Once more for the evening crowd... You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️

In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions. Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)... alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-an… #amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy

Once more for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about whether to read, there are many pictures of puppies included!

Am I editing my book like I should be? No Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes. Good lord, this is fun 😂 #amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest

Here's my August reads! My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day. I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy. #amreading #augustreads

In my latest blog... What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control. alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-sub… #pathtopublication #submission

Once more for the evening crowd... Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️

Doing the final readthrough before I return my MS to my editor. It's really easy to see which bits I wrote while hungry... Anyone for a cinnamon roll? 🤣 #amediting #hungrywriter

It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next… alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-years… #amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost

Once more for the evening crowd... If you'd like to have your say on what I write about in 2026, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

Here's my September reads! My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end. #amreading #septemberreads

This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life. But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference? alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding #blogpost #substack #rebranding

Once more for the evening crowd... 'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you? Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked! arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-th…

Once more for the evening folks... ⬇️

Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!

When life throws you a curveball, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, it's easy to lose your creative impetus. What's important is how you get it back, and that you acknowledge your success when you do. arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/writing-thro… #writing #resilience

Here's my October reads! Just five this month, and my favourite was "Quantum of Menace" by Vaseem Khan. It's the first in a new series about Q (from the Bond / 007 universe) and it's a brilliant mystery!

ICYMI yesterday, it's not too late to check out my latest blog on writing during times of turbulence or uncertainty. Take a look here ⬇️