iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Great new action series from an amazing new talent: Isaac McKenzie-Hamilton’s JAMAAL TARGET: Phantom Agent. If you’ve got a 9-11 yr old reader or want to write kid’s action-adventure - or you want to support a talented & lovely human - buy this book! @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social @storymix.bsky.social

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Today I’m part of the team that’s launching RIPPLE: The Children’s Book Hub. It’s a new initiative to connect anyone engaged in creating, promoting, distributing and improving children’s books. If that’s you, join us. For more details click the link. ripplemagazine.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I was interviewed for The Failing Writers podcast a few months ago and my episode just dropped. It’s a fun podcast on all things writing. I enjoyed the interview and now am a regular listener. Check out all the episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. I highly recommend @failingwriters.bsky.social

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The Crime Writers' Association @thecwa.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Congratulations to Nicholas Avery, winner of the 2026 Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition! Read the winning story, 'St. Peter Investigates' and learn more about the contest at: buff.ly/ny0sUGJ #MargeryAllinghamShortMysteryCompetition #WritingCompetition #NicholasAvery #TheCWA

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CILIP @cilip.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

✨ It's Libraries Change Week 2026! ✨ 📅 Monday 1 June – Sunday 7 June 📚Join us - share your Libraries Week literacy and reading activities and events in the comments below or share using #LibrariesChangeLives and we'll repost: www.cilip.org.uk/page/libraries-cha…

Colorful circular graphic with text promoting Libraries Change Lives event from June 1 to June 7, focusing on literacy and reading.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Kicking off my personal National Crime Reading Month by reading UNDER THE BLAZING sun by Jenny Lund Madsen and listening to INNOCENT GUILT by Remi Kone. What are you reading?

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

A few book recommendations for National Crime Reading month from my recently read pile: LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO by John Lanchester, CULPABILITY by Bruce Holsinger, THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF by Evelyn Clarke, LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera, THE SHARK by Emma Styles, & HARD TOWN by Adam Plantinga.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

June is National Crime Reading month. Mine started with placing 3rd in the CWA Margery Allingham short mystery competition. I visited Criminally Good Books in York and have my crime reading sorted for the month. Happy crime reading, everyone!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Trying to wrangle your work-in-progress into a submission-ready manuscript? On Tues 19 May at 7 pm, I’m leading an online, in-depth workshop on editing. I’ll share a combination of discussion, hands-on exercises and practical tips. Details are here: www.scbwi.org/regions/scot...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Two @uvcompetition.bsky.social success stories! @thatstephendaly.bsky.social’s brilliant THE LAST DEATH POET and Louise Austin’s hilarious ALEX ABBOTT IS [UN]DEAD appeared in Undiscovered Voices 2024 and were published recently. I’m always thrilled when UV helps great writers find readers! 🍾🥂

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Congratulations to the 12 writers featured in the 10th Undiscovered Voices Anthology! The long- and shortlisted writers are announced here: undiscoveredvoices.com/shortlist Download the anthology for free here: static1.squarespace.com/static/67312... #UV26 @uvcompetition.bsky.social

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Delighted to announce our #UV26 WINNERS!! 👏🥳🙌 @cmundywrites.bsky.social @rburrows.bsky.social @ivy-lin.bsky.social, Monica Gutierraz, Caroline Wigg, Zoe Dixon, Kirsty Hammond, Alicja Bagier, Claire Gordon, Dominic Yoboue, Claire Mowat and Alana Warbrick CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing stories ❤️

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

These 12 remarkable story openings make up the latest Undiscovered Voices anthology - available to download or order from undiscoveredvoices.com from tomorrow. Thanks again to amazing panel of judges, team of readers and our fabulous honorary chair @louiestowell.bsky.social 🙏

undiscoveredvoices.com

Undiscovered Voices | Discover New Talent

Undiscovered Voices is an initiative by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) British Isles to help fresh, new voices in children’s literature find agents, publishers and ult...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

So excited that my short story made the longlist! Congratulations to all my fellow longlisted writers.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Great line up for the Children's Writers & Illustrators Festival online from 21st March 2026 9:45am to 22nd March 2026 4:00pm. All the details are here: www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-c...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Huge congratulations to Jasmine Richards and the Storymix Books team on the publication of its first book — THE OTHER FATHER CHRISTMAS. It’s a delightful, heartwarming Christmas tale. It was lovely to celebrate last night with so many Storymix writers, supporters and friends! @storymix.bsky.social

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Thanks to The Women’s Prize Trust for inviting me share my top 5 tips to transform your rough draft as part of its Writers’ Toolkit. Lots of great advice from other writers on the site. Check it out! womensprize.com/five-top-tip...

womensprize.com

Five Top Tips (with exercises) to Transform Your Rough Draft by Sara Grant - Women's Prize

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Congrats to @storymix.bsky.social for the launch of OXFORD BLOOD. Murder at Oxford Interview week. It’s a great read!

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Entries for @uvcompetition.bsky.social close one week today! Winners will be published in the #UV26 anthology and introduced to agents and editors at the exclusive launch party. Don't miss this incredible chance to launch your #kidlit career🚀 undiscoveredvoices.com

media.tenor.com

kermit the frog is standing in front of a red curtain and says " 1 week left "

ALT: kermit the frog is standing in front of a red curtain and says " 1 week left "

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

SCBWI EU is offering an online workshop on Voice given by yours truly on Fri 26 Sept. (Be aware the listed time is for Amsterdam.) It’s a practical discussion on voice with exercises to help you uncover and enhance the voice of your work-in-progress. Details are here: www.scbwi.org/events/editi...

scbwi.org

Edit Your Work to Enhance Voice with Sara Grant

Hone your novel’s voice with expert tips and exercises from author and editor Sara Grant.

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

** One month to go** to get your entries into Undiscovered Voices - the best competition around for unpublished, unagented kidlit and YA writers (okay, we might be slightly biased...) We can't wait to read your manuscripts 👀 undiscoveredvoices.com

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

What could be better? A day spent with writers sharing my favourite exercises & tips on how to revise a novel at the Limehouse Library Hotel. The energy & talent in the room was inspiring. I love doing virtual events but you can’t beat the synergy and connections that are only possible in real life!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Just found these! Paper pens that are perfect to be tucked into a book so I can make notes in the margins. Yes, I write in books. I’m always dissecting the books I’m reading to figure out how the author creates magic on the page — and how I can learn to do the same.

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

** Submissions OPEN ** 🥳 If you're a #KidLit writer in the UK/Europe, #UV26 could be your big break. The anthology has launched 100s of writers' careers - will you be next? Find out more and enter👇 undiscoveredvoices.com Entries close: 8 September 2025 @scbwi-bi.bsky.social

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S J Poyton Author @sjpoyton.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I got my very first long listing and much need confidence boost from Undiscovered Voices! It is such a great competition, and definitely worth checking out if you write kids books!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Absolutely buzzing with excitement for George Kirk’s debut picture book BESSIE’S BEES!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Submissions open today for the 10th Undiscovered Voices! If you are an unagented and unpublished SCBWI member in the UK or EU you should check it. The anthology has launched the writing careers of hundreds of writers. Can’t wait to see who we will discover! @uvcompetition.bsky.social

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Little Tiger @littletigeruk.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We’re so excited to be sharing the cover of DEAD YARD: SEEDS OF DOOM, the first in a spook-tastic new horror middle grade series inspired by Caribbean folklore by P.J. Kilburn 🎬 🎨 Cover Art Markia Jenai ✨ Cover Design Kimberley Chen 📚 Available to request on Netgalley! Coming September 2025!

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Submissions open NEXT WEEK for #UV26 - how's your manuscript looking? Our amazing co-founder, author and editing guru @authorsaragrant.bsky.social has put together this helpful checklist to help decide if you're submission ready 👇 undiscoveredvoices.com/news/checkli... @scbwi-bi.bsky.social

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a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it

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Sue Wallman @suewallman.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

⬇️ If you’re writing a novel THIS is the book you need once you have a first draft. Nobody understands editing and getting to the heart of a story better than Sara Grant. Written with authority and warmth and out now! @authorsaragrant.bsky.social 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Top tip: read books in the same genre & for the same age reader as your work-in-progress. The more you fill your brain with great writing, the more likely you are to produce it. What are you reading for inspiration?

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Spotted the word 'theme' scribbled on an Underground train so thought I'd share this John Gardner quote from On Becoming a Novelist: “Theme is like the floors and structural supports in a fine old mansion, indispensable but not, as a general rule, what takes the reader’s breath away.”

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Can't believe it!🎉It's publication day for THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL.🎉75 exercises & interrogations. A practical, step-by-step guide to make your novel submission ready. Thanks to the team at Bloomsbury's Writers' & Artists' for being great publishers & lovely people.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Tomorrow THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL is published. Here are a few ideas to tighten your writing. These were collected over years of giving my editing workshop. I asked writers for common errors & pet peeves. What would you add to this list? www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/tight...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL is out tomorrow! Here's a little pop quiz for your work-in-progress. I use it as a diagnostic tool to identify any plot problems. Hope you find it useful! www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/solut...

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Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

🌱A vandalised lucky money plant. 🪙An ancient Chinese coin. 👯‍♂️Two best pals. 🙄One annoying sidekick. Stir them up…and…you get: ⭐️The launch of The Lucky House Detective Agency⭐️ Scarlett Li, with pics by Sian James. A @storymix.bsky.social production; pub’d by @knightsofbooks.bsky.social

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

To celebrate the publication of THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL this week: Here's an extract from the book that offers a series of questions to ask about your work-in-progress. Your answers may point out big picture issues you need to address. www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/big-p...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Great day @capitalcrime.bsky.social! Interesting discussions on all things crime, mystery & writing. I’ve shown incredible restraint and only purchased 6 books…so far.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

A quick test for your work-in-progress. Search for a free word cloud generator. Cut & paste your draft into it. This snapshot of your story can point out what words you overuse & what characters get the most air time. Do the words give the right impression of your story?

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

** Sign up by midnight for a chance to win one of these two fantastic new books on perfecting your writing craft ** Three 90min masterclasses for just £30 for @scbwi.bsky.social members; £40 for non-members. @authorsaragrant.bsky.social @sheilamaverbuch.bsky.social @scbwi-bi.bsky.social #UV26

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Final call for my critique giveaway, celebrating the launch of THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL -- my step-by-step guide to make your rough draft submissions ready. Follow & repost for the chance to win a critique of the 1st 2,000 words of your novel. Winner selected 3 June.

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Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

One week until the first #UV26 online masterclass 🥳 Just £30 for @scbwi.bsky.social members for three fab workshops = top tips for competition success Register at tinyurl.com/4tjm6m9r by 31/05 for chance to win a writing craft book by @authorsaragrant.bsky.social or @sheilamaverbuch.bsky.social 📚

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

When I’m editing, I love to go old school & print out my manuscript. I need loads of colourful pens and highlighters for a variety of exercises I use to dissect and rebuild by draft. I just picked up new editing supplies ...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Writing-to-editing ratio. I tracked my time when writing a 100-page MG novel. So far I’ve worked 220 hours on the book. Approximately 30% of that time was spent writing the 1st draft, but 70% was editing. The difference between a good novel & a publishable one is a rigorous revision process.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Having a comprehensive approach to editing your novel allows you to enjoy the creation process & write a better first draft. I give myself the freedom to experiment & play so I can write my way into a great story -- because I know I will whip it into shape using my systematic approach to revision.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

My top tip for writers: read for inspiration! Read books in the same genre and for the same age reader as your work-in-progress. Analyse the books you love. How did the author hook you? The more you fill your brain with great writing, the more likely you are to produce it.

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