Do you want to write a novel?

Are you one of those people, like I was a year ago, who feels they have a novel inside them, but doesn't know how to get it out?     I want to help you get it written!     How do I know it's possible? Because over the last 12 months that's what I've …

Beating the overwhelm as a writer

Over the last few weeks writing, alongside the other pressures of life, has been a bit overwhelming. Two weeks ago, I got the draft of my first novel back from the editor. He's done a great job, I can't complain at all - it's now full of comments and improvement which I need to go …

Five ways to proofread – both for you and your students

We all know what it's like, you post something online, or send an all-staff e-mail, then notice the glaringly obvious mistake in the first line. That happens because when you read something you've just written, you read what you want it to say - not what's actually written. This is something that affects me, both as …

How making time to be creative has changed my life

A little over a year ago I made the commitment to put the story that had been buzzing around my head for a while down on to paper - and now I'm a millionaire. That's a joke, I'm probably poorer - I certainly haven't made any money from my writing yet - although one day …

Making time for your writing

One of the greatest challenges writers face is time. The fact is, there just isn't enough time to do everything, and there never will be. Life is about choosing a few things to do well, rather than loads of things to do badly - as such if you want your writing to be one of …

The Healthy Teacher Project 9 – Mal Krishnasamy

What is The Healthy Teacher Project? Mal Krishnasamy is an education consultant and leadership coach. She has worked as the head of history, been part of a school's senior team and the management team of a multi-academy trust. I love talking with people like Mal who have stepped away from classroom teaching because their perspectives …

My Author Journey – progress update, September 2018

Update 3rd of July 2019 My debut novel, Kathmandu, is out now! Tap below to start reading: It's been some time since I've written about my journey as an author, which could mean a couple of things - either I'm not doing anything, or I'm so busy I'm doing loads. Fortunately, it is the latter. …

Five writing challenges for your holiday

As a teacher and a writer the six-week break to me is golden. It's the time I can really get to grips with my writing, get a handle on the story and look at the piece as a whole as opposed to the micro view of an hour every day. However, writing doesn't just have …

Spy Stories – creative writing scheme of work

Who's your favorite, Bond? Bourne? Or do you go new school with Alex Rider or Agent 21? This scheme of work contains them all. Designed to inspire students to write a section of their own spy story, it covers the typical characters, events, and setting of a classic spy story. It encourages students to consider their …

My Author Journey – Keeping the Faith

As an unpublished writer, keeping the faith in a project is hard. With no one to tell you to keep going, no hooked readers, trickles of sales or even friends and family passing on comments of encouragement -  having constant motivation can be elusive. Yes, I have a compulsion to write - that's why I …