Category Archives: Novel

Getting Better All The time

Posted on August 31, 2015 by merlenygate

Why does traditional publishing get so excited about debut novels? I understand that there’s excitement to be had about the next big thing, the new model, latest craze, fresh, original, up to the minute, must have, must read book . … Continue reading →

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Taking Stories Apart

Posted on February 28, 2015 by merlenygate

Recently I gave a writer some screenwriting advice and like most of my suggestions to other people – it’s something I needed to do myself. If you admire the writing of any TV show or film or novel, or you … Continue reading →

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Schooldays and Amazon

Posted on December 17, 2014 by merlenygate

About twenty godzillion years ago I was in school, and by ‘school’ I don’t mean cool kid Buffy/Twilight sexy adolescent. I mean braces, zits and grubby school uniform. The class had to vote for a representative. The duties were probably … Continue reading →

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Audible Sound Bites

Posted on November 25, 2014 by merlenygate

To celebrate the release on Audible and iTunes of Short Season, a Darkbridge story, I have discounted my first Darkbridge novel, Be My Friend for one week. I also made a perfect Christmas pudding. If you email me at merle@merlenygate.com, … Continue reading →

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Top Tips for Author Interviews on Radio

Posted on October 15, 2014 by merlenygate

Yesterday I did my first author interview on Brooklands Radio, in Weybridge, Surrey for Be My Friend, the first in the Darkbridge series of psychological suspense novels. I was nervous because although I’ve talked to groups of people, the last … Continue reading →

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Short Cuts and Dirty Writing Tricks: How to Keep Your Story Outline in Proportion

Posted on August 31, 2014 by merlenygate

Most screenwriting writers will have experienced the treatment/outline writing dilemma, whether it’s for a feature, short film, TV episode, audio drama, or any other preliminary blueprint for the final version. The process is sometimes: outline (a present tense, 1-3 page … Continue reading →

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Can Stephen King teach an old writing dog new writing tricks?

Posted on June 30, 2014 by merlenygate

I recently read Mr Mercedes by Stephen King and I found it both brilliant and depressing. Brilliant because it’s a terrific book: strong characterisation, rich and rhythmic language, deft pacing, clarity and so on.   And depressing because it’s a terrific … Continue reading →

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Feel The Fear and Write It Anyway

Posted on May 31, 2014 by merlenygate

At the moment I’m developing a new project and as I do so, I’m conscious of the stages that I’m going through because no matter how many writing projects I develop, the fear process is always the same. Step 1 … Continue reading →

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Bitten by Crime – Why it took so long for me to write my psychological crime novel

Posted on April 24, 2014 by merlenygate

This post is not what you think. This isn’t a tale of writer’s block and the desperate struggle to fill empty pages. Through the years, I’ve written fairly steadily; comedy, children’s, fantasy, factual drama, but never stories that involve the … Continue reading →

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