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.