Nida Broughton
@nidabroughton.bsky.social
Economist - UK Director at CEI Global
Creative writing - Historical fiction and crime thriller. Winner 2024 Exeter Novel Prize, 2024 BPA Pitch Prize
Creative writing - Historical fiction and crime thriller. Winner 2024 Exeter Novel Prize, 2024 BPA Pitch Prize
And here's a pic of the lovely trophy they sent 🙂
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
And here's a pic of the lovely trophy they sent 🙂
So a really big thank you to the
Exeter Novel Prize organisers @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James - it makes a big difference!
Exeter Novel Prize organisers @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James - it makes a big difference!
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
So a really big thank you to the
Exeter Novel Prize organisers @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James - it makes a big difference!
Exeter Novel Prize organisers @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James - it makes a big difference!
In that context - in those months and years while you're beavering away, hoping you're writing something worthwhile - I've found competitions for unpublished writers fantastic. Someone to actually read your work and tell you if you've got something promising!
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In that context - in those months and years while you're beavering away, hoping you're writing something worthwhile - I've found competitions for unpublished writers fantastic. Someone to actually read your work and tell you if you've got something promising!
All that time, you're trying to get to the end of the novel, trying to make it as amazing as you can, trying to perfect your writing skills
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
All that time, you're trying to get to the end of the novel, trying to make it as amazing as you can, trying to perfect your writing skills
All that means that when you first pick up a pen, or open your laptop to start writing your first novel, it could be months or years before you ever find out if anyone else is the world is at all interested in your book
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
All that means that when you first pick up a pen, or open your laptop to start writing your first novel, it could be months or years before you ever find out if anyone else is the world is at all interested in your book
I don't have an agent yet, but I hope to, and I know many other authors in a similar situation
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I don't have an agent yet, but I hope to, and I know many other authors in a similar situation
With Last Castle Standing - the novel that was chosen as the winner of the Exeter Novel Prize, I probably spent ~6 months writing, and ~12 months editing around a full time job, with breaks in between to work on other novels
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
With Last Castle Standing - the novel that was chosen as the winner of the Exeter Novel Prize, I probably spent ~6 months writing, and ~12 months editing around a full time job, with breaks in between to work on other novels
And a first draft will get you nowhere. Agents can tell a first draft from a polished manuscript that's been through multiple edits! To get an agent, you need a manuscript that's as good as you can get it and a compelling pitch
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
And a first draft will get you nowhere. Agents can tell a first draft from a polished manuscript that's been through multiple edits! To get an agent, you need a manuscript that's as good as you can get it and a compelling pitch
Getting published is hugely competitive. The main publishing houses won't take unsolicited manuscripts. You need an agent to represent you. And to get an agent, you need - for fiction - a fully complete manuscript. Not just an idea, the full thing
May 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Getting published is hugely competitive. The main publishing houses won't take unsolicited manuscripts. You need an agent to represent you. And to get an agent, you need - for fiction - a fully complete manuscript. Not just an idea, the full thing
Thank you Beth - and best of luck with The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown!
May 13, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Thank you Beth - and best of luck with The Revenge of Hepsibah Brown!
Thank you! And big thanks to the CBC How to Edit Your Novel team - a really great course, packed with practical advice that helped me whip this novel into shape!
May 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Thank you! And big thanks to the CBC How to Edit Your Novel team - a really great course, packed with practical advice that helped me whip this novel into shape!
Do check out the site for more details on the five amazing shortlisters @eowrites.bsky.social @beth-webb.bsky.social Lenore Hart, Lauren Neely and Loftus Brown, who all gave brilliant readings of their work at yesterday's award ceremony
May 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Do check out the site for more details on the five amazing shortlisters @eowrites.bsky.social @beth-webb.bsky.social Lenore Hart, Lauren Neely and Loftus Brown, who all gave brilliant readings of their work at yesterday's award ceremony
And to the judge of the competition, Hellie Ogden, for her lovely and encouraging words, "This portrait of a family falling apart at the seams is tender and hilarious and resonates with anyone who has ever desperately held onto their sense of self and the ones they love."
May 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
And to the judge of the competition, Hellie Ogden, for her lovely and encouraging words, "This portrait of a family falling apart at the seams is tender and hilarious and resonates with anyone who has ever desperately held onto their sense of self and the ones they love."
Thanks to @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James for their wonderful work in organising the prize - competitions like this make such a big difference to the lonely life of the writer! And for their lovely comments comparing the book to The Great and Marie Antoinette.
May 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Thanks to @cathiehartigan.bsky.social @sophieduffy.bsky.social and Margaret James for their wonderful work in organising the prize - competitions like this make such a big difference to the lonely life of the writer! And for their lovely comments comparing the book to The Great and Marie Antoinette.
It's about Margaret Somerset, married to would-be inventor Edward Somerset, son of the richest man in the land, and a family about to lose it all.
Tagline: All Margaret wants is to be safe from war. All Margaret’s husband wants is to invent a flying
machine.
Tagline: All Margaret wants is to be safe from war. All Margaret’s husband wants is to invent a flying
machine.
May 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
It's about Margaret Somerset, married to would-be inventor Edward Somerset, son of the richest man in the land, and a family about to lose it all.
Tagline: All Margaret wants is to be safe from war. All Margaret’s husband wants is to invent a flying
machine.
Tagline: All Margaret wants is to be safe from war. All Margaret’s husband wants is to invent a flying
machine.
We need to invest in discovering what works, and government needs to kickstart that.
Thanks @healthfoundation.bsky.social for hosting me!
Thanks @healthfoundation.bsky.social for hosting me!
April 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
We need to invest in discovering what works, and government needs to kickstart that.
Thanks @healthfoundation.bsky.social for hosting me!
Thanks @healthfoundation.bsky.social for hosting me!
But we've seen that mistake play out before in the diversity & inclusion space - where employers invested heavily in training that seemed like a good idea, but just didn't work (e.g. see some of @bitglobal.bsky.social's research in this space).
April 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
But we've seen that mistake play out before in the diversity & inclusion space - where employers invested heavily in training that seemed like a good idea, but just didn't work (e.g. see some of @bitglobal.bsky.social's research in this space).
We need more than good intentions - we need good evidence on what really works. It's so easy to think the answer is obvious, and sure, some stuff is
April 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
We need more than good intentions - we need good evidence on what really works. It's so easy to think the answer is obvious, and sure, some stuff is