Welcome to How To Write

My name is Neil Black. I am best known as the novelist Neil Blackmore, described by The Times newspaper as 'one of the most original voices in historical fiction today.' I have published several novels as well as non-fiction. Yes, my day job really is 'novelist'.

I am also the founder of How To Write and work as a writing mentor for both novelists and non-fiction writers. I have workshopped and critiqued novels by well-known, award-winning novelists but I also love working with people who are just starting out.

How To Write's mission is to provide expert support, advice and feedback to writers through technical guidebooks, manuscript reviews and 1:1 personalised mentoring. Check out our Mentoring and Manuscript Review pages to find out more about our services and understand our transparent, inclusive pricing.

I also write a regular newsletter for How To Write’s author friends, including tips, news and offers for our services as well as insights into my own life as a working novelist.

Author Testimonials
'What Neil doesn’t know about structure and character development isn’t worth knowing. He provides honest, incisive feedback that will genuinely transform your work and your approach to writing.'
Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths and Other Women

‘Neil has a deep, instinctive understanding of how novels work and an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of literature both of which he draws on to deliver feedback so clear and insightful that I invariably come away thinking: ‘but of course!’ I feel enthused and energised about my work afterwards.’
Tammy Cohen, author of When She Was Bad and The Wedding Party, co-author (as Elly Conway) of Argylle

'Neil is an extremely knowledgeable and insightful reviewer and editor. He knows everything about story structure and building character. He has been of great help to me when constructing and editing my novels.'
Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl, The Unseeing and The Story Keeper

'Neil has an exceptional ability to identify structural problems in long pieces of writing and, equally importantly, to suggest ways in which these can be remedied. To robust analysis he also brings his own creativity; as an editor, he truly wants the work he is critiquing to be the strongest possible.'
Alix Christie, author of Gutenberg's Apprentice