BRIDGET WHELAN writer

for writers and readers….

Write small advised Virginia Woolf QUOTES FOR WRITERS

Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which … Continue reading

January 31, 2021 · Leave a comment

Shame! Humiliation! A Torrent of rage! Brighton’s Regency Housekeeper advises on false teeth and pig iron in the soul…

Yes! Mrs Finnegan is a REKNOWN Authority on the AFFAIRS OF THE HEART in addition to being housekeeper of The Regency Town House, but she can also advise on PRACTICAL concerns. … Continue reading

January 26, 2021 · 2 Comments

Magic Realism: it’s not just a fairytale moment – Salman Rushdie QUOTES FOR WRITERS

When people use the term magic realism, usually they only mean ‘magic’ and they don’t hear ‘realism’, whereas the way in which magic realism actually works is for the magic … Continue reading

January 24, 2021 · 4 Comments

The Horror! THE HORROR! A Writing Exercise on How to Scare Readers

(Horror fiction) shows us that the control we believe we have is purely illusory, and that every moment we teeter on chaos and oblivion – Clive Barker     Here is an … Continue reading

January 23, 2021 · 3 Comments

Brighton’s Regency Housekeeper advises the delicately shy and the annoyingly bumptious…

Mrs Finnegan is the Celebrated Authority on affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT in addition to being housekeeper of The Regency Town House. This week she writes about the SPECIAL … Continue reading

January 19, 2021 · 2 Comments

If you want to write read trash – Joseph Brodsky QUOTES FOR WRITERS

In order to write a good book, a writer must read a great deal of trash — otherwise, he won’t be able to develop the necessary criteria. That’s what may … Continue reading

January 17, 2021 · Leave a comment

A Not Very Serious Exercise: an extract from Back to Creative Writing School

Far better to write twaddle or anything, anything, than nothing at all –  Katherine Mansfield This is an extract from an exercise on writing lipograms. You might want to mention … Continue reading

January 16, 2021 · Leave a comment

Write What You Love – Could you Create A Feel-Good Christmas Romance for next year?

Novel Writing Competition from a major publisher and right now all they want is a fabulous idea and 1000 words… Penguin Michael Joseph are offering one unpublished writer – currently … Continue reading

January 14, 2021 · Leave a comment

BRIGHTON’S REGENCY HOUSEKEEPER says NO to two readers (perhaps it’s the mood she’s in)

This week Mrs Finnegan, housekeeper at The Regency Town House and agony aunt to the masses, replies to a poet and an over eager dancer. She also finds solace in housework … Continue reading

January 12, 2021 · Leave a comment

“You are most alive…in childhood” Edna O’Brien QUOTES FOR WRITERS

I am obsessive, also I am industrious. Besides, the time when you are most alive and most aware is in childhood and one is trying to recapture that heightened awareness.Edna … Continue reading

January 10, 2021 · Leave a comment

A Cliché Killing Writing Exercise: an extract from BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL

EVERY SATURDAY for the month of January I’m going to share some exercises from my popular writing guide Back To Creative Writing School – I want it to be a creative kickstart … Continue reading

January 9, 2021 · 2 Comments

BRIGHTON’S REGENCY HOUSEKEEPER flies in the face of CONVENTION when it comes to MARMALADE (and other important matters)

Mrs Finnegan, housekeeper of The Regency Town House and advice giver to multitudes,  does not actually court controversary, but does ask it to wipe its feet and sit down. BREAKFAST is … Continue reading

January 5, 2021 · 2 Comments

What poets do…Laura Riding’s advice to a child QUOTES FOR WRITERS

A person might be able to make poems but be unable to make chairs, not because she could only make poems, but because it didn’t happen to her to make … Continue reading

January 3, 2021 · 2 Comments

Description Writing Exercise: an extract from BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL

EVERY SATURDAY for the month of January I’m going to share some exercises from my popular writing guide Back To Creative Writing School – I want it to be a … Continue reading

January 2, 2021 · 2 Comments

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