Sally O-J

Good Housekeeping and Rachel Mills Literary Agency launch new competition for aspiring writers Good Housekeeping magazine has partnered with Rachel Mills Literary Agency to launch a £1,500 competition for aspiring novelists.

Just FYI:

www.thebookseller.com/news/good-ho...

Hello all. Sorry I've been AWOL, I haven't been very well. Far from me to be dramatic, but I was in hospital for six days with sepsis, which was awful. But I'm well on the mend now, touching wood as I type. Nice to be back.

An oldie but goodie for a Monday afternoon.

It’s all about getting a team around you. Just like trad publishing except you get to chose them. I had @sojseaside.bsky.social and @depesando.bsky.social in my corner, which made all the difference.

Thank you so much for this amazing testimonial Reeta Chakrabarti. All I can say is that I love every minute of working together. Finding Belle, out on 8th May 2025. An absolute cracker of a debut novel.

Just FYI:

janklowandnesbit.co.uk/prize

To be fair, I did say quite a bit more than that. But I think it has been distilled excellently here.

Now this is what I call an acknowledgement:

Absolutely.

Ask The Book Doctor sessions - YouTube

It's #WriterWednesday! Having a showdown with Show don't Tell? Strugggling with Structure? Problems with Pacing? My videos are all free and if nothing else you can laugh at my hair.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Well, talk about the pot... : )

Writers! Happy #TransformationTuesday! Come and have a look at my webpage (including the link to my YouTube page) to see if I can offer anything that might make your journey a little, or a lot, smoother.

www.sallyoj.com

Sally O-J, Book Doctor I'm a book doctor, literary editor and writers' mentor, based in Brighton, UK. I have worked with Sarah Waters on all of her books and with Viv Albertine on both of her autobiographies. Since 1998, I...

Happy #MotivationMonday!

My video channel has loads of Ask The Book Doctor sessions, covering a wide range of writing issues. And there will be some new ones up soon...

Apologies for the very Lockdown feel (and hair!) of the early ones. But here they all are:

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

This. Pretty much every cool opportunity I've ever got came about because someone went "Oh, you should speak to...", and I've done the same for others whenever possible. A rising tide lifts all boats, and all that.

You too Wendy! X

Happy this time of year! I'm trying to link to this video which is hilarious so please do click on the link because it's a bit of ho ho ho for those of us of a literary bent.

fb.watch/wN5Er2oMod/

Hands up everyone who identifies with this.

If I get a Chat message (and this had started happening on T*****r too) that just says "Hello" or "Great to make contact" or something, but doesn't mention my name or have any other message, I'll block you because, suss. So if you're genuine and I've blocked you, that's why and sorry.

I often say to the authors I'm working with that, should it get published, THIS is how they want their readers to feel when they're reading their book. PAGETURNABILITY people.

#BookSky

New Starter Pack, if you're a sensitivity reader and want included please let me know

Editing humour. Excellent.

#BookSky

drawing of a house with people holding books in the windows and doors, there is also a giant puffin that every bookshop should have

Latest indie bookshop directory page added to the Indie Bookshops website

#BookSky 💙📚 #IndieBookshop #Bookstore #ChooseBookshops

www.indiebookshops.com/2024/12/04/t...

I am an e-di-tor. And I scroll and I scroll and I scroll...

#BookSky

I often say to the authors I'm working with that, should it get published, THIS is how they want their readers to feel when they're reading their book. PAGETURNABILITY people.

#BookSky

Oh happy days.

#BookSky

Nothing to add to this.

A little bit of news

Of course I'd love to work with you on your manuscript. But if you just fancy a chat to talk about any aspects of your writing, especially work in progress, that'd be lovely too. Read about what we can do together, or see some How To... videos here:
sallyoj.com