Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thanks to The Women’s Prize Trust for inviting me share my top 5 tips to transform your rough draft as part of its Writers’ Toolkit. Lots of great advice from other writers on the site. Check it out!

womensprize.com/five-top-tip...

Five Top Tips (with exercises) to Transform Your Rough Draft by Sara Grant - Women's Prize

womensprize.com

1

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Sep 2

Congrats to @storymix.bsky.social for the launch of OXFORD BLOOD. Murder at Oxford Interview week. It’s a great read!

1

Reposted by Sara Grant

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Sep 1

Entries for @uvcompetition.bsky.social close one week today!

Winners will be published in the #UV26 anthology and introduced to agents and editors at the exclusive launch party.

Don't miss this incredible chance to launch your #kidlit career🚀

undiscoveredvoices.com

kermit the frog is standing in front of a red curtain and says " 1 week left "

ALT: kermit the frog is standing in front of a red curtain and says " 1 week left "

media.tenor.com

4 4

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Aug 31

SCBWI EU is offering an online workshop on Voice given by yours truly on Fri 26 Sept. (Be aware the listed time is for Amsterdam.) It’s a practical discussion on voice with exercises to help you uncover and enhance the voice of your work-in-progress.
Details are here:
www.scbwi.org/events/editi...

Edit Your Work to Enhance Voice with Sara Grant

Hone your novel’s voice with expert tips and exercises from author and editor Sara Grant.

www.scbwi.org

1 2

Reposted by Sara Grant

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Aug 8

** One month to go** to get your entries into Undiscovered Voices - the best competition around for unpublished, unagented kidlit and YA writers (okay, we might be slightly biased...)

We can't wait to read your manuscripts 👀

undiscoveredvoices.com

3 1

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jul 20

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!

1

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jul 16

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.

1 2

Reposted by Sara Grant

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Jul 3

** Submissions OPEN ** 🥳

If you're a #KidLit writer in the UK/Europe, #UV26 could be your big break. The anthology has launched 100s of writers' careers - will you be next?

Find out more and enter👇

undiscoveredvoices.com

Entries close: 8 September 2025

@scbwi-bi.bsky.social

2 12 14

Reposted by Sara Grant

S J Poyton Author @sjpoyton.bsky.social · Jul 3

I got my very first long listing and much need confidence boost from Undiscovered Voices! It is such a great competition, and definitely worth checking out if you write kids books!

1 1

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jul 3

Absolutely buzzing with excitement for George Kirk’s debut picture book BESSIE’S BEES!

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jul 3

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

4 5

Reposted by Sara Grant

Little Tiger @littletigeruk.bsky.social · Jul 1

We’re so excited to be sharing the cover of DEAD
YARD: SEEDS OF DOOM, the first in a spook-tastic
new horror middle grade series inspired by Caribbean
folklore by P.J. Kilburn 🎬

🎨 Cover Art Markia Jenai
✨ Cover Design Kimberley Chen
📚 Available to request on Netgalley!

Coming September 2025!

1 3

Reposted by Sara Grant

Undiscovered Voices @uvcompetition.bsky.social · Jun 24

Submissions open NEXT WEEK for #UV26 - how's your manuscript looking?

Our amazing co-founder, author and editing guru @authorsaragrant.bsky.social has put together this helpful checklist to help decide if you're submission ready 👇

undiscoveredvoices.com/news/checkli...

@scbwi-bi.bsky.social

a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it

ALT: a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it

media.tenor.com

5 5

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 25

Thanks, Amber!

Amber Caraveo @ambercaraveo.bsky.social · Jun 24

This book is a veritable treasure trove of tips and advice for revising your manuscript. @authorsaragrant.bsky.social is an accomplished author, editor and all-around lovely person. If you’re an author I can’t recommend this book highly enough! 😊🎉

1

Reposted by Sara Grant

Sue Wallman @suewallman.bsky.social · Jun 21

⬇️ If you’re writing a novel THIS is the book you need once you have a first draft. Nobody understands editing and getting to the heart of a story better than Sara Grant. Written with authority and warmth and out now! @authorsaragrant.bsky.social 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

3 4

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 21

Thanks, Sue!!

Sue Wallman @suewallman.bsky.social · Jun 21

⬇️ If you’re writing a novel THIS is the book you need once you have a first draft. Nobody understands editing and getting to the heart of a story better than Sara Grant. Written with authority and warmth and out now! @authorsaragrant.bsky.social 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 21

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?

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 20

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.”

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 19

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.

1 2

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 18

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...

2

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 18

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...

Reposted by Sara Grant

Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · May 28

🌱A vandalised lucky money plant.
🪙An ancient Chinese coin.
👯‍♂️Two best pals.
🙄One annoying sidekick.

Stir them up…and…you get:

⭐️The launch of The Lucky House Detective Agency⭐️

Scarlett Li, with pics by Sian James.
A @storymix.bsky.social production; pub’d by @knightsofbooks.bsky.social

1 3 4

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 17

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...

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 13

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.

2

Sara Grant @authorsaragrant.bsky.social · Jun 3

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?