I thought it might be useful if we could post tips to one another if we have found anything that helps us get on with our writing.
I heard Bernard Cornwell on Desert Island Discs this week (there may still be repeats if anyone is interested) and he was talking about how he taught himself to construct a novel. He took several books he had enjoyed and broke them down into parts, eg, hero, plot, romance, action, etc. He then analysed what ingredients went into the making of a successful novel. He uses this 'recipe' when he is writing his own books.