Lesson Summary

SJ Banham, a fiction and non-fiction author, joined Morgen from her home in Essex, UK. Some key points include:

• Sarah's involvement in running 'For The Love of Books' offering writing services
• Hosting a podcast and being a Writer in Residence
• Plans to attend an event in London and having a strong social media presence
• Experiences before and during lockdown, including craft fairs, workshops, radio shows, and transitioning to podcasting
• Ghostwriting projects encompassing memoirs, nonfiction, and fiction
• Writing processes, including handwriting drafts and the evolution of stories
• Sarah's passion for writing - starting with fan fiction - and exploring different publishing avenues

The dialogue between Sarah and Morgen sheds light on Sarah's journey into writing, self-publishing experiences, and writing routines:

• Genres written, such as romance, crime, and young adult novels
• Managing time as a writer with family commitments
• Differentiation in writing routine between nonfiction and fiction
• Work on nonfiction during the day, including blogging, copyright, ghostwriting, and editing
• Focus on fiction at nighttime due to different brain engagement

The discussion also delves into completed projects, the impact of surroundings on writing, and challenges faced:

• Projects on nonfiction pieces like memoirs and biographies for private consumption
• Research on local history and challenges with incorporating photos into narratives
• Real locations influencing fictional stories
• Dealing with writer's block, the importance of rest and mental health
• The reluctance to delete writing even if not immediately used
• Challenges of editing one's work and its impact on writing and reading preferences

SJ Banham is a fiction and non-fiction author both independently and traditionally published.

She runs For The Love of Books, now in its thirteenth year, which offers creative writing services including coaching writers, ghost writing, editing and proofreading.

She has been a Writer in Residence, a leader and facilitator of writing and writers’ groups, and a radio presenter with the weekly show Writers’ Block broadcast over four stations.

She runs a podcast called The Versatile Writer, has a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and lives in Essex, UK with her husband.

Follow/connect with Sarah on social media at:

• Facebook: For The Love Of Books
  
• Twitter (X): @sjbwrites
• Instagram: @s.j.banham
• LinkedIn: Sarah Banham BA(Hons)