How Film Techniques Can Improve Your Writing

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Imagine you were brushing your teeth or daydreaming on the underground this morning when suddenly you were hit with an amazing story idea. How might that story first come to you – in words and sentences or as images, like a film? You’ve probably discovered that...

Should Fiction Writers Use a Thesaurus?

Monday, November 15, 2021

The Synonym Debate At secondary school, teachers often encourage students to use a thesaurus to find more interesting options for their creative writing and expand their vocabulary. If you study the craft at university level, though, most tutors will tell you not to...

The Away Day – BPA Enjoys First In-Person Event in Two Years

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

On Saturday October 16, BPA invited 26 writers to a country house setting in Kintbury, Berkshire, for our long-awaited Away Day. Once the room was full, the atmosphere was buzzing with creativity and a specific brand of friendliness we’ve come to expect from the...

BPA’s Practical Tips for the Social Media Shy Writer

Friday, October 1, 2021

Some of us love connecting with other writers and readers on social media, but if you use it purely to maintain a presence as an author, you’re not alone. For those who find social media can be a struggle, here are some tips to help you build a following without...

10 Ways to ‘Show Rather than Tell’

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Show, don’t tell – what does it mean? You don’t have to be a writer long to get the classic writing advice, ‘Show, don’t tell,’ lodged in your psyche. It’s normal to write first drafts packed with telling sentences like, ‘she...

How Long Does it Take to Write a Novel?

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

When I google, ‘How long does it take to write a novel?’, the first result says this: ‘A good rule of thumb is to allot at least 4 months to write a book.’ The article proposes a year as the maximum timescale. This guidance doesn’t quite...