The Smoking Pen

Why 'The Smoking Pen'?

It's a nickname given to me by an old friend, and recognition that I'm a productive member of my profession.

I make a living as a writer and editor. I've had three books published since 2001; I've sold more than 700 articles to magazines, newspapers and websites over the past 15 years; and I've edited thousands of booklets, articles and documents for clients which include government agencies. In the past two years, I've helped two previously-published writers improve their work and attain greater success.

So you want to be a writer?

I'm launching this blog because aspiring writers sometimes ask for my help. Through the blog I'm going to share some of what I learned along the way, but not everything. Whether you're a new writer trying to make your first sale, or already have a track record, I can offer tailor-made online tutoring as well as editing services. I can share my research methods, and teach you how to generate ideas and pitch them to editors.

To find out more, contact me at stevencolincrook (one word, no periods, no underscores) (at) gmail (dot) com.