Resources
Welcome to our resources page! Here, you’ll find articles written by our editors and Cornerstones team members about specific aspects of writing, editing, and publishing. Are you wondering how to market your book? Or which YA subgenre your novel falls into? We have a lot of fantastic content in the wings to bring to you, so do keep checking back on this page for updates.
Copy-Editing and the Importance of a Brief… with editor Antonia Maxwell
You have a finished manuscript. Your ideas are on the page. You’ve developed and drafted and crafted your words. Your text is just in need of a final polish before you send it on its way into the world…
Writing Groups… with editor Bethany Wright
Ever wondered who all those people in the acknowledgements at the backs of books are? Aside from the author’s agent, editor, publicity team and family, many of them are fellow writers.
How to Bring Out the Best in Your Novel… with editor Frances Moloney
When it comes to writing a novel, there is no “one size fits all” method, and every author you speak to will have a different approach to their writing process. However, there are some tried and tested methods that I have used over the years that can help you figure out the way you work best, and therefore bring out the best in your novel.
Small but Perfectly Formed: On Short Stories & Novellas… with editor Debz Hobbs-Wyatt
It’s so easy to dismiss the shorter forms of prose writing and to see the novel as the true writer’s goal. We often overlook the relevance of flash fiction; we disregard the importance of the short story; and we regard the novella as nothing more than a baby novel that has yet to grow. And there lies the oversight.
The difference between chapter books and middle grade fiction… with editor Rachel Boden
There is often confusion about what constitutes a ‘chapter book’ and what ‘middle grade’. Simply put, the difference is the age range at which it is aimed, and consequently the length of the book.
The power of perseverance… with editor Naomi Jones
I was 21 when I decided I wanted to become a published children’s author. I was halfway through an English degree, and everyone around me was starting to think about what they were going to do when they graduated. I’d always loved reading and writing children’s stories and what I really wanted to do was write.
Moving between genres… with editor Gina Blaxill
Everything we write fits into a genre. It’s the filing system we use for creative content. Of course, there are genre-defying novels, but, for most of us, what we write falls into an umbrella grouping. Within those, you have more specific categories. Take thrillers – these can be psychological, romantic, action-heavy or crime focused. All are exciting, pacy reads, but these subtypes have different emphases.
Travel through time… with editor Dan Blythe
How and why do writers use time-travel? Professor Brian Cox reminds us in Wonders of the Universe that Time moves forward for a reason – the Universe is expanding as a result of the Big Bang, tending towards entropy…
How to market your book… with editor Becky Hunter
So, you’ve written a book, gone through the editing process, and have now either signed with an agent and got a publishing deal, or decided to self-publish. Now comes the difficult part, selling the book!
Self-help: how to turn your experiences into a book… with editor Paul Roberts
“It’s all about you…” sang McFly in 2005. If you’re planning to write a self-help book, it’s tempting to put yourself at the heart of it. Perhaps you’ve developed a specialism from which others may benefit. Maybe you’ve learned the hard way and wish for your reader to avoid the pitfalls…
Young Adult sub-genres… with editor Bryony Pearce
One of the lovely things about writing Middle Grade or Young Adult is that you can experiment with genre. Think of a bookshop; the adult books are shelved according to their sub-genre (thriller, romance, sci-fi etc), but in the children’s section books are shelved according to age appropriateness…