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Today the author of the stunning The Secret of Nightingale Wood, Lucy Strange, is sharing her top writing tips for all aspiring writers. 

What would be your five top tips to budding writers?

1. Find a story that you need to tell and give it time to settle and develop in your mind. I find a lot of 'writing' needs to take place in my head before I can start actually writing.

2. Get your brain in writing gear as early as you can each day. Some days you might wake up with the words ready to go, some days it might help to read something suitably inspiring first.

3. I never listen to the radio, podcasts or watch TV etc. before I start writing - I find it drowns out the narrative voice in my head with other people's voices.

4. Don't be afraid to cut things you aren't sure about. Stash them in a 'scrapyard' document so you can always put them back or use them in something else later on.

5. Read your work aloud to yourself. Not just to spot mistakes but to check that the dialogue is convincing and to see if the rhythms of the sentences feel right.

For those hoping to take part in NaNoWriMo or enter the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, what would be your best tip for writing something every day?

Don't feel you have to start at 'the beginning' or at 'the next bit'. If you're stuck, start with any bit you already know how to write. This way you’ll build up some momentum and will be able to sneak up on that tricky moment from an unexpected angle.

Enter the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition to be in with a chance of winning a £10,000 publishing contract!