Let’s talk about getting into the right frame of mind when you sit down to write. On days or weeks when I have a lot going on, I don’t always manage to do this as quickly as I’d like. Some days my brain feels distracted and jumps around my mental to-do list. I feel the urge…
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How to Decide the Target Audience of your Cartoon Series
Reader Question Colin got in touch to ask “I have ideas around a children’s cartoon TV series. My question is: how do you work out the target age? I.e. 2-3 years or 4-5 years etc or can you write a generic script sample that covers 2-6 years?” Thanks for getting in touch, that’s a…
Even More Tips from the London Book Fair [Part 2]
Key takeaways from 2 talks at the London Book Fair 2023 – Writing & Resilience and Spotlight on Children’s: How to Get Noticed in a Crowded Market As I said in my last article, I had the pleasure of attending the London Book Fair this year. I sat in on some great panel discussions on…
Top Tips from the London Book Fair [Part 1]
Key takeaways from 3 talks at the London Book Fair 2023 – Making your WIP Stand Out, Keeping up with Social Media, and The Indie Author Income Survey I recently had the pleasure of attending the London Book Fair, soaking up the wonderful writerly atmosphere, meeting up with some lovely writers, and listening to some…
Am I Being Lazy? | Reader Question
Today I’m answering a question from a concerned writer. Am I being lazy?… Frank, from my mailing list and Meetup group, got in touch to tell me about his current writing goal. He’s finished his novella but wants to expand it into a full-length novel. Here’s what he says: “My problem is that I’m lazy. I…
Developing a Kids’ Animation Series for TV [PART FIVE]
Our First Commission Followed by a Pandemic The last of a 5-part series where I take you behind the scenes of the most fulfilling experience of my writing life: developing a kids’ animation series for TV. In this installment, I’ll talk about how we nabbed our first TV commission for an animated Christmas Special. I’ll also…
Developing a Kids’ Animation Series for TV [PART ONE]
A Writer’s Journey This is the first of a 5-part series where I’ll share the ins and outs of one of the most fulfilling experiences of my writing life: developing a pre-school kids’ animation series for TV. This 6-year rollercoaster ultimately ended in failure, but there were some amazing successes along the way. So, after grappling…
How to Choose Writing Competitions
Earlier in the year, I shared some tips for those who want to write professionally. One of my tips was about building your track record, which included entering writing competitions. Reader Question Frank got in touch to ask how you identify which writing competitions increase the likelihood of getting shortlisted or winning a prize. So today I’m…
The Art of Adaptation: from Picture Book to Animated Film
The most fun and fulfilling writing experience of my life was adapting my children’s picture book into an animation. Here I’m going to divulge some tips about the art of adaptation and share my journey of taking ‘Hopscotch and the Christmas Tree’, from book to screen. If you’re considering writing an adaptation yourself, I hope…
Get Back on Track with a Writing Goal
So, it’s the beginning of February. Are you on track with your writing goal or New Year’s Resolution? If you’ve fallen off the wagon, don’t panic. Here are some strategies to help you get back on track. Be Kind Firstly, instead of beating yourself up for not sticking to a goal, try self-compassion. Loads of research…