When to break the rules of writing: how and why to Experiment

There’s a point in every writer’s journey when you realise the rules, the ones you've been diligently following, are not commandments but conventions. They're guidelines. Or handrails. Ideas that work brilliantly until they don’t. And sometimes, the best writing happens when you break them.

This isn’t a green light for chaos. You have to know the rules before you break them. You have to understand how rhythm works before you fragment a sentence. You need to learn what a story arc is before you bend it, or break it. But once you do, experimentation can lead to extraordinary storytelling.

So when should you consider breaking the rules? And how can you do it well? Luckily there are loads of great examples. 

The incredible shrinking novel: why short fiction is having a big moment

In a world of content overload, time-poor readers are gravitating toward something they can actually finish: short novels. Once the preserve of indie publishers and experimental authors, the slim literary novel is now front and centre, scooping prizes, going viral on BookTok, and dominating bookshop displays.

From Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These to Samantha Harvey's Orbital, these compact works of fiction pack a punch around 200 pages. No filler. No indulgent middle act. Just distilled intensity, executed with precision. 

The 'by zombies' test: how to spot (and fix) passive voice in your writing

Ever feel like some of your sentences were written by zombies? If your writing sounds a bit lifeless or unclear, you might be falling into the passive voice trap. This post explores a fun trick called the 'by zombies' test – a simple way to spot passive voice – and explains why switching to active voice can bring your prose back to life. That’s why it matters so much in fiction and journalism, and why so many writers have something to say about it.

The second draft survival guide: 10 tips on editing your novel

Completing the first draft of your novel is a major achievement to celebrate. You’re already in the top 3% (97% of people who start writing books and never finish). 

But the journey to a polished manuscript has only just begun. Now comes the editing and your next two to three drafts.

According to Deborah Levy, author of Hot Milk and The Cost of Living: "Editing is the most wonderful part of writing. It begins to roar in the edit." Embracing the editing process is crucial to transforming your initial draft into a compelling narrative that will grab the attention of literary agents and book editors.

These ten tips are ones I’ve always found helpful after that crucial first draft is done.

AI’s growing ability to write creatively like us

AI is no longer just generating dry, robotic text. It’s now writing compelling fiction. OpenAI’s latest model has demonstrated an ability to craft stories with depth, emotion, and narrative structure that rivals human creativity. CEO Sam Altman recently shared a short story generated by AI that was not just coherent but hauntingly resonant, sparking a wave of discussion about what this means for the future of literature.

Jeanette Winterson, a long-time advocate for technological innovation in storytelling, believes this shift is not something to fear but to embrace. She describes AI as “alternative intelligence”, suggesting that its ability to be other might be precisely what human writers need—pushing creative boundaries, offering new perspectives, and reimagining storytelling. 

The art of the campus novel – what makes them work, and which are the best?

Writing about Donna Tartt last week and The Secret History got me thinking about the campus novel.  

I’ve always been fascinated by this sub-literary genre, from what makes it work to why it continues to captivate readers and how it manages to be both intensely specific and universally resonant. 

The best campus novels transport us to a world of intellectual ambition, youthful recklessness, and, often, profound disillusionment. They capture a moment in life where identity, relationships, and ambition collide.

But what exactly makes a great campus novel, and which books best define the ever-growing genre? 

Crafting the perfect opening lines of a novel

Do you need a killer opening line for your novel? Or is there an alternative way to draw readers in right from the start? 

I'm slightly obsessed by the opening lines of novels, and for me, the opening line isn’t merely about crafting a flashy hook; it’s about setting the tone, sparking curiosity, and providing readers with a reason to keep turning the pages. A brilliant first sentence generates intrigue and anticipation, drawing the audience into your story before they even realise it.