Playing chess with pigeons 

We had a nice exercise on Feedback Friday last week – all about finding the romance between him and her, when one of the two…

Harry 21 June 2024

2 Comments

The First 500

The opening chunk of your book can do a LOT. I once sold a non-fiction book off the back of no more than 10,000 words.…

Harry 21 July 2023

1 Comment

Welcome to Townhouse!

Welcome Townhouse Members – old and new! We’ve had a little makeover. So, to help you get to grips with it all, here is a…

Polly 28 September 2022

25 Comments

Car windscreens and fallen magnolia petals

One of the bits of feedback I give most – and really, I’d want to give it almost all the time, on auto-repeat – is:…

Harry 17 January 2025

1 Comment

The great books you can’t write (and the one that you can)

Most nights, I watch a bit of TV with the missus before bed. She does not get ready as fast as I do, so I…

Harry 10 January 2025

3 Comments

A simple, repeatable joy

My last email was grumpy. Bah humbug. A silver cane waved menacingly at orphans. This email is festive. A Merry Christmas to us all! A…

Harry 20 December 2024

1 Comment

It’s not them. It’s you.

Friday email – Friday 13 December  Subject: It’s not them. It’s you.     Hmm. We’re getting close to Christmas and this email has a bit…

Harry 13 December 2024

11 Comments

The easiest technique in fiction

Lots of things in writing are hard. One thing in particular is very, very easy… but it’s astonishingly neglected by a lot of writers. Here’s…

Harry 6 December 2024

1 Comment

This be the email

A short one today. And a little bonus. The bonus is that I’m doing a FREE webinar today at 12.00. The theme is elevator pitches…

Harry 29 November 2024

0 Comments

How to Sell A Book, if you have the right mindset

We’ve spent seven weeks thinking about how to sell books. In my last seven emails to you, we have reviewed:  If you are confident you…

Harry 22 November 2024

0 Comments

SPOTLIGHT FEATURE – Saskia Leach from Kate Nash Literary Agency

Good morning, everyone! Welcome back to our Spotlight On interview series, where we uncover the day-to-day work of agents, what they’re looking for in submission…

Anna 19 November 2024

0 Comments

How to Sell A Book, if you can sail faster than the wind

It’s a fact:  A racing catamaran can sail faster than the wind – over twice as fast, indeed, under perfect conditions. (Don’t believe me? And…

Harry 15 November 2024

0 Comments

How to Sell A Book, if you are made out of GOLD

Last week, we dealt with the cheap and unglamorous world of book promo sites. This week, we go to Madison Avenue, or at least to…

Harry 8 November 2024

1 Comment