International Historical fiction writing competition that must have a hint of Australia about it
The Stringybark Times Past Short Story Award 2019 Stringybark Publishing invites Australian and international writers to try their hand at writing a historical fiction story. You have to take a … Continue reading
Irritating aspects of Punctuation – E. L. Doctorow QUOTES FOR WRITING
I like commas. I detest semi-colons – I don’t think they belong in a story. And I gave up quotation marks long ago. I found I didn’t need them, they … Continue reading
One of the great advantages books have over films…Alan Moore QUOTES FOR WRITERS
In comics the reader is in complete control of the experience. They can read it at their own pace, and if there’s a piece of dialogue that seems to echo … Continue reading
A blatant plug for a facebook page
I don’t often mention my facebook page Back to Creative Writing School but I realised that perhaps I should when a loyal follower of this blog contacted me in dismay … Continue reading
Nobel Prize in Literature will be awarded twice this year
The Nobel Prize in Literature is coming back this autumn AND prizes for both 2018 and 2019 will be awarded. Last year’s award was cancelled following accusations of rape against … Continue reading
Read Anything You Want. Just Read, says Matt Haig QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Read Emily Dickinson. Read Graham Greene. Read Italo Calvino. Read Maya Angelou. Read anything you want. Just read. Books are possibilities. They are Escape Routes. They give you options when … Continue reading
Don’t be the writer who never, explores, searches, sieves for the right word…Rumer Godden QUOTES FOR WRITERS
A writer who has never explored words, who has never searched, seeded, sieved, sifted through his knowledge and memory…dictionaries, thesaurus, poems, favorite paragraphs, to find the right word, is like … Continue reading
If you want to write a story you only have one goal…
‘Good story’ means something worth telling that the world wants to hear. Finding this is your lonely task…But the love of a good story, of terrific characters and a world … Continue reading
Developing empathy – what fiction does for us: Laila Lalami QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Stories help us see the world through the eyes of others: We see what they see; we’re provoked or inspired or amused; we take sides or withhold judgment—but in the … Continue reading
What inspires us – Seamus Heaney QUOTES FOR WRITERS
‘Inspiration…it’s a large ancient word. It means something that tempts you, that suggests you could go ahead – a little flicker of energy. It doesn’t need to be dramatic, just … Continue reading
In hard times we need writers who can be realists of a larger reality…says Ursula K. Le Guin QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Hard times are coming, when we’ll be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive … Continue reading
Save 25% on Entries to international Poetry and Short Fiction Competition
Kick start 2019 by submitting to the international Aesthetica Creative Writing Award. This long-established and prestigious competition wants to attract both established and emerging writers – you can submit writing … Continue reading
Come on an Alternative Valentine Writing and Creative Workshop
In time for Valentine’s Day learn how to create your own love story with words and images using the Regency Town House in Hove as a springboard into historical fiction. … Continue reading
Barbara Kingsolver’s advice on writer’s block… QUOTES FOR WRITERS
It doesn’t matter how many books I’ve published, starting the next one always feels as daunting as the first. A day comes when I just have to make a deal … Continue reading
