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A neurodivergent guide to writing a romance novel

This year, I finally started and finished writing a romance novel. As a neurodivergent writer, this is a major accomplishment – I’ve started plenty of novels, but this is the first I’ve ever completed. Writing can be difficult for anyone, but neurodivergent writers tend to struggle even more. This is usually due to a lack of resources, support, and encouragement. To help others, I’ve chronicled my writing journey here from the planning stage up to finishing. I’ve also included some tips that I found useful. Note: I won’t be disclosing what book I wrote, whether it’s published or not, for… Read More »A neurodivergent guide to writing a romance novel

130 non-binary names for characters

As a self-confessed name nerd and non-binary person, I love finding gender-neutral names. This list contains 130 non-binary names for characters, with every letter of the alphabet having 5 unique names. When I say “non-binary names for characters”, I mean names that can be used by non-binary characters, and many of these names are used by real people who identify as non-binary. Enjoy this list, and if you’re looking for more lists and resources, I’ve added some links to the bottom of the post! List of 130 non-binary names for characters This list of names are perfect for non-binary characters,… Read More »130 non-binary names for characters

44 deep questions to ask your characters

Character development doesn’t have to be difficult. You don’t need to write a biography about every character – unless you want to! Deep questions are a great way to get to know your characters and develop them further. The 44 questions you’ll find below will help you to create, explore, and develop your characters. Ask your protagonists in your story even a couple of questions and you’ll find out more than you did when you began. How asking your characters questions can help you If you really want to dive deep into your character’s motivations, beliefs, and experiences, asking deep… Read More »44 deep questions to ask your characters

12+ ways to support writers

Whether you’re a writer yourself or just looking for ways to support writers, it can be difficult to judge what kind of help we can give. I’ve compiled over 12 ways to support writers, covering personal support, social media support, and financial support where possible. It’s important to remember that you have your own limitations too. You don’t need to be someone’s personal cheerleader or therapist to support them. Even just interacting with social media posts or reading their books can help a writer. How to support a writer When it comes to supporting writers, there are many ways to… Read More »12+ ways to support writers

What to include in a fiction proofreading enquiry

When you’re looking for a proofreader for your novel, a proofreading enquiry is a valuable tool in determining the best fit for you. The information you put into an enquiry form helps proofreaders work out what you’re looking for and whether they can meet your needs. Other than availability and budget, enquiries can also show you what a proofreader is like to work with. Read more about how to make the best use out of an enquiry form and why they’re an important indicator of who to work with. What is a fiction proofreading enquiry? Online service businesses often have… Read More »What to include in a fiction proofreading enquiry

A fiction developmental editor’s thoughts on Dr Who and queerness

Recently, Dr Who has been making the headlines with viewers commenting on “woke” storylines and scenes. Examples include the character Rose Noble dealing with transphobic bullies and suggesting the Doctor ask the Meep (a cute but deadly alien) about their pronouns. Some viewers are uncomfortable with the first Black, queer Time Lord, played by the wonderful Ncuti Gatwa. Well, I’ve got news for them: Dr Who has always been woke. Section 28 and the 1980s I grew up in the UK with the Sylvester McCoy era, which seemed modern to me in the early 1990s. (I look back now and… Read More »A fiction developmental editor’s thoughts on Dr Who and queerness

What you need to know about hiring a fantasy editor

If you’ve finished your story, you might be starting to look for a fantasy editor. Hiring an editor is a big deal for any author, and making sure you hire someone with experience in your genre is important. Here to answer some questions about editing is Aimée Hill of AJ Editorial Services, a fantasy editor who provides developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting services across all fantasy sub-genres. As a fantasy editor, is there anything you wish more fantasy writers knew about editing? Great question. I am fortunate to work with some really talented authors who know the ropes fairly… Read More »What you need to know about hiring a fantasy editor

Why your book series should use the same editors and proofreader

When you’re publishing a book series, you need to think about each individual book as well as the whole series. Part of this is considering your editorial team – the editors and proofreader that work on your book series. As with most questions, the answer on whether you should use the same editors and proofreader for your book series is: Depends. But if you value consistency – especially if your series uses its own language or has epic worldbuilding – having the same editorial team can really make a difference. Advantages of using the same editors and proofreader for your… Read More »Why your book series should use the same editors and proofreader

How to get a literary agent in the UK

Representation from a literary agent is key to getting traditionally published, as most publishing houses don’t accept unsolicited or unagented manuscripts. This post covers how to get a literary agent in the UK, including top tips for perfecting your agent submission pack. If you’re looking for how to find a literary agent in the UK, my other post explains where to find literary agents. Do you need a literary agent to get published? If you dream of seeing your book in bookshops, or you just don’t want to deal with self-publishing, you need a literary agent. Because publishing houses like… Read More »How to get a literary agent in the UK

LGBTQ+ fiction books I recommend

For years, I struggled to find any kind of queer representation in contemporary books. So for Pride Month, I’m highlighting all of the LGBTQ+ fiction books I recommend to people and that I’ve read between 2021 and 2025. Every Pride, I’ll update this post with more books I recommend, all with LGBTQ+ representation. Last updated: June 2025. Here, you’ll find a collection of queer romance, children’s and YA (as I catch up on books I wish I’d had when I was younger), and other LGBTQ+ lit. These are far from all of the LGBTQ+ books I’ve read, but they’re certainly… Read More »LGBTQ+ fiction books I recommend