Beginnings

I came across some good advice in Gabrielle Mander’s book Just Write. - The beginning of your novel should introduce the reader to the theme of the story, settle quickly into the context in which the narrative takes place, introduce the main characters and let the reader you know what to expect. She is right when she says the opening line is crucial and should grab the reader’s attention, and quotes this killer one liner.

It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. George Orwell. 1984.

Category transmitters

Have you bumped into a category transmitter recently? How would you know? Because this person will have stopped and chatted to you about… well… things really. A category transmitter, according to marketing expert, Steve Hatch, will talk to more people, more often and with greater influence. They are interested in every aspect of their favourite subjects and know what’s hot and what’s not. They were the ones who spread the word about books like the DaVinci Code, and Eats Shoots and Leaves, making them huge and surprising publishing successes. Do certain people spring to mind? Now might be a good time to run a highlighter pen over their names in your address book or even give them a call.

To-do lists

There’s no getting away from lists and personally, I’d cease to function without them. But are you daunted when yours is as long as your Granny’s stocking? Don't be. First, try not to add on little jobs to tick them off. It feels like you are busy, but really you are wasting time. Secondly prioritise. Put the number one next to the most important thing you have to do that day, put a two next to the second most important thing, up to three. Don’t assign any more. Start working on number one. Don’t start on two or three until you finish or at least have done something significant on one. Do this each day and the things you really need to get done - will get done.

Radio inspiration

You can learn all sorts of useful and fascinating information when scanning radio stations on a long drive. Three subjects that came up in one two hour motorway journey of mine were; museums and mummies’ genitalia, what shopping will be like in the future and architecture prizes. If your character needs beefing up a bit give him, or her, an unusual hobby or job. It’s one way of making them more memorable.