Professional Writing Academy newsletters

With details of Grill a Killer at Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and more: 

Hi,   Ever wanted to try your hand at interviewing a suspected murderer?   Join us at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival for your chance to step into the shoes of a lead detective. Grill your prime suspect, unravel the truth and piece your investigation together. Pit your wits against the prisoner and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.   Attendees will also receive an exclusive discount code for Graham Bartlett’s suite of crime writing workshops and courses.   But that’s not all! We’re hosting a competition for one lucky writer to win a free spot on a course worth £495. Read on to find out more. Book your ticket Meet the team behind the investigation Graham Bartlett Graham is a Sunday Times bestselling author. He is also a police procedural advisor to best selling crime fiction writers and TV drama makers. Graham was a police officer for thirty years working through the ranks at Brighton and Hove to become the city's Police Commander. He runs an array of Crime Writing workshops and courses with us. Caroline England Caroline is a CWA Dagger shortlisted author of psychological suspense thrillers. She’s known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations. Dale Brendan Hyde Dale is a prolific writer, most known for his gritty crime fiction. His debut novel featured on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list. and even caught the eye of Quentin Tarantino. He has received wide-ranging praise for his tough truths about the criminal justice system. From convicted criminal to acclaimed author, Dale has a truly unique and insightful take on crime writing. Book your ticket Win a FREE place on our Write a Murder online course   Want to get better at writing a murder investigation? We’re giving one lucky writer a free place on our upcoming Crime Writing: Write a Murder course, run by our very own Graham Bartlett. Join us at our Grill a ‘Killer’ event at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival to be the first to hear entry requirements – more details to come next week. Explore the course Come and chat to us anytime: info@profwritingacademy.com. Very best, The team at PWA Copyright (C) 2023 Professional Writing Academy. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Professional Writing Academy Henleaze Business Centre, Harbury Road, Bristol, BS9 4PN

5 ways to make your YA fiction more compelling Hi,   Crafting an authentic voice is key to building a story that resonates with your readers. Whether your genre of choice is romantasy, dystopian adventure or a contemporary coming-of-age tale, the voice you establish can make or break your story.   A compelling voice draws your readers in, encourages emotional connection and keeps them reading to the very end –  but it’s easier said than done. Make yours a page-turner with our 5 top tips. 1. Relatability is key   Relatability is the backbone of young adult fiction. At an age where readers are seeking reassurance, characters that reflect real-life feelings, goals and challenges are vital.   Teenage readers are often grappling with their identities and how to find their own place in the world, often seeing it (for better or worse) with critical eyes for the first time. So many classics centre around first loves, heartbreaks and loss as readers seek support and recognition for scenarios in their own lives. One effective way to create relatable characters is to draw from your own experiences and emotions. Think about the people in your own life, the challenges they faced, and the emotions they experienced as young adults. By drawing on your own experiences, you can set up characters that feel authentic and relatable to your readers. 2. Understand your audience   One thing to consider when writing your novel (and pitching it later on) is who you envisage connecting with it. Young adult readers span a wide range of ages, backgrounds and experiences. Pick your ideal target audience first, starting with a niche your story speaks to, and built your story out from there.   Follow your target reader’s interests and concerns, take the time to read current releases they’re engaging with, and research what appeals to them. Going beyond a surface-level understanding will reinforce your voice and help you craft a tone that speaks directly to your audience. 3. Dialogue (that doesn’t make them cringe)   Dialogue is hard to master. For teen readers there’s nothing more jarring than ill-placed or outdated slang. The art of a distinct character voice is in the rhythm and cadence you construct.   Read your dialogue out loud and consider the flow. Does it sound natural? If another person reads it aloud, do they pause in the same places, stress the same vowels? In the search for natural-sounding dialogue, listen to the way young people speak in real life. Listen in on the bus at school home-time, watch the shows they tune into, like Euphoria – or HBO’s Genera+ion, which is written by and cast with actual teenagers, for a realistic depiction of Gen Z rhythms, cadences, and expressions.   Thinking of including online conversations? Take note from Alice Oseman’s bestselling graphic novel series and its recent Netflix adaptation, Heartstopper – for flawless use of internet slang. But beware of how fast this can age your story. What’s popular now could make readers cringe in a year’s time! Take a look at YA tutor Lee Weatherly’s advice on dialogue in this blog. 4. Don’t forget the senses   Young adult fiction can feel bogged-down by twisting plots and carefully constructed concepts. So while you’re working on plot, don’t neglect the world-building. Draw your writers by connecting them with the sensory details your character is experiencing. Smells, sounds, tastes and textures help readers immerse themselves in your story on a deeper level. 5. Feedback, feedback, feedback!   The biggest secret to nailing your voice? Careful editing and revision. A good writing group will look for ways to make your story sing, and can make the writing process more enjoyable by offering support as well as line-by-line feedback.   On our Write a Young Adult Novel online course, you’ll work within a small group of fellow YA writers guided by bestselling YA novelist Lee Weatherly. Sessions are released fortnightly, and together you’ll stress-test your concept, age range and word count, finesse your dialogue and plotting, and learn more about industry expectations with guest authors and agents. Join us to take your unique YA voice to the next level. Explore the course Want to improve your creativity?   The value of creativity isn’t limited to writers – it's an increasingly valuable skill for all aspects of life. How do you boost your creativity? We've found 9 scientifically-backed ways to get your ideas flowing. Boost your creativity Come and chat to us anytime: info@profwritingacademy.com. Very best, The team at PWA Copyright (C) 2023 Professional Writing Academy. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Professional Writing Academy Henleaze Business Centre, Harbury Road, Bristol, BS9 4PN

Master the art of editing Hi,   Editing is damned hard work. And receiving feedback on a project you’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into can be terrifying. It’s no wonder editing is often the task writers dread most.   So how do you make editing bearable, or even, *gasp* enjoyable? Read on for wise words from our professional editor friends. 1. Don’t edit as you write   Premature editing is the death of progress. As tempting as it is to edit as you go, stopping your flow while writing can be more of a hinderance than a help. However, recognising when you’re ready to stop writing and start editing isn’t easy.   ‘Knowing where to begin is half the battle,’ says Helen Corner-Bryant, founder of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and course director of our Edit Your Novel course.   It’s normal for a first draft to feel incomplete or rough around the edges. Use your first draft as a way to simply get your words out on the page. Cast your new ideas or reconfigurations aside (we recommend keeping a separate document), to keep those rogue thoughts away from your writing until the time is right.   So, when is the right time to start editing? Every writer is different. In his monumental memoir, On Writing, Stephen King revealed that he takes a 6-week break between finishing a draft and editing it. Whether you’re raring to go, or happy to let your novel take the backseat, the best way to find out if you’re truly ready is to get a professional opinion. You can apply to our Edit Your Novel course for expert feedback on whether it’s the right next step for you. 2. Publishers want near-perfect manuscripts   Think your novel is ready for submission? Professional-level editing is more than just correcting typos and perfecting your formatting. There are plenty of structural and developmental upheavals to consider before submitting it to an agent or publisher.   The knowhow to edit your novel is an increasingly in-demand skill for writers to develop. These days, an agent may expect to see an already refined novel on submission. Your manuscript doesn’t need to be flawless, but evidence of extra care and fine-tuning will impress, helping you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry. Being able to interpret your editor’s notes, leaving nothing lost in translation, is also a huge help (they’ll be so grateful for it!).   3. There’s no such thing as over-editing   One of the common worries we hear from our writers is ‘What if I over-edit?’ – to which we say, there’s no such thing. Your novel is not a slab of dough in danger of being overworked. It will rise no matter how many times you knock it back (and you’ll need to knock it back many times). A novel is a surprisingly resilient thing.   If you’re afraid of losing the ‘raw’ natural quality of your writing, there are plenty of editing methods and courses to help preserve your voice. It’s important to remember that even the most celebrated authors don’t write perfect first drafts. Some proclaim 3 is the magic number (like Stephen King), others go as far as 10 drafts to reach something that vaguely resembles a novel.   If you need a helping hand, our Edit Your Novel course teaches you everything you need. You’ll learn how to hone your editing skills, recognise areas for improvement and kill your darlings (without breaking your heart).  We’ll help make the editing process as smooth as possible, with expert guidance and detailed feedback to get you submission-ready.   The next run of our flagship course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way starts 5 June. Applications close soon! Chat with a world-leading YA writer   Are you a Young Adult fiction writer in need of expert guidance? Ask your burning questions and learn how to master the skills you need to write an exceptional YA novel.   Join our FREE drop-in session with Lee Weatherly (L.A. Weatherly) as she shares her wide-ranging YA wisdom. You’ll get exclusive sneak peaks of our Write a Young Adult Novel course content, as well as a chance to ask her anything about your work.   This event will be hosted in collaboration with New Writing North. Thanks to funding from North of Tyne Combined Authority, New Writing North is offering 60% off the price of this course for residents of Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Bursary places are limited. Get your free ticket Find your voice and tell your story   Claire is a bestselling author, mental health campaigner, blogger and keynote speaker. She'll be joining WriteWell Community for an online session, introducing you to the art of memoir writing. Discover your story and find your own voice with this exclusive writing workshop. Join us 13 June @ 8:00 PM. Tickets are £5 each Book your ticket Come and chat to us anytime: info@profwritingacademy.com. Very best, The team at PWA Copyright (C) 2023 Professional Writing Academy. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Professional Writing Academy Henleaze Business Centre, Harbury Road, Bristol, BS9 4PN