Do you write the book you want, or the one you think you should? I hadn’t planned it this way, but the start of a new year (January 2026) is a natural time to think about writing or publishing a book. New year, new goals might be a bit of a cliché, but we just can’t help setting new or revised goals for the year, and for many aspiring authors, this will be the year you write your book.   But before you start on chapter one, there’s an important question to consider: are you g

It’s back for 2025! My book wrap-up of the year, where I share my favourite books from the past year (December 2024 to November 2025) and come up with my own awards for certain categories.   I share this at this time of year for anyone wondering what to add to their own book Christmas wish list or if you’re wondering which book to buy someone for Christmas this year. The great thing about my list (I know, I’m so modest) is that these are all books I’ve read in 2025, not books

When it comes to publishing your book, I bet you’ve heard of editors (hi!), book cover designers, proofreaders, and marketers.   But have you heard of beta readers?   You’re not alone if you haven’t. Most first-time authors I speak to haven’t heard of beta readers, but it’s something I recommend any self-publishing author adds to their publication timeline. By the end of this blog post, you'll know: -              What a beta reader is -              Why you should use beta r

Self-publishing is a tricky balance between rushing and procrastinating. It’s all about setting realistic deadlines  and understanding...

Microsoft Word is still regarded as the industry standard for writing and editing. There’s nothing to stop you using the likes of Google...

Self-publishing a top-quality book involves more than just writing great content. One crucial element that could make all the difference...

The amount of time it takes to self-publish your book will depend on many factors, including word count, budget, and deadline. One...

Have you ever wondered when you’re supposed to use digits and when to write out numbers in non-fiction? Perhaps this isn’t something...

A global running magazine recently ran a blog post (no pun intended, but let’s go with it) that recommended 9 books all about running....

Autobiography is not the same as memoir I’ve noticed a growing trend with celebrities writing ‘memoir’ when they really mean...

Does your writing bank comprise various blog posts, journal entries, letters, sheaves of thoughts and notes? And are you now struggling...

3 news stories that prove you need to write and publish your book NOW Did you say that in 2024 you’d write a book, but never finished it?...

What do book editors read in their spare time? The obvious answer for most of us is: a lot. We really do love reading and we try to read...

If you’ve been writing for a while or you’ve studied the writing craft then you’ve probably heard of (and are maybe sick of!) ‘show don’t...

The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) Conference is held every year during the second weekend of September. This...

Yes, I am mentioning Christmas in August. But seeing as Christmas is a popular deadline for launching books (who doesn’t love getting a...

In last month’s blog post, I shared a detailed account of how I found my first few clients as a freelance book editor. I mentioned in...

How I found my first 4 clients as a self-employed copyeditor and proofreader I’ve had a few editors and proofreaders in the early stages...

Running your own business can easily lead to burnout if you don’t take the right steps to look after your mental health (check out my...

On Saturday 27 April 2024 I gave my first presentation as a business owner (in fact, probably my first presentation since being a...