ART FOR WRITERS picture number 1 from the archives
This was one of the first pictures I published in the weekly Art for Writers series and I still love it. I discovered it on Pixababy, a wonderful website that … Continue reading
WRITING QUOTE number 7 from the archive
Most stories we tell in real life are under 500 words. You’re at a party, everyone has a glass of wine, and suddenly you have the floor. You throw out … Continue reading
Writing Quote Number 6 from the Archive
A story is not like a road to follow … it’s more like a house. You go inside and stay there for a while, wandering back and forth and settling … Continue reading
Writing Quote Number 5 from the Archive
I step away from the computer and swim. I really wish someone had told me earlier that there’s a relationship between writing and exercise. Writing involves you being completely, revoltingly … Continue reading
Writing Quote Number 4 from the Archive
I’ve always loved books. I’m passionate about them. I think books are sexy. They are smooth and solid and contain delightful surprises. They smell good. They fit into a handbag … Continue reading
Writing Quotes Number 3 from the Archives
Aside from heavy drinking, the creation of lists is the most effective temporary form of anxiety relief that I know of, and, as a bonus, it’s substantially cheaper and results … Continue reading
What do you call songwriters? Poets with music in their pen
“… when you’re talking about the music of a country, you’re talking more or less about the soundtrack of a country, the soundtrack by which people’s lives are lived,” Tyehimba … Continue reading
Writing Quote Number 2 from the Archive
It is well known that a woman can be in two places at once, at her desk and her washing machine… Sylvia Townsend Warner
Writing Quote Number 1 from the Archives
If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an … Continue reading
Creative Writing Exercise Number 7 from the Archive
When I’m teaching I often use this exercise in the first week of term and I thought others might like to try it. Varying the length of a sentence is … Continue reading
Creative Writing Exercise Number 6 from the Archive
We need to make the most of the summer so today’s exercise is very simple: go outside to write whenever you have the chance. But do it in a way … Continue reading
Creative Writing Exercise Number 5 from the Archive
Bestselling crime writer Elmore Leonard, who died last month aged 87, had 10 Rules for Writing. Number three was Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue. The … Continue reading
Creative Writing Exercise Number 4 from the Archive
This is a lucky dip romance…. Pick your numbers and you’ll have your two characters and what brings them together…but no scrolling! It’s much more fun if you do this … Continue reading
Creative Writing Exercise Number 3 from the Archive
A very straightforward creative writing exercise today…all you have to do is write and keep on writing until you’ve managed to incorporate all the words on the scrabble board. (Did … Continue reading
