This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin | Substack

Announcing Book Post

A new Itch of Writing section for writers and readers

Jun 10 • Emma Darwin

Ten Ways to Cure a Lurching Stomach

How to avoid turning your story into a catalogue of medical symptoms

Jun 5 • Emma Darwin

Itchy Bitesized 42: Nineteen Things About Using a Pen Name

Why and how you might publish under a name other than the one on your passport.

May 29 • Emma Darwin

On Writer's Envy, Jealousy, Passion and Peace

How to stay sane as a writer for the long term

May 22 • Emma Darwin

What order do you (should you) write your novel in?

What are the pros and cons of drafting in the order the reader will read your book, versus writing whichever part of the story you want to write? And…

May 15 • Emma Darwin

Most Popular

The Ten Structural Edits I Most Often Suggest

Mar 1, 2024 • Emma Darwin

The Ten Line-edits I Most Often Suggest

Jan 4, 2020 • Emma Darwin

Psychic Distance: What It Is and How To Use It

Sep 13, 2024 • Emma Darwin

Itchy Bitesized 34: Ten Things That Go Wrong With Historical Fiction

Dec 20, 2024 • Emma Darwin

Book Post

Catherine: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights

Jun 11 • Emma Darwin

Announcing Book Post

A new Itch of Writing section for writers and readers

Jun 4 • Emma Darwin

Truth Like Water

by Carys Shannon

May 10 • Emma Darwin

I Capture The Castle

Apr 9 • Emma Darwin

Recent posts

PUNCTUATION: The Itch of Writing Guide

What you need to know about punctuation, including how not to commit a comma splice

May 8 • Emma Darwin

Don't Know What To Write Next in Your Story?

Twelve questions to help you write on that scary blank page

May 1 • Emma Darwin

How on Earth Do You Make a Quiet, Put-Upon, Helpless Character Gripping?

When the whole story is about a character finding their bold, brave, happy authentic self, how do you get readers to care about the scared, sad, masking…

Apr 24 • Emma Darwin

Itchy Bitesized 43: What Do You Research?

What material does your novel, memoir or creative non-fiction need you to find out?

Apr 17 • Emma Darwin

Congratulations, Your Rubbishy First Draft Exists. Now What?

How to get from first draft to second draft and make the very most of what you have

Apr 10 • Emma Darwin

Seventeen Signs That Your Writing Darling Should Go

And no, Elmore dear, the fact that it "sounds like writing" is not a sign

Apr 3 • Emma Darwin

Specifics vs Structures: a crucial insight into your creative process

Possibly the most useful insight I've ever had into the writing of fiction, creative non-fiction, narrative and academic non-fiction

Mar 27 • Emma Darwin

This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin

This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin

All about fiction and creative non-fiction: writing it, reading it, teaching it and occasionally hating it

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