1. Read, but not just for pleasure – read thinking about what works and what doesn’t, and why. Look at the structure of books and how writers you admire achieve the effects that impress you.
2. Be a magpie. Pick up bits of conversations, places, smells, characters, ideas for names everywhere you go. They’ll come in handy.
3. Don’t write about what you know – write about what you want to work out, know more about, learn about.
4. Don’t wait for the muse – get writing. The more you write, you more ideas you’ll have.
5. Writing a whole book takes a long time, and can feel like walking a tightrope. Don’t look down…
Jessica's next book is The Darker Side of Love and is released on February 16th.