Author and publisher John Yeoman explains why he established Writer’s Village short fiction contest
John Yeoman is the author of eight published books of humour and fiction, and has been working as a successful commercial writer and publisher for 40 years. He has a Phd in Creative Writing and tutors in creative writing at a university. He lets us know why he believes ebooks and self-publishing will be the future for authors.
Sylvia Howe explains how a freelance writer can become an expert in anything, given a little time
Sylvia Howe is a freelance journalist writing on travel, interviews, homes and gardens, food, health, family, countryside, and sustainability for publications ranging from The Times to The Lady. When she isn’t writing for work she works on her novel. She tells us how she got her break by entering the Vogue Talent Contest.
Award-winning playwright David Eldridge explains how actors and anger and unrequited love inspire him
David Eldridge wrote his first play, Serving It Up, while still studying at Exeter University. His other plays include Under the Blue Sky and Market Boy. Under the Blue Sky won the Time Out Live Award for Best New Play. David talks to us about the joy of “seeing actors elevate the work into another place.”
Journalism lecturer Tom Hill lets us know the key qualities that make up a good working journalist
After 13 years as a TV journalist, Tom Hill became a journalism lecturer at Bournemouth University, and now teaches Entrepreneurial Journalism as part of the Mix-tape Media MA course. He also runs a journalism training company Up To Speed. Tom tells us how teaching allows him to learn continually, often from his own students.
Writer Rupert Isaacson explains how he knew his autistic son was healed when he began telling stories
Travel writer Rupert Isaacson is an author, journalist and human rights activist. His latest book is The Horse Boy, a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller. Rupert tells us how his background as a writer showed him a way to help his autistic son, Rowan, and led his family on a remarkable journey to visit the reindeer people of Mongolia.
Speculative fiction writer D T Neal implores us to turn our Writer’s Eye on the world to find inspiration
Dave T Neal works at the University of Chicago Press, as well as being writing horror, fantasy and science fiction stories. He won second place in the Aeon Award 2008 and has been published by Albedo One. Dave tells us how working with “people who wear their quirkiness like cufflinks” provides him with a wealth of writing fuel.
Scriptwriter Tony Marchant tells us how having “a belief in opportunity” paved his way to writing success
Scriptwriter Tony Marchant is the writer behind TV drams such as Mark Of Cain and Holding On. His most recent work was the drama Garrow’s Law. Tony explains how he used a mix of Old Bailey accounts and artistic license to get to the truth of how a single barrister overhauled the British legal system 300 years ago.
Natasha Courtenay-Smith explains how running a press agency helps her to find the balance between work and family
Natasha Courtenay-Smith is a freelance writer and the founder of press and publicity agency www.talktothepress.co.uk. Her work with the agency led to her winning the Women in Business category at the Startups Awards. Natasha tells us how tweeting and blogging helps her stay on top as a freelance journalist.
