Category Archives: Writing

Speed Short Story writing

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Della Galton

How many short stories can you write in a week? How many in a day? I’ve just read a feature in Writing Magazine,  October Issue, about a guy who wrote, edited and formatted a novella length story in a week. … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Short stories for magazines, Writing | 15 Comments

Wacky Filing Systems

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Della Galton

I always find it interesting what other writers do to keep track of their stories. I know some of us have paper filing systems (I do) and some of us keep track of our stories on spreadsheets. I prefer the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips on writing, Writing | 4 Comments

How to Write and Sell Short Stories in a Changing Market

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Della Galton

Shameless self promotion below 🙂 I am doing a course called: How to write and sell short stories in a changing market – Saturday 20 October, 10 till 4.00 in Bournemouth. Is the short story market dead? I don’t think so. … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories for magazines, Tips on writing, Writing | Leave a comment

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Della Galton

I recently did a feature for the People’s Friend about Battersea Dog and Cats Home to tie in with  ITV1’s series, Paul Grady: For the Love of Dogs.  The feature comes out in People’s Friend on October 20th, but in … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Writing | 13 Comments

The Fleetingness of Beautiful Things

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Della Galton

This is a picture of my amaryllis – or to be more accurate, Adam’s amaryllis, which is in our kitchen. It flowers twice a year if I’m lucky. The flowers last for about a week. And then they die.  Isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Writing | 13 Comments

Writing Flash Fiction

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Della Galton

I’m running a day course on writing flash fiction soon, Saturday 28 April in Bournemouth if you’re interested!  There are more and more competitions and markets for it – so what is it exactly? This is harder to define than … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Writing | 7 Comments

How To Get An Original Idea

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Della Galton

One of the things short story competition judges bemoan the most is that they hardly ever see an original story, or a really original idea.   Yet being original is one of the fastest ways to get into the shortlist.  Providing … Continue reading →

Posted in competitions, ideas, plotting, Tips on writing, Writing | 9 Comments

What should be on the first page of your novel?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Della Galton

The first page of your novel has to be excellent. If it is not first class, then it’s possible the agent or publisher you have targeted will not read any further.  Time is money, and they will only be interested … Continue reading →

Posted in first chapter, Tips on writing, Writing | 4 Comments

Today is Publication Day!

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Della Galton

Today (January 5th, 2012) is publication day of my new book, and I am so excited.  Even though I know everyone else in the universe won’t know and won’t care and the momentous news will pass without comment. But I … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Writing | 5 Comments

Dear Della Questions

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Della Galton

Had some great questions today in Dear Della, including one from a writer who was despondent because she’d had quite a few rejections for her first novel. We all know how that feels, I know I do.  Maybe writers are … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | 17 Comments