how to write a novel – Page 2

Tim Sullivan on the Creative Differences Livestream

Join me and TIM SULLIVAN, author of the brilliant DS George Cross series, who also had an extraordinary career as a director and screenwriter including episodes Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes, working with Derek Jarman, Coronation Street, the movie Jack and Sarah, the last episode of Cold Feet, he work on Flushed Away, Shrek and My Little Pony (bet you didn’t see that last one coming).
He’s an inspiration for writers, so don’t miss it!

We’ll be discussing keeping a series fresh, screenwriting, tips for writing neurodivergent characters and more!

Join us live: MONDAY 2OTH JULY, 8PM BST

9pm CEST
3pm EDT
2pm CDT
1pm MDT
12 noon EDT
Tuesday 21st 7am NZST
Tuesday 2st 5am AEST

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or on Youtube…

Elwood Flynn: I’m a Nice Person | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep 25

Elwood Flynn, author of Pulp Western Hot Lead, insists that he doesn’t know where the brutal violence in his books comes from and that he’s a perfectly nice person really.

WE DISCUSS:

Launching a new series with multiple formats including a gift box set
How he once wrote a book in a day
And how being a fan of Westerns can be politically challenging…

And much more!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS

Elwood Flynn https://elwoodflynn.com
How Andrew wrote a novel in a day: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep384-andrew-chapman-how-to-write-a-bestseller-in-a-day/
Joe Hill on the Bestseller Experiment https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep19-joe-hill/

Elwood Flynn on the Creative Differences Livestream

Elwood Flynn is the author of HOT LEAD, a pulpy Western novella that is for the kind of reader who thinks Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian is for toddlers.

We’ll be discussing Westerns, violence, pulp fiction (the category, not the movie), launching a new series and much more!

Join us LIVE on Monday 22nd June, 8pm BST
9pm CEST
3pm EDT
2pm CDT
1pm MDT
12 noon PDT
Tuesday 23rd 7am NZST
Tuesday 23rd 5am AEST

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or join us on Youtube…

Michael S Jackson: Leaving Gifts for my Future Self | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep24

Michael S Jackson, author of the epic Ringlander fantasy series, reveals how he lets the first draft storytelling flow in order to leave himself material that he can use in edits and rewrites. He also shares details of his new Kickstarter campaign!

WE DISCUSS

The balance between story, magic and worldbuilding
The importance of cover art and creating beautiful books
And the important of the Rubik’s Cube to his state of mind…

And much more!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS
Michael’s website: https://mjackson.co.uk/
Michael’s Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikestepjack/ringlander-the-path-and-the-way-tome-edition/
Michael’s Author Interviews: https://authorinterviews.co.uk
The Miro app: https://miro.com
Modern Family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Family
Karnivool: https://www.karnivool.com
This is How You Lose The Time War – by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (this is an affiliate link and I earn pennies if you order using this link): https://amzn.to/4amdYGk
Widow’s Bay on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/widows-bay/umc.cmc.1zzly0vah46bnvnwf0qkrjhh2
King Sorrow by Joe Hill (another affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4a8yREV
Unwelcome on Netflix! https://www.netflix.com/title/81552865
Craig Mazin’s How To Write a Movie talk… https://youtu.be/i27IKil-LXw?si=jpYDSH2xSlQ1CO3m

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there’s more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

The Mysterious Murders Short Story Comp 2026 is Open for Entries!

The 2026 Mysterious Murders Short Story competition is now open for entries! The Mysterious Murders Short Story Competition was created to honour Anja Boersma’s deep love of writing and to help nurture that same passion in others. I was lucky enough to be a judge on last year’s competition, and the standard was so high that I didn’t hesitate to return when organiser Angela Nurse asked me.

The theme this year is “Locked Room Murder Mystery”, the prizes are cash prizes, it’s free to enter and you’ve got till the end of September to submit. What are you waiting for? Click on the image below for more details…

Michael S Jackson on the Creative Differences Livestream

Michael S Jackson, author of the Ringlander fantasy series will be discussing high fantasy, creating beautiful editions of his books, selling direct, Kickstarters, writing sequels and much more!

Join us live: THURSDAY 21ST MAY, 8PM BST

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or on Youtube…

Lean into the Weird on The Write Place

I had a great time chatting to Wayne on the Write Place podcast about writing, why I love selling books at comic cons, why I’m not that worried about Ai, and why I like leaning into the weird.

You can listen to the podcast at all the usual providers and there are some Youtube snippets below to whet your appetite…

Karen Storey: I Get This Build Up of Excitement | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep23

Karen Storey, award-winning author of the brilliant debut novel THE APPROVAL OF SHEEP, reveals how her stories let her know when they’re ready to be written.

WE DISCUSS:
A brilliant tip for writing award-winning short stories
Why you need to get a website and newsletter right now
And why her cat gets more fan mail that she does…

And much more!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

LINKS

Karen’s website: https://karenstoreyauthor.com
The Law of Consequences short story collection: https://books2read.com/b/mvzrW2
Quite Ugly One Morning (I earn commission if you purchase using this link): https://amzn.to/3OMLiit
Raye: https://rayeofficial.com

Support the show

Karen Storey on the Creative Differences Livestream

Karen Storey is the award-winning author of the brilliant debut novel THE APPROVAL OF SHEEP. Karen is a prolific short story writer, and and her memoir pieces have been published in The New York Times and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and… her newsletter is written by her cat Tiffany. We’re going to discuss why you should set up a website and newsletter before you’ve finished your debut novel and much more…

Join us live: MONDAY 13TH APRIL, 8PM BST

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or join us on Youtube…

Kathleen Whyman: Bring Your Imagination | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Ep22

Kathleen Whyman, author of the MOTHER OF ALL COMEBACKS, reveals how her brilliantly funny novels are a combination of real life, invention and her imagination…

WE DISCUSS:

Receiving her first publisher rejection, aged 10!

How an encounter in the loo led to her debut

Balancing writing with marketing and PR…

And much more!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…