Writing the Real

I have a new book coming out.

Writing the Real is the fifth book in the Writing series that I co-edit with Dan Coxon and will be published by Dead Ink this September.

Writing the Real brings together essays from a really amazing group of writers, all of whom explore the craft of creative nonfiction, including memoir, personal essay, place writing and autofiction. Contributors include Kit de Waal, Nikesh Shukla, Tracy King, Jenn Ashworth, Kirsty Logan, Noreen Masud, Gareth E. Rees, Tom Lee, Adam Farrer and many more.

I’ve loved working on this series, but this book in particular has been one of the most rewarding editorial experiences I’ve had with so much rich and deeply interesting material: What is memory, actually? How do you navigate writing about your difficult family experiences when it involves real people? Where does imagination factor when writing about real life experiences? Writing the Real takes in all of this, doing what all of these books aim to do: give practical advice and inspiration from some of the UK's most exciting contemporary writerswhile also acting as a good, interesting read in itself.

The book will be published by Dead Ink on 10 September 2026 and is available to pre-order now.

You can find out more and pre-order your copy here.