What is it about coffee shops that kick start a writer’s muse? I first tried hauling my laptop to my local java hut after reading Natalie Goldberg’s books. Natalie, author of Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind, suggests writing in coffee shops and I was at the point where if someone had advised painting my face blue and chanting to the moon in order to get some writing done, I’d have tried that too. Usually, I need absolute quiet to write, but oddly, I’ve discovered I love to write in coffee shops. I think the reason is that there is always a drama taking place. Not just one drama, but many tiny scenes from many different lives.

It's critical to understand these elements and how they are related.

Every year unpublished writers attend conferences to meet with the editors of their choice and to pitch mini summaries of the books they've completed. Below are 10 crucial tips to help make your pitch a successful one. In other words, tips to have the editor sit up, listen with a keen ear, and think 'this is an author I would like to work with' and then request the manuscript you've sweated blood and tears to complete in its finest form.

Today's publishing industry is cut-throat and difficult to break into. A good editing plan can make the difference between 'sold' and 'shelved'.

In this article, Nina Davies gives you a 3-step plan for editing your novel.