Guest blog

The last few weeks for first-time novelist Wyl Menmuir have been a blur. Since finding out his book The Many had been longlisted for the Man Booker - the most prestigious literary prize in the world - he’s been interviewed by national newspapers, courted by big name agents and has headlined literary events.

“Ultimately, literature is nothing but carpentry. Both are very hard work. Writing something is almost as hard as making a table. With both you are working with reality, a material just as hard as wood. Both are full of tricks and techniques. Basically very little magic and a lot of hard work are involved.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

You’ve made it — you’re a paid writer! Maybe you write advertising copy, video sales letters, memos and presentations, or greetings cards. You’re in this line of work because you love language and you were that child who always hung around the library: there was always a novel in you.

I don’t have an infectious disease but if I did, I imagine telling people you have one garners much the same reaction as telling people you’ve written a short comedy film. There’s normally some initial interest – even enthusiasm – but then a yawning chasm of social awkwardness opens as people think I might expect them to like the film or even worse – find it funny.

We tell ourselves many reasons why we’re not writing - or not writing as much or as often as we would like. Pick your reasons from the following list: work, family, social life, duties, distractions. But if you want to write and you’re not making writing a priority, there’s actually only a single reason - fear.

I’m a bit of a left brain/right brain strange combination. I love writing and consider myself a highly creative person - but I’m also a number junkie too. I’ve just finished writing 29 plays in 29 days by taking part in a project run by The Space called 29 Plays Later. The combination of words and numbers really worked for me. It made me productive, motivated and even more excited about numbers.

When’s the best time to write? Is it in the morning when you’re fresh and ready for a new day? Is it in evening when you’re full of ideas and inspiration from previous hours during the day? Or perhaps it’s at night, when people are least likely to bother you, allowing you to focus on your work 100%?

Whether you’re sharing in a group, asking a friend, or meeting a professional one-to-one, asking for feedback is a test of any writer’s mettle but there are ways to make the process less harrowing. Here are my six tips on getting it right.

Being a writer in the digital age is a fickle business. It’s a constant uphill struggle to keep on top of your social media accounts, ensuring you make the most of them and interact with your fans, and yet at the same time devote enough time to other activities such as, y’know, writing.

The first words are often the hardest. It’s often one of the biggest roadblocks preventing people from writing non-fiction. Mike Fishbein provides advice to get started and urges us to seize the amazing opportunities that self-publishing a book presents.