The Writer’s Angle
Turning Passion into Reality
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Who is this for?
If you have had a career, are comfortable with formal writing, and now want to master the art and craft of fiction, this is for you.
If, like me, you've written professionally, you may need to accept—as I did when I wrote my first fictional tale—that building a whole new skill set is essential.
I welcome writers of all ages to my site. Starting young is always better, but it is never too late to begin.
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Thanks for reading robcblythauthor’s Substack. Subscribe for free to receive new posts. You can also see a sample of my work. Download a free story below.
So why sign up
Plenty of advice sites offer both free and paid packages. I am not trying to sell you a course, nor do I pretend to offer a bespoke consulting service. Instead, I want to share twelve years of hands-on experience, bridging the gap from professional academic writing to commercial fiction and independent publishing.
Beyond that, I am older than many—though perhaps not always wiser! I have carefully tracked my journey over the last decade and want to share what I have learned from my own missteps, alongside the valuable insight of the many experts I follow
And I have:
Published about 20 books, including one in Spanish. (I use two names for publishing, but here I am Rob.)
Built three websites. My main site is RCBlyth.com
Worked with around 10 editors, cover designers and beta readers.
Set up a self-publishing service for my books called Busypencilcase Communications and Publications (BPCC)
Worked with Amazon KDP and dabbled with Draft2Digital, BookBub, and IngramSpark.
Used ISBNs to publish my own works.
As a former teacher-lecturer, I know how to break down the features that build a skill set.
Experience writing in British and American English.
Sage Advice from others
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. W. Shakespeare (As You Like It)
Publishing is a business of selling books to readers, not selling validation to writers. Many modern publishing scams exploit the profound emotional desire of a novice to see their name in print. Novices must learn to treat their manuscript as a commercial product, separating their ego from the market. (Writers & Artists)
An agent or publisher's enthusiasm should look like a contract, not an invoice. If a writer receives an email full of praise that ends in a request for money to expedite review or fund the cover art, it is a scam, full stop (Page Publishing)
In summary, what can you expect?
The craft: Essential elements of fiction and the common pitfalls writers face.
The business: Practical guidance on publishing for free—and precisely what to avoid.
The journey: Clear advice on overcoming the practical obstacles you will encounter along the way.
The savings: Direct insights designed to save you time, money, and grief by pointing you towards genuinely helpful resources.
The Series: Every post arrives directly in your inbox for a spam-free, ad-free reading experience.
The series commenced November 2026
SERIES 1
Kiss & Tell - creating your story from the start
Writing Style and the Story Arc
Finding spare eyes - beta reader
Title & Images - your book
The Writing Voice
Backstory and head-hopping
Planning the Story Arc
Facts: what to keep and what to leave out
A bit about publishing
Artificial Intelligence in publishing
Please note the author reserves the right to alter the release of these titles or supplement them out of sequence
A gift from Rob - genre: fantasy. Short 10-15 minute read. Click on the image or caption. Also available as a Kindle read (0.77p)
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