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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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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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 · 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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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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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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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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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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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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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 · 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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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Judges @uvcompetition.bsky.social panel agree that establishing the voice of the piece from the very beginning is key to hooking agents, editors & readers.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Tonight @scbwi-bi@bsky.social announces its 10th @uvcompetition.bsky.social for unagented and pre-published writers! Undiscovered Voices has launched the writing careers of more than 100 writers who have received publishing contracts for more than 400 books. Could you be next? undiscoveredvoices.com

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Testing your book idea. This quote from Karl Iglesias in Writing for Emotional Impact perfectly sums up the ingredients for a brilliant book idea: ‘A great idea should be uniquely familiar, and it should promise conflict.’

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Overjoyed to grab my @waterstoneskids.bsky.social exclusive edition copy of LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT by @lui-land.bsky.social. A talented writer and brilliant person. I can’t wait to read it!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

In 1 month THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL is published! It includes more than 75 exercises/interrogations to help writers analyse/improve every aspect of their novels. I’m giving away a 1-2-1 critique of the 1st 2,000 words of a novel. Follow & repost to be eligible. Winner selected 3 June

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Join me for @scbwi-bi.bsky.social’s The Ultimate Workshop For Editing Your Novel in London on 19 July. I use a combination of discussion, hands-on exercises & practical tips from my upcoming book – The Ultimate Guide to Editing Your Novel. The details & how to book: www.scbwi.org/events/works...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

My 3 key takeaways from today’s @scbwi-bi.bsky.social Debut Bootcamp: 1) Remember to find the joy in everything you are doing to promote your book 2) Communication and reliability are key with building a positive relationship with your publisher & 3) Connect and learn from other writers/illustrators

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Great first day at @scbwi-bi.bsky.social’s Debut Bootcamp with nearly 50 up-and-coming writers & illustrators. @moohara.bsky.social, @candygourlay.bsky.social & I share everything we wished we’d known before our debut books launched. Lovely to meet so many talented creators!

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Congratulations to @camcauthor.bsky.social on her newest book PROJECT PONY. Great book launch last night at an urban pony club. Can’t wait to read her book.

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

So exciting to see the new and amazing Undiscovered Voices team launch the 10th @scbwi-bi.bsky.social anthology with a free event and a series of masterclasses — all on Zoom. You can book your tickets now: undiscoveredvoices.com/news/uv-2026...

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Found this old bookmark hiding in my desk. It has one of my all-time favourite quotes. I often shared this sentiment with my writing students — if we aren’t excited about writing our drafts then how can we expect readers to be excited about reading them?

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Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

In June @Writers_Artists will publish my first non-fiction book – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL: A revolutionary approach to transform your writing. For details & to pre-order at a 10% discount: UK: bloomsbury.com/uk/ultimate-gu… US: bloomsbury.com/us/ultimate-gu��

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