Tag Archives: publishing

Miranda Writes 39 – three key words and book recommendations

Posted on May 1, 2015 | Leave a comment

All this year, I’m vlogging about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, key words, Christmassy book plans and books I’m excited about reading this year!

I’ve been having a lot of fun working on some new projects before the page proofs for A Parcel for Anna Browne arrive. Which gives me lots of time to answer your fab questions which this week come from Katie Marsh, Julie Williams and Jennifer Joyce. What were my three key words for writing APFAB? Am I writing a Christmassy book this year? And which books am I getting very excited about reading this year?

Enjoy!

p.s. This week’s YouTube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘Where did you get that hat?’

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Miranda Writes 38 – writing tips, changing publishers and sequels

Posted on April 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

All this year, I’m vlogging about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, the latest news on my book, plus I answer more of your wonderful questions!

Would I consider writing any more sequels? Why did I change publishers? And what’s my advice for new writers about planning a novel and staying focused? It’s all in the vlog this week!

Questions this week come from the very lovely Wendy Kerridge, Daniel Riding – check out his new vlogs – and Carla.

Enjoy!

p.s. This week’s YouTube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘Finding this script HILARIOUS, love!’

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Miranda Writes 37 – The Importance of Daydreaming

Posted on April 12, 2015 | 2 comments

All this year, I’m vlogging about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, why being a daydreamer is crucial if you’re a writer and I answer more of your lovely questions!

At school, all of my reports said I would do better if I ‘did less daydreaming’. But today I’m proud to daydream for a living… In this week’s vlog I’ll explain why I think you have to be a daydreamer if you want to write and why, right now, I’m in my ‘daydreaming stage’.

Also this week, I have fantastic questions on the influence of childhood on my writing (from Simona Elena of Sky’s Book Corner blog) and my first three steps to writing a novel (from Katie Marsh). If you would like to ask me a question, leave a comment below this vlog, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com, tweet me @wurdsmyth, or visit my author page on Facebook

Enjoy!

p.s. This week’s YouTube-inspired freeze-frame is entitled, ‘The Chin Rub of Thoughtfulness…’

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Posted in Author questions, Books, Exclusives, Features, Life, the Universe and Everything, Vlogs, Writing

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Miranda Writes 34 – My vlog is BACK!

Posted on March 17, 2015 | 2 comments

All this year, I am keeping a video diary about writing and publishing my seventh novel, A Parcel For Anna Browne. This week, my vlog returns after quite a long break…

I’ve been editing A Parcel for Anna Browne and I’m really pleased with the result. It turned out to be a huge edit – the equivalent of a structural edit (getting all the key themes and scenes in the right places) and line edit (going through the book with a fine toothed-comb, making sure story arcs are complete and the flow is right) combined. It’s been interesting finding out how my new publisher, Pan Macmillan, works differently to my previous publisher, Avon HarperCollins and, like any new job, there’s been a steep learning curve. But it all helps me to understand what kinds of things Pan Macmillan are looking for in the stories I write.

So, have I seen the cover yet? You’ll have to watch the vlog to find out!

What would you like to know about my books, writing in general or anything else? Ask me a question and I’ll answer it in the next vlog! Just leave a comment below, email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com or tweet me @wurdsmyth.

Enjoy, lovelies!

p.s. This week’s You Tube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, ‘Cheesy Grins R Us’…

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Miranda Writes 30 – Do writers need agents?

Posted on July 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

All this year, I am keeping a video diary about writing and publishing my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York. This week, there’s another chance to #getinvolved with Book Seven and I talk about whether writers need agents…

Thank you so much for all your fab entries for last week’s #getinvolved challenge – I reveal the winner in this week’s vlog! I’m loving writing Book 7, even if it is currently in snatched hours between nappy changes and feeds… I’ve another chance for you to appear in the book this week, which I tell you all about in the vlog.

This week’ question is one I’m asked a great deal: do writers need agents? I’ve been on both sides of the fence – without an agent for my first two book deals and with an agent for my third – so hopefully I can shed some light on the pros and cons. The lovely lady who asked this week’s question is the wonderful Joanna Cannon, who is a phenomenal writer. Click here to visit her website and read some of her work.

If you have a question you’d like me to answer, ask me! Leave a comment below this post, email me at mirandawurdy@gmail.com or tweet me @wurdsmyth.

Enjoy! xx

p.s. This week’s YouTube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled:’The Invisible Chihuahua’

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Miranda Writes 28 – Meet Jake Steinmann

Posted on June 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

All this year I am vlogging about the writing and publishing of my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York. This week, I have another exclusive extract for you, plus your next chance to appear in Book 7!

Thank you all so much for your brilliant coffee shop suggestions for my first #getinvolved challenge. It was a tough decision, but I have a winner at last… and I’ll tell you who they are in the vlog!

I thought it was about time I introduced you to Jake Steinmann – Ed’s brother from Fairytale of New York. I’ll Take New York is written from both his and Bea’s perspectives – I haven’t written anything from two points of view before but as soon as I began to write the book I felt that I wanted to take readers inside Jake’s head as well as Bea’s. Jake is travelling from his home in San Francisco back to his birth city of New York after his beautiful wife Jessica unexpectedly files for divorce. He is reeling from the revelation, having believed they had a perfect marriage, and chooses to return to New York to be close to his family and start his business again. It’s a painful decision, but to stay in San Francisco is unthinkable if he has to live there without Jess…

“He could stay in San Francisco, pretending that life was untouched by his wife’s decision to leave him. But he knew, deep down, that to stay in a city in which every street, sidewalk and brick seemed imprinted with her name would be the end of him. Better to nurse a broken heart on the other side of the country…”

The full extract is in the vlog – hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think…

M xx

p.s. This week’s YouTube-nominated freeze-frame is entitled, “Ee by ‘eck, look at tha’ cap, lass…”

 

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Posted in Books, Exclusives, New York, San Francisco, Vlogs

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Miranda Writes 24 – Book deals, surprising characters and dream locations

Posted on May 11, 2014 | 2 comments

All year I’m making vlogs to chart the life of my sixth novel, I’ll Take New York. This week, after my BIG NEWS has broken, I’ll tell you how I feel about the next three years and answer your great questions about books, writing and publishing.

How should you go about self-publishing and should you choose that option over a traditional route to publishing? Do my characters ever surprise me? And which locations would I like to write about? These fab questions are answered in the vlog. I hope you enjoy it!

Plus – watch out for MY NEW HAT! I thought it was about time I treated myself to a new hat as the last few vlogs have been in somewhat of a Hat Rut….

So what would you like to know about writing, books, publishing, hats or anything else? leave a comment under this post, or email me at: mirandawurdy@gmail.com or tweet me @wurdsmyth. I’d love to answer your questions!

Enjoy! xx

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Breaking News! The next big chapter…

Posted on May 7, 2014 | 2 comments

It’s finally time to share my amazing news with you, after two months of keeping it to myself…

I’ve signed a THREE-BOOK DEAL with PAN MACMILLAN!

Miranda Dickinson 2013

After six great years with the lovely team at Avon HarperCollins, I’m moving on to the next big chapter of my writing life – and I’m so excited! The decision wasn’t an easy one to make: Avon gave me my big break and believed in me, which I will always be grateful for. I’ve worked hard to create books that reward their faith in me as a writer and I’ve grown so much during the past six years working with the fantastic team. Over half a million book sales worldwide later,  I’ll Take New York is the culmination of what I’ve learned and I know Avon is so excited to share it with you when it comes out on 30th September in eBook and 4th December in gorgeously sparkly paperback…

MOVING ON

I never thought I would ever be able to write books for a living, so I’m blown away that my writing dream – which was my dearest secret for so long – is still coming true and taking me to new places I could never have dared imagine.

I will be working with the super-fab Caroline Hogg and the Pan Macmillan team, who are all bursting with enthusiasm about my writing. I can’t wait to begin work with Caroline and the team on my first book for Pan Macmillan – my seventh published novel! I’ve already started writing it and I know you’re going to love it…

I’m excited about the stories I’ll be able to share with you and the new roads we can wander down together. There are so many new things I want to accomplish with my writing and I’m over the moon to have the opportunity to explore them in my new publishing home!

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Come to my first Writers’ Inspiration Day!

Posted on January 10, 2014 | 1 comment

I’m so excited to announce that I will be running my very first day conference for writers – The Write Foxy! Writers’ Inspiration Day!

And the best bit is, you are invited!

Write Foxy!

I’ve heard so much about writers at all stages of their writing careers struggling lately and the thing that’s struck me is how many of us are battling to keep sight of why we dreamed of writing stories in the first place. Following on from my 2014 writing resolution to Write Foxy – i.e. write what I love and reconnect with the sense of fun that is so often lost in the sheer hard work of writing books – I am putting together a day for writers to meet, share ideas, be inspired, write and, most of all, remember why we love writing!

The Write Foxy! Writers’ Inspiration Day takes place at the very lovely De Vere Village Urban Resort Dudley on Saturday 1st February, from 9am – 4pm. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and a full buffet lunch will also be included. The day will consist of a mixture of inspirational speakers, networking opportunities and the Write Foxy! Writers’ Room where you can hang out with other writers and work on your own projects. The day will be fun, inspirational and a great opportunity for you to invest in yourself as a writer. The event costs £95 per person and includes all of the above, plus session notes and a goody bag. Places are very limited, so book now to avoid disappointment!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – CLICK HERE!

>>> F.A.Q’s >>>

Don’t Just Write: Write Foxy!

A day for writers to come together, share ideas, be inspired and, most of all, reconnect with a love of writing. Part conference, part writers’ retreat, the Write Foxy! Day will encourage you to make the most of your writing, learn from the experience of bestselling authors whilst also providing space for you to work on your own projects. Refreshments will be available all day and a full buffet lunch is included.

Who is the Write Foxy! Day for?

Everyone who writes! Whether you are just starting out, are working towards becoming a published or self-published author or are already published, this day offers something for you.

Will the Write Foxy! Day teach me how to write a novel?

No, but it will inspire you to make the most of your writing, whatever stage you are at. It’s an inspiration day that will leave you fired up, armed with new tips and raring to pursue your writing goals.

What does Write Foxy! mean?!

Write Foxy! is all about writing what you’re passionate about, keeping fun at the centre of your writing and loving what you do. So many writers at all stages of their writing careers struggle with doubts, fatigue, a sense of hopelessness and a lack of motivation: this day is designed to reconnect you to the reason you started writing. If you believe in and love what you write, readers will too!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS – CLICK HERE!

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2014 is the year to… WRITE FOXY!

Posted on January 6, 2014 | 1 comment

Well, we’re at the beginning of another new year and all around me people are making resolutions. Personally, I love setting goals for the year ahead and I’m always surprised at the end of the year by how much I’ve achieved or how much my priorities have changed. For 2014, I have made only one resolution – to WRITE FOXY!

Write Foxy!

Lots of things are about to change in my life this year. Bob and I are going to welcome a new baby into our lives in March (ten weeks and counting – eek!), I have some major decisions to make about my writing career and there are certain things I’m working on that may or may not happen during 2014. It feels like a year of possibility – and, as anyone who reads my books knows, I love the allure of possibility…

After the challenges I faced with my writing last year – and the crisis of confidence that almost made me quit – I have decided to spend this year pursuing one thing: foxiness! By this I mean I want to write stories that thrill me; that I bounce out of bed in the morning to write; that make me happy. I want to be known as a writer who adores what she is doing. A writer who takes risks. A writer who appreciates the importance of fun in everything she does. Even if I’m the only person to read it, I want my words to exude foxiness: to be sassy and brave and unafraid.

I’ve learned the hard way that achieving a writing dream is just the beginning: the key to continuing to live the dream is to never lose sight of why you started dreaming about it in the first place. If you don’t love what you write – and constantly reconnect with that first love – you simply won’t survive.

I’m excited to see where my foxy writing resolution will take me and what stories will emerge from it, during this year and beyond. There could be zombies. Or thrills. Or quirky tales that make me smile. There will definitely be new characters who want to welcome you into whole new worlds. It could be crazy and some of it might lead nowhere at all – but it will definitely be one heck of an adventure!

So, there it is: in 2014 I’m starting as I mean to go on. No matter what else happens, I’m going to WRITE FOXY!

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