Struggling to put pen to paper? Maybe Catrin Collier can help.

We recently announced our competition to find short stories about working people's lives for our 2010 Quick Reads* book. Find out more about the competition at www.unionlearn.org.uk/qrcompetition

To help you get your creative flair, Catrin Collier a new Quick Reads author has kindly provided you with some top tips.

About the Catrin Collier

Catrin Collier's mother was a Prussian refugee and her father was Welsh. She has published over twenty historical novels and eight crime novels (under the name Katherine John). Her first historical novel, Hearts of Gold was filmed as a mini-series. Catrin lives with her family on the coast near Swansea.

My top tips

BE PASSIONATE. If your story excites you it will excite your reader.

RESEARCH - fact or fiction you need plot, era, society, to introduce the reader to your 'world.'

MAKE your characters believable, neither angels nor devils. Jack the Ripper was unexceptionable enough to blend into the East End at the height of the terror.

FINISH work in the middle not end of a scene. It will give you the momentum to avoid writer's block. There are as many ways of writing as there are writers.

I have only one rule

THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ONLY WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T

Finish your story set it aside for a few days. You'll soon see if it works, then REVISE! REVISE! REVISE!

Briefing document (300 words) issued 29 Oct 2008

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