Can you judge someone by the books on their shelves?
If I’m in someone’s house for the first time I can’t help but look at their book collection. My husband used to do it with records. It’s not so easy … Continue reading
Amazon News
Amazon has bought Goodreads, the social media book review site with 16 million users worldwide. The San Francisco-based company should provide Amazon with another way to get readers to buy … Continue reading
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers WORLD WIDE WORDS
Safari = Swahili for long journey. I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a reader … Continue reading
INTERNATIONAL ghost story competition
The Fiction Desk is running a short story competition for all English-speaking writers aged 16 or over. There’s a first prize of £500, and a second prize of £100; both … Continue reading
Ever been rejected by an agent? This will make you feel better. Ever had a bad review? This will make you feel very good indeed
Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith is in the news a lot right now because of his controversial welfare reforms. Among his severest critics are two archbishops and 43 bishops, all … Continue reading
MONDAY CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE because it’s a good way to start the week HUMOUR
Ambrose Bierce was an American writer and journalist who disappeared in 1913 when reporting on the Mexican Rebellion. Famous for his sardonic wit, probably his most famous work is THE … Continue reading
You can learn only by doing…STEPHEN KING Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
Description is what makes the reader a sensory participant in the story. Good description is a learned skill, one of the prime reasons why you cannot succeed unless you read … Continue reading
AND THE WINNER IS…this year’s oddest book titles
The shortlist for the 2013 Diagram Prize: Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop by Reginald Bakeley (Conari, £9.99) God’s Doodle: The Life and Times of the Penis by Tom Hickman (Square Peg, … Continue reading
Get your event listed for free
A quick reminder that if you are organising an event WHAT THE DICKENS magazine now has a new listings section. And it’s free. Get in touch here if you want … Continue reading
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers
Safari = Swahili for long journey. I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a writer … Continue reading
Low waged authors: win a writing course with a major literary agency
The ereader Kobo and lit agents Curtis Brown are offering three scholarships to aspiring writers this year. It covers tuition fees for each of the following London courses: the three-month … Continue reading
The 31 best places to be if you love books
Go here to visit a photographic collection of 30 stunning book places from around the world (although books seem to be pretty thin on the ground at the library in … Continue reading
Coming soon to a school near you: CREATIVE WRITING A LEVEL
At last creative writing is recognised as a serious subject, not as a bit of time wasting frippery… The ability to use language as an effective tool is an important … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 