We might wonder why so few writers become successful while still in their 20s. But the question might well be - is this perhaps for the best? Or what would we be reading otherwise?

Just 10 years ago, publishing was a whole different ballgame. And that's not the only metaphor I butcher in this thinly disguised listicle. So what's changed? And should we be sad, or glad about it?

Writers have never been so connected. With the internet, we can now talk to fellow authors, all over the world. But what does that mean for our self-confidence, when it feels like everyone in the whole world is also writing a book - possibly even the SAME book?

Let’s make one thing clear: first chapters SUCK. Even the first chapters of the best novels in the world suck – at some point in the process. Most first chapters cause their writers to collapse in a puddle of headachey sweat, eyes rolled back, tongues lolling, unable to form any sentences at all. They are that difficult. And in publishing, they are what set out the titans amongst the tiddlers. The Real First Chapter First chapters...

I hate 5-star book reviews, and I'm about to tell you why. While I'm at it, I'm also going to try and persuade you to hate them too. Wish me luck.

Writing in a different genre can be a difficult sell, even for a successful author Literary success seems to prescribe that you find a writing style, and stick to it. But not everyone wants to do that. And not everyone is able to do it either. J.K. Rowling made headlines when she began to publish crime fiction under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, having previously confounded the market with adult contemporary fiction in The Casual Vacancy. Both are far...

We tend only to talk about the great books we know which were murdered by being made into terrible films, but we forget that there is another angle to this story. Producers of film and TV are always looking for new ideas, and screenwriting veterans will tell you that it’s a hell of a lot easier for an unknown writer to sell a script if it’s based on a published book – presuming  you have...

I said something disgusting last week. I was describing a book I’d read to a friend. “I think it’s for men,” I said to her. “I mean, it was good. But it wasn’t great, and I kind of waded through some of it. I think it was probably written for men.” To my credit, I slapped myself in the face with a large fresh monkfish after I said this, because it’s a really stupid thing...

In less than two weeks, the writing.ie team and I will be Ryanairing off in no style whatsoever to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, Yorkshire. I was there last year, and I still even remember some of it, despite the disgraceful amount of fun I had. Writing.ie will be live tweeting as much as possible, so that readers sadly unable to attend can get some of the flavour, wisdom and entertainment which characterises this festival of books....

Here’s a quick literary joke for you: ************************************************ Q.　What’s the difference between Literary Fiction and Crime? A.　Two empty coffins. ************************************************ Isn’t that a brilliant joke? Aren’t you rolling around the floor laughing? Isn’t it crammed full of the sharp wit of the universe? Of course it isn’t. But if enough people said it was, you might believe it. Which seems to be increasingly how Literary Fiction once worked. Nobody’s saying that Lit-Fic (I know such snazz-tags are annoying,...