'You've got your hands full'

Write away: Advice from Keris Stainton, author of Della says: OMG!

KERIS Stainton is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet. Totally unassuming and modest, she is a fabulous writer and blogger and now, don't you know, author of Della Says: OMG!

Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared... When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?

Here's an interview with Keris to mark publication of her first young adult novel, which I can't wait to read.

This interview will also be appearing at Judith's Room by the way.

Choose three words to describe yourself

Determined. Excitable. Short.

Author Blog Awards: I'm on the shortlist!

Thanks a million for voting...now please can you do it again?

YOU may remember I was nominated in the Author Blog Awards.

Weeeelll, thanks a million to everyone who also added their support, as I have now been (ta-da!) shortlisted.

As suspected there are some "big name" authors also on the list, which has reportedly been whittled down from more than 500 sites, so I'm dead chuffed to have got this far.

Write Away: Interview skills, Writing magazine feature

JOURNALIST Tamsin Oxford recently interviewed me for a piece in the current edition of Writing magazine.

It's an article about interviewing and also features Johanna Payton and Anne Wollenberg.

Here are some of Tamsin's questions and my answers. I hope they may be useful.

What three things do you believe are essential to preparing for an interview?

To have researched your subject properly, to be in the right frame of mind to be confident the interviewee knows what to expect.

How do you go about sourcing your interviewees?

I have worked hard to build contacts in my chosen areas so I get in touch with people I know or hope will help me and take it from there. These days, I’m also using social media and online tools available more too, so I’ve found people through Twitter and Facebook as well as through blogging, these are different ways of building new contacts and can work well, but I still prefer to then actually speak to the people so I know they are who they say they are. It's important to value contacts once they are made and build relationships with them for the future.

Write Away: How to write a non-fiction book synopsis

I'VE had seven examples of a synopsis initially accepted by a small publisher or agent. Only two of these ever saw the light of day as a published book.

In one of those books, The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, I explore what makes a winning synopsis. It should be:

• Compelling
• An excellent example of your writing
• A showcase for your research skills

Photo by Olivander on Flickr

It's not goodbye...Why I opted out of the Tots 100 parenting blogs index

A FEW people have been in touch since I commented on the latest league table of blogs published by Sally at Who's the Mummy?

This monthly index is a great resource for anyone wanting to find UK parenting blogs, and it's interesting to follow, especially to discover new sites already engaging with their readers.

But ranking my blog on how many comments it gets, the amount of people tweeting or featuring a link, or posting information to a social book-marking site such as Digg or Delicious, isn't for me any more.

I just want people to read and enjoy it.

Write Away: How to pitch a feature to a commissioning editor

IF you want to convince a magazine, newspaper or website editor they should commission a piece from you, you need to prove your idea:

• Would fit well in their publication
• Is worth writing now
• Would be best written by you
• Will be delivered well and on time

Miss out any of these elements and your pitch won't stand a chance.

This means you must include:

• A clear and compelling 'head' or title
• A great hook - what makes your contribution idea so timely? 
• A succinct and compelling explanation of what your proposed piece is about
• Information about you

Write away: Bloggers offer their top blogging tips

THANK YOU for the feedback on last week's Write Away slot, which was about negotiating rates for freelance writers.

This week, I'm, addressing a question from NotSupermum.

She said: "I'd appreciate any tips on how to improve my blogging posts - I don't find writing easy so any help would be good."

Rather than restrict my answer to my own thoughts on blogging, I thought I'd open this one out to some established, respected and favourite bloggers.

Write Away: Advice for freelance journalists on negotiating rates

THERE was a fabulous response to my Write Away post last week which explained some basic advice for anyone starting out in freelance writing.

Thank you everyone who commented and thank you to Josie whose question prompted the advice - and who went on to blog that she was increasingly convinced freelance writing wasn't for her.

I don't know if my advice this week will end up helping put anyone off but it does touch on a rather tricky area.

Joanne Mallon from Parentdish raised the question: "What do you say when an editor asks you how much?" as she suspected this would be of interest. Joanne has written extensively on how to be a successful freelancer and has some excellent advice of her own at Journalism.co.uk. I hope my input may also be helpful. 

Write Away: Advice for aspiring freelance writers - getting started

WELCOME to the first Write Away advice slot!

I've started this regular feature in response to bloggers contacting me asking for guidance about freelance writing.

Thanks to Josie from Sleep is for the Weak who sent me some queries to get the ball rolling. My answer is very long but in Josie's 'one' question, there were a few. 

She said:

There seems to be plenty of opportunities to do 'freebie' writing work online, but how, as a writer with very little experience, do you actually go about getting your first paid contract?

Are jobs advertised online and where? Who do you need to to approach? What opportunities are there realistically?

Do you need a specialism? Or is just a desire to write and a willingness to throw your hand at anything enough?

New freelance writing advice regular post - Write Away

WHEN I started blogging, things seemed simple. I wanted to provide information for families with twins, triplets or more, who don't feature as much as they could in mainstream media.

That's why I began Got Your Hands Full, and that's why, when my book on freelance writing came out, I set up a separate site, Freelance Writing Tips.

But after three years, as time went on, I strayed from the original premise behind this site and started to feel more comfortable writing about my own experience. The support and friendship found through blogging has been phenomenal.