the hangout for new and inexperienced writers of nonfiction
At Beginners Guide to Writing we specialise in helping new and inexperienced writers get started writing in a range of nonfiction genres. We provide one-to-one and group support, an online writing community where you can exchange ideas through our writing forums, a variety of writing, editing and proofreading services and a selection of books, courses and regular blog posts.
Writing for family history magazines If you have started to write your family history and have some good stories to tell or if you would like to share some research tips and experiences, there is a potential market out…
How to get started as a writer with these 15 quick tips
If you are still at the I want to write but don't know how to start stage, then follow these quick tips on how to get started as a writer. Find a space where…
Could a ghostwriter help you write your story? If your ambition is to write your memoir or life story or to write your family history but you just don’t have the time or confidence to write it yourself, then using a ghostwriter…
How to write a blog post - getting the basics right If you have seen my blog posts Choosing a blog platform and Setting up a free WordPress blog in five easy steps you will have discovered that setting up a blog using…
7 quick tips on how to be your own editor James Thurber is quoted as saying “Don’t get it right, just get it written.” But then what? Nobody, not even experienced writers get it right first time and so the next step after…
Choosing a blog platform In my blog Blogging your way to a book I included some reasons why writing regular blog posts is a great way of building up a book piece by piece. If you have been convinced (or at least tempted)…
Write a family history that people will want to read Why is it that some family historians get so immersed in their family history research they think that everybody else will be equally fascinated by dry and dull lists…
Distraction-free writing tools to let you get on with your writing If you want the freedom to write without being overwhelmed by the number of features available in popular word processors such as Microsoft Word and Pages…
Putting your family history in context Although researching and writing your family history gives you the opportunity to explore and write about the lives of people you have a personal connection to, there will also be…
Writing a family history? Start with the stories about your own life As a family historian you will probably have spent years tracing your family back through many generations to discover more about the lives and times…
Online English grammar resources for aspiring writers If you are an aspiring writer but your English grammar is a bit rusty, take a look at the following selection of online English grammar resources where you will find…
Writing a local history Writing a local history gives you the opportunity to create a picture of what a village, town or region was like in the past by telling the stories of the people who lived and worked there but…
Company, family business and club histories Do you run a company that has a significant anniversary coming up? Do you own a family business that has a story to tell? Have you been asked to write the history of your organisation,…
Get over your fear of writing - find the courage and just do it If you want to write your life story, your memoirs, your family history (or whatever genre you specialise in) but have never had the courage to get started,…
Family history and social history have close links Anyone who has read my blogs or who has met me at workshops or Family History Fairs/Exhibitions will know that I am always keen to talk about the close link between family…
Malapropism - what is it and how did it get its name? In my blog post Frequently misused words - damp squid and other blunders I included some words which are often misused, so now let me introduce you to the world of…
Opening sentence - use it to grab the attention of your readers Arguably the most important words in a book are all contained in the opening sentence. But do you know why? Although the title of your book or narrative…
Commonly confused and misused words in the English language There are some words in the English language that sound alike but have different meanings (these are known as homophones). There are also words that have similar…
11 travel writing tips Do you feel inspired to write about an interesting journey or holiday you have been on? Are you a new or inexperienced writer? If so, here are 11 travel writing tips to help you get started. 1…
How to start writing the stories behind your photos Do you have countless photos tucked away in albums or boxes or numerous collections you have downloaded from your camera or phone? How often do you look at them or show…
Have you always wanted to write about your life and experiences but lack the confidence to get started?
Have you been researching your family or local history and want to start telling the stories you have uncovered?
How about a memoir which focuses on food?
Are you a keen traveller with stories to tell?
Do you run a family or local business with an interesting history which would make a great story?
Are you an enthusiastic scrapbooker who would like to go one step further and start telling the stories behind your pictures and photos?
If you have answered yes to any of the these questions and you are a new or inexperienced writer, take a look at Beginners Guide to Writing for everything you need to get started writing.
At Beginners Guide to Writing we have a great selection of information products and courses plus regular blog posts to help you start writing in a variety of nonfiction genres from life stories, family histories, memoirs and autobiographies to local and social history, travel stories, foodoirs, scrapbook- and photo-journaling, nostalgic memories and company/corporate histories.
If you have already started writing, then check out our Writing and editing services . At Beginners Guide to Writing offer one-to-one help and support via phone, email, Skype (or in person if you live nearby). It doesn’t matter where you are in the world we can work together. We also provide editing and proofreading services and we run workshops for writers of nonfiction.
If you fancy seeing your stories in print we can advise you on the different ways you can go about this. For example, if you just want to print a few copies for family and friends you could use a print-on demand-service or you could turn your stories into an eBook which you could upload to a website or to Kindle or Amazon’s e-reader. Just let us know what you want and we will do our best to advise and help you.
Would you look to join a friendly and supportive network of writers without leaving the comfort of your own home? Then why not join in on one of our Beginners Guide to Writing forums. You can ask for help or you can share your own experiences with like-minded people.
