A bit of This and a bit of That.

While cruising around the blogs I link to I discovered this gem by agent Rachelle Gardner on Revision letters. It's a really interesting insight into the sort of things an editor will be looking for when they're reviewing your manuscript. I also think in could be a really helpful to consider these issues ourselves when editing our own work prior to submission.

On quite a different note, the lovely author Nicola Morgan - famous for her YA novels and her brilliantly helpful blogs (Google "The Crabbit Old Bat" or click this link to find her site) - has just set up a Facebook page and is running a competition. To enter "like" her Facebook page and go in the draw to win a signed copy of one of her books. The more of us who join the more books are entered into the pool. To read more about her social experiment go here.

I'm making good progress editing my manuscript. I've passed the halfway mark now and we're steaming on towards the finish. Only a few thousand words to go! I'm really pleased with how the story is shaping up. It feels solid, cohesive and strong, and I'm thrilled to bits.

*** If you are keen to explore a few sites that specialize in encouraging and advising writers and aspiring authors head on over to Writeitsideways to find a list of 23 such blogs by writers and literary agents.