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Greetings, fellow writers, and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. This week, I thought I’d answer a few reader queries. Most weeks, on this blog, we look at the first page of a novice author’s novel or short story and consider ways to make … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. Each week we take the first page of an author’s novel or short story, and look at ways of making it better. We’re learning how to be better editors of our own fiction. If you would like to … Read more

Hey everyone – welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. If you’ve not been here before, this is a weekly fiction editing blog where we take the first 250 words of an author’s novel or short story and we look at ways to make it … Read more

This happened yesterday. I felt someone ought to put together an account of events, before they get lost in a fog of propaganda and ideological gerrymandering. Dedicated to those who fell. (NB: click ‘View Next Page’ to expand the timeline – you might have to wait a moment before it allows you to scroll down; … Read more

Hello my loves. I’m giving myself a week off, this week, after a month hammering out two shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Going to give myself the gift of actual, genuine rest. Don’t be too blue – click the tags and read the Death Of 1000 Cuts archive. There’s over 100,000 words of free content … Read more

Today is the first day since the start of the month that I haven’t had to perform at least one show. Over the last 23 days I’ve done more than 40 shows – 22 performances of my solo show, Be Kind To Yourself, 11 performances of my show with MC Mixy and Mark Grist, Grave … Read more

Welcome to another Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. I am so tired I can barely explain it. The Fringe has been great (one last weekend to go!) but I am so exhausted. I’m going to take the first week of September off and spend it … Read more

Salut et welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. I’m up at the Edinburgh Fringe, doing my solo show Be Kind To Yourself, and bleeding from the eyes with exhaustion. On Tuesday we completed our run of Grave Invaders, a second show, so at least … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. I’m up at the Edinburgh Fringe all this month, performing my show Be Kind To Yourself. I’m… I don’t really know how to say this, but so far it’s been a wonderful experience. Audiences have been so nice … Read more

Hello and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts, making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. I’ve just arrived in Edinburgh, for the Fringe. I’m performing my stand-up poetry show, Be Kind To Yourself, all month. If you’re about, please come to see me! It’s free. And please spread the word. I bet … Read more

Crumbs. I’m setting off for a month of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s the world’s biggest arts festival and, if you’ve never been, you can’t begin to imagine how joyous/needy/busy/baffling/multicoloured/drama studenty/wearying/exciting/lovely/damp/mind-blowing it is. I am performing my solo show, Be Kind To Yourself, every night at 11:05pm at the Banshee Labyrinth on Niddry Street. … Read more

The most common thing I get asked after gigs is: ‘Are you really that anxious?’ It’s never a hostile enquiry, but I think it gets asked for two very different reasons. My answer is always: ‘Yes, absolutely. Worse, in fact.’ Then comes one of two follow-up questions. Follow-up #1 goes: ‘Really? But you seem so … Read more

Hey friends, and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts. Making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. There are lots of blogs about fiction writing, but this one focuses on fiction rewriting. If you like stories, or making stories, or people who make stories, you’ll probably find something here that tickles your fancy. … Read more

Pip pip everyone! Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts, making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. I am ill and busy so let’s keep this prompt and businesslike. Want to submit to this blog? Read the submission guidelines, my friend. As always, read the extract below, decide what you like and what … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. Want to submit? Please read the submission guidelines. I am taking two stand-up poetry shows to the Edinburgh Fringe this August – Be Kind To Yourself and Grave Invaders. I am going up out of my own pocket … Read more

Hello noble friends, and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. Every week we take the first page of a novice author’s novel or short story, and look at ways of making it better. If you’d like to know more, or you’d like to submit … Read more

Welcome to another Death Of 1000 Cuts, making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. The postman just knocked on the door and delivered a surprise package of new books. Basically this ‘being an author’ lark is already proving to be a sweet, sweet gravy train – and my novel isn’t even out … Read more

Hello and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. So you all know by now that my first ever novel, The Honours, is due out from Canongate next year. This week, I have been going through line edits with a copyeditor. It’s basically been like … Read more

Most of you have already heard the news – you know, the ‘big news’ I’ve been coyly touting but refusing to divulge for the last month or so. If you haven’t, here it is. Canongate have just announced they’re publishing my fiction debut, The Honours. It’s due out in the UK next year. When I … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. This is a weekly blog for writers, readers, and people who love stories. Each week we look at the first page of a writer’s novel or short story and find ways of making it better. If you’d like … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. This is a weekly blog for writers, readers, and people who love stories. Each week we look at the first page of a writer’s novel or short story and find ways of making it better. If you’d like … Read more

Welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. This is a blog for writers, readers, and anyone interested in the craft of storytelling. Each week, we take the first page of a writer’s novel or short story and look at ways of making it better. If … Read more

Here at Death Of 1000 Cuts HQ I often receive emails asking how to bag an agent. I know I’ve said before that this blog isn’t about teaching you how to get published, just to how to write better, but some of you suspected – correctly – that I was holding out on you. The … Read more

Hello dear friend and welcome to Death Of 1000 Cuts – making you an awesome writer, one cut at a time. This is a blog for writers, readers, and anyone interested in the craft of storytelling. Each week we take the first page of a writer’s novel or short story (submitted via the ‘Contact Me’ … Read more

I’ve been meaning to write a post on non-fiction books all SF (I’m using that to mean writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, New Weird, Bizarro, crossovery Literary-but-odd and all points in-between – please darling, let’s not get into a debate on taxonomy and nomenclature, not today) authors need to read. Obviously there are … Read more