Author Alan Parkinson on perfecting cover design, discovering & developing your visual brand, and the many mistakes along the way.
Get ready for “one of the most spectacular cock-ups in design history”. Literally.
Tag writing
Advice from an Author – Plotting to Be a Planner
Author Alan Parkinson on why it pays off to put in work before getting to work on your novel. Continue reading “Advice from an Author – Plotting to Be a Planner”
An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing
Alan Parkinson, self-published author
“Meeting people for the first time, the usual ice breaker is “What do you do?” Since I gave up my full time job I can now proudly proclaim “Writer.” But then the inevitable follow up comes; “Are you published?” Instead of answering in the affirmative, I usually mumble “Self published” as if it’s something to be ashamed of.
“We’ve come a long way since the days of vanity publishing and being self published is something to be proud of, yet there is still that nagging doubt that you aren’t a writer until a ‘proper publisher’ has noticed you.”
Regular listeners to the 99% Perspiration Podcast might remember Alan Parkinson from episode 16 of season 1. Back then, Sunderland-based novelist Alan was juggling writing around his full-time office job, filling his early morning and evenings to unleash his creativity in ways he couldn’t during the day. Fast-forward to now, and with a third novel nearing completion, self-published author Alan has traded in his full-time managerial office job to write novels full time. He’s taken the plunge a lot of people dream of doing.
If you’re an emerging writer or author, read on. Alan’s sharing his advice on self-publishing. The pitfalls, the triumphs, and everything in between.
Become a Reviewer in Residence at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Hello, Creatives! This one is stolen from the lovely folk at Cuckoo Young Writers, an organisation that exists to develop emerging writing talent in the North of the UK. If you’re interested in writing/journalism, aged 15 – 23, please read on!
(If you’re outside North UK, or outside Cuckoo’s age bracket, there are dozens of opportunities our there, and The Write Life have compiled a handy list of top-notch places to start: 26 Amazing Writing Residencies You Should Apply for This Year.)
“Become a Reviewer in Residence at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) in Sunderland!”
Continue reading “Become a Reviewer in Residence at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art”
Introduction of a Journalism Student
– Words by Sophie Dishman –
Hello Creatives, I thought I would introduce myself as an official 99% Perspiration blogger. There’s only a few for now, but alas I’m here and ready to share news and events from the creative industries, as well as some opinion posts and reviews here and there!
So, I’m Sophie Dishman. I’m 21-years-old and a mature student at the University of Sunderland. No really… I’m classed as a “mature student” at the grand age of 21. I don’t feel old…
Besides that, I’ve recently embarked on the journey of becoming a journalist. I haven’t always wanted to be a journalist, but I’ve always loved writing. It sounds cliché but it’s true. I wouldn’t say I’m entirely creative but I’m learning, and I’m only a first year student right?
Who am I outside of being a boffin at university? Well, I’m also a blogger, with my own blog called “The Musings of a Journalism Student”. I blog about being being a journalism student first and foremost, as the name suggests. But I’ve got other interests and passions – from politics and culture, to fashion and beauty. And I YouTube from time to time too. Because YouTubing is a verb now. You can check out my channel here.
I present and produce Northern Lights’ podcast, that airs on a Monday (cheeky plug there, go check it out) on the community radio station Spark FM. I’m also Culture Coordinator for Northern Lights, an online magazine dedicated to covering culture in the North East. Being Culture Coordinator sees me go to lots of different creative events in Sunderland, the North East, and the surrounding area.
All of this takes place in the Media Hub – it’s is a friendly, open place on the top floor of the David Puttnam Media Centre on St Peters’ Campus, where many journalism and media students go to have a giggle or two. Actually, no, we work all the time. Promise.
So that’s me. An introduction to me, the person behind the words. Enough of blowing my own trumpet, I’m here to blog for 99% Perspiration. This year, I’ll be bringing you updates from all kinds of events and creative happenings in the North East, as well as writing about issues which affect creative people.
Stay productive, stay awesome!
– Words by Sophie Dishman –
Episode 9 – “You Can’t Go Wrong with a Badger with Guns”
Click here to listen to the podcast on iTunes
Episode 9 features well-known graphic novel writer Bryan Talbot. His incredible creations include Granville, Brainstorm, the Adventures of Luther Arkwright, and Alice in Sunderland.
Then we go from a heavyweight in the world of graphic novels to one of the foremothers of community radio in the UK; Caroline Mitchell, well-known for setting up Fem FM, a female-only-run radio station in Bristol, and several other community radio stations.
99% PERSPIRATION 