Anita Belli

Writing Scenes

How being a filmmaker influences my novel writing. Whether we read or watch or even listen to our stories, they all start with words on a page.

Morning Pages and My Creative Process

Morning Pages is part of a process and not a product: I write without fear because no one will ever read it, except myself, sometime in the future when I might rummage around my hard drive for the nuggets of gold. It is a place where stories emerge, plot twists are resolved and ideas explored.

Hold The Fronted Adverbials

The fear of getting it wrong is prevalent amongst children in many of the schools I work in. It stifles creativity, curiosity and engagement. And disengaged children don’t learn very much at all.

The Truth in Fiction

Memory, truth and lies has become an important theme again in my work, since I developed my workshop programme – Write Your Life. I write pieces of my life in every novel I create. I write FROM my life – from under the skin of my experiences.

Writing Firsts for 2021

My notebook habit is strong and evolved. I have drawers full of notebooks dating back several decades. When I am seeking inspiration, or if there is nothing to watch on telly, I will occasionally browse these notebooks and find nuggets of inspiration.

Between Times

As we reach the bridge between 2020 and 2021 we can look back over the distance we have travelled and we can see just how much the landscape has changed around us. And we can look forward into 2021, into the mist of uncertainty.

My 2020 Writing Life

Some may say that 2020 has been rubbish and in some ways it has. I have been able to explore new skills and new audiences for my work.

Develop a Writing Habit

It is a truth universally acknowledged
that 100% of books which don’t get written, don’t get published. The Writer procrastinates. It is normal. We all do it. Even walking the dog in the rain seems more appealing than facing a blank page …

What is holding you back from Writing Your Life Story?

What is holding you back from Writing Your Life Story? The most common reasons why people don’t even START to write that book they have been meaning to write forever