BRIDGET WHELAN writer

for writers and readers….

Finish Your Book – a new guide to help you do just that

There are an awful lot of half-finished novels collecting dust in desk drawers or taking up space on hard drives. Perhaps a lot of them are truly awful and deserve … Continue reading

July 31, 2020 · Leave a comment

Words, children and a disaster in the kitchen ADVICE from the 1830s BRIGHTON HOUSEKEEPER AND AGONY AUNT

Mrs Finnegan, the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, is engulfed at The Regency Town House in more ways than one… Tell me what to do with an … Continue reading

July 28, 2020 · Leave a comment

Edinburgh International Flash Fiction Competition

You can write about anything you like, but make sure your story it is 250 words or fewer. If it is just one word over the limit it will be … Continue reading

July 27, 2020 · Leave a comment

Writers, ever had this feeling? Vladimir Nabokov QUOTES FOR WRITERS

The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible. Vladimir Nabokov Picture credit: Image … Continue reading

July 26, 2020 · 3 Comments

Historical Short Story Competition – worldwide entries invited

This competition is close to my heart as I volunteer at The Regency Town House in Brighton & Hove (and write as the 1830s housekeeper Mrs Finnegan) so over the … Continue reading

July 25, 2020 · 2 Comments

Write a story in 10 words or a poem in 10 lines…writing competition

Poets have got off lightly* in this special competition to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Shoreham Wordfest in West Sussex. I mean 10 lines is quite a respectable length for a … Continue reading

July 24, 2020 · Leave a comment

The Vanity of Youth and the Danger of Men and Umbrellas: ADVICE from the 1830s BRIGHTON HOUSEKEEPER AND AGONY AUNT

Mrs Finnegan, the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, is answering letters at The Regency Town House She is waiting for one of her own with hope in … Continue reading

July 21, 2020 · 4 Comments

Don’t wait to write – Henry David Thoreau QUOTES FOR WRITING

Write while the heat is in you. … The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.Henry David Thoreau … Continue reading

July 19, 2020 · 2 Comments

Mrs Finnegan is up from her sickbed but her temper is short ADVICE from the 1830s BRIGHTON HOUSEKEEPER AND AGONY AUNT

Mrs Finnegan, the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, is much better and is now greeting every morning at The Regency Town House with the question: what excitement … Continue reading

July 14, 2020 · 1 Comment

START THE WEEK with a writing exercise using the power of ART and GOOGLE

Today it’s time for an ekphrastic exercise – writing about or inspired by a painting. In Dostoyevsky’s novel The Idiot, characters see a painting of Christ that is supposed to … Continue reading

July 13, 2020 · Leave a comment

Ray Bradbury’s Definition of Plot QUOTES FOR WRITERS

Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinationsRay Bradbury Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

July 12, 2020 · 2 Comments

Bargain price of £4 for a few more hours…(then it’s back to normal £6.99)

Back in March I cut the price of my popular paperback guide from £6.99 to a straightforward £4 and wrote this on my Amazon page. HUGE PRICE CUT because creativity … Continue reading

July 10, 2020 · Leave a comment

Advice from the sickbed of the 1830s BRIGHTON HOUSEKEEPER AND AGONY AUNT

Mrs Finnegan, the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, is feeling much better thank you very much and is now able to answer all letters IN … Continue reading

July 7, 2020 · 2 Comments

START THE WEEK with a creative writing exercise – reclaim the word NICE

Hope’ is the thing with feathers –That perches in the soul –And sings the tune without the words –And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the … Continue reading

July 6, 2020 · Leave a comment

Archives