Skip navigation

So you want to be a writer?

3rd November 2015

Have you always wanted to write a book but just never got round to it?

Well, November is National Novel Writing Month so now could be the perfect time to put pen to paper and make a start on your masterpiece. Dr Laura Fish, author and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Northumbria University, shares her top five tips for writing a novel…

  • Write every day and finish the day's writing when you still want to continue.
  • Writer’s block? A problem with a piece of writing often clarifies itself if you go for a long walk.
  • As P. D. James  said: 'Read widely and with discrimination. Bad writing is contagious.’
  • Turn your anger into art - emotions can trigger the artistic energy to create and craft fiction
  • Show it to trusted friends and writers whose opinion you respect.

For more inspiration and tips on how to improve your writing, come along to Northumbria’s annual showcase of creative writing from staff and students from the University’s PhD and MA programmes. This free event – hosted at the Lit & Phil on Wednesday 18 November - will give visitors an opportunity to hear some of cutting-edge creative work being produced in the North East.

To book tickets, click here.

News

Latest News and Features

View all news
Lord Bishop visit
A view of the River Tyne and Dunston Staithes. Adobe Stock/Graeme J Baty.
pictured are three women, standing side by side, in a lab with equipment around them.
Claude AI
Sexualised masculinity book cover
L-R: Professor Ioannis Vogiatzis of Northumbria University and Paul Court, Chief Executive of Healthworks
Members of the research team obtaining samples used in the study from the Taba-Ba’astakh cliffs
Liv Ashton is pictured with her collection, Giz A Fiver, in the Fashion studios at Northumbria University.
More events

Upcoming events

REVEAL: Social Sciences - Sociology and Criminology
-
Society of Chemical Industry Electrochemistry Postgraduate Conference 2025
Understanding Clearing and Confirmation
NU Advice: Your Future (Employability)

Back to top