes longer without a deadline which takes me to my first tip if you are just starting out.

1. Set yourself a manageable deadline: This sounds trite but really works so make sure to write it down and get someone else to hold you accountable - pick them wisely. Planning a treat also works; you can book a holiday, get a massage, after you’ve done 20,000 words for example. Works for pretty basic me.

2. Pomodoro technique: On the subject of timings and deadlines - short bouts of writing regularly is just as effective as sitting in your starving garret for days feeling melancholy and failing to wash. Many writers swear by the Pomodoro technique (time management method) where you set a timer to break work into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length. Each is known as a Pomodoro, from Italian word tomato, after (fun fact) the tomato shaped kitchen timer used by the techniques inventor Francesco Crillo.

3. Write somewhere you are comfortable and feel happy: If it’s in bed or on a sofa or in your local coffee emporium, that’s fine, just don’t do your back in (she says from experience).

4. Just write: You can edit out the nonsense later. It’s called a draft for a reason and yes - we all write nonsense even those bestseller types. Writing is a like a long car journey with many stop-offs at dodgy service stations to make regrettable food decisions. It’s fine.

5. Stop doom scrolling: Literally - turn the gadgets off (yes, Nicola..). Be honest with yourself about how much time you are wasting on Facebook Marketplace or Reels (other time-thieving social media sites are available).

6. Write a basic plan with a beginning and an end before you start: As a consummate pantster, who would never ever dream of planning my novel with a spreadsheet, even I have to admit a slight idea where you are going with the story helps. Just a tad. Just saying.

7. You need a fantastic first line: Or there’s no point really. But you can go back and write it later later, it’s fine.

8. Read it back to yourself out loud: I never used to do this but it really works, you can hear the mistakes and make sure the rhythm of the words works. These days software packages will read it out for you - I use Microsoft Word to listen and take notes.

9. Draft and re-draft: Don’t send it out to agents when it’s not perfect. I’ve made this mistake. You really only have one shot with any particular agent. A few extra weeks won’t make much difference.

10. Enjoy: Remember you are one of only a tiny proportion of people capable of writing and finishing a novel. But if your reason for writing is fame and fortune you are in the wrong game.

News, events and opportunities

BOOKS AND WRITING

Nero Book Awards: Caffè Nero has announced the category winners for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, celebrating outstanding books and writers from the UK and Ireland of the last 12 months across four categories: Children’s Fiction, Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction. The category winners, one of which will go on to win the The Nero Gold Prize, Book of the Year on March 14, are:

• Children’s Fiction winner – The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (Puffin). Illustrated by Claire Powell

• Debut Fiction winner – Close to Home by Michael Magee (Hamish Hamilton)

• Fiction winner – The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Hamish Hamilton)

• Non-Fiction winner – Strong Female Character by Fern Brady (Brazen)

#Lovestoriesetc: A Festival of romance writers called #Lovestoriesetc will be held in Manchester on July 13, 10am to 9pm. The one-day Romance Festival will be held at the stunning Manchester Central Library and will feature 28 bestselling romance authors as part of a huge celebration of modern romantic fiction. Authors and publishers across the UK will be gathering in Manchester for this special festival, with lots of familiar names holding talks and workshops. Tickets £30.

JOURNALISM

Journalism Speed Mentoring Slots by Louise Ridley, Senior Features Editor at Business Insider: Every year Louise offers speed mentoring slots for International Women’s Day on March 8. These are for journalists or aspiring journalists who identify as female or consider themselves to be in a group under represented in journalism. You need to her on X (formerly Twitter) linked above.

NCTJ Diversity Funding now open: Journalism Diversity Fund bursaries can help cover the costs of NCTJ course fees and/or living expenses. Recipients will also be paired with a working journalist to mentor them. If you feel you could bring something different to a newsroom, such as your social background, ethnicity, disability or life experiences, then you could be eligible for a bursary. To apply you must first have secured a place on an NCTJ-accredited diploma course. Apply on the website.

Newsrewired.com is a conference for innovators in digital publishing. Subjects under discussion will be business models, future of journalism, B2B community, fact-checking, and newsletters. It’s chance to make new connections and spark ideas, with three hours given to networking. To be held at News UK, London.

Thanks for reading! Nx