creative writing competitions

UK Fiction Writing Competitions: The Best Opportunities for the Second Half of 2026

person sitting at a desk entering a creative writing competition

Entering writing competitions is one of the most valuable things an emerging fiction writer can do. A longlisting, a shortlisting, or a win carries genuine weight when you approach literary agents. Even the process of preparing an entry — selecting your best work, writing a tight synopsis, meeting a deadline — is good practice for …

Manuscript Assessments

What Does a Manuscript Assessment Give You That AI Can’t?

boy reading a manuscript

You’ve finished your novel. You’ve run it through an AI editing tool — maybe more than one. The prose is cleaner, the grammar is tighter, and the sentences flow more smoothly than they did before. So why does something still feel off? The answer, in most cases, is this: AI edited your sentences. Nobody has …

Writing Techniques

How to Write a Flashback in Your Novel

How to write a flashback into your novel

Flashbacks are a powerful storytelling tool that, when used effectively, can deepen character development, reveal crucial backstory, and enhance the emotional resonance of your novel. However, misusing flashbacks can disrupt narrative flow and confuse readers. This comprehensive guide will explore the art of writing compelling flashbacks, offering practical tips and insights to help you integrate …

Edit Your Book

How to Line Edit Your Own Novel: A Comprehensive Guide

How to edit your own novel

Line editing your novel is one of the most essential and creative stages in the writing process. It’s the moment where your storytelling moves beyond the structural and developmental work and dives into refining your language, style, and clarity. A strong line edit can transform an average manuscript into a polished, publishable piece of fiction. …

Uncategorized

Book Editing: How to Transform Your Draft

Edit Your Book

Writing a book is a major achievement, but finishing the manuscript is only half the battle. The next crucial phase is editing. Learning how to edit your own book can help you transform your rough draft into a polished, professional final product – whether you’re planning to self-publish or submit to an agent. This step-by-step …

Manuscript Assessments

What is a Manuscript Assessment and Do I Need One?

What is a manuscript appraisal - The Writing Consultancy

A manuscript assessment, also known as a manuscript appraisal, structural report or manuscript critique, is a report with, in our case, accompanying annotated notes on your manuscript. When should I have a manuscript assessment? The manuscript assessment is usually done in the early stages of the editing process and once the book is finished. You …