Monday Creative Writing – In dialogue do we have to stick with HE SAID, SHE SAID?
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
Five of the best essays on the late, great Seamus Heaney
Originally posted on Irish Writing Blog:
Seamus Heaney (Photo: Jon Parker Lee) There has been no shortage of published work on Seamus Heaney over the last few days. Here are…
Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes) Seamus Heaney
I can’t think of a case where poems changed the world, but what they do is they change people’s understanding of what’s going on in the world – Seamus Heaney … Continue reading
A chance to go behind the scenes of radio drama
We are so used to hearing stories, book adaptions and full length plays on BBC Radio 4 that it is easy to forget just how fortunate we are to be … Continue reading
Safari Friday searching the web for writers and readers — Letters of Note
This week I want to introduce you to a gem of a website. Letters of Note publishes fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes and memos. It is updated frequently – most … Continue reading
A Twitter Confession
Looking back at the posts written a year ago when I first started this blog I’m a bit embarrassed about one in particular. My list of the kind of people … Continue reading
CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE looking back at the most popular
As it has been a year since I started this blog I’m going to look at some of the posts I’ve written over the last 12 months and here is … Continue reading
A Plea for Plain English
Originally posted on The Proof Angel blog:
This is a memo to the War Cabinet headed “Brevity”. It is a bit depressing how little progress has been made. ‘To do…
Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes) What writers should do – Natalie Goldberg
Take out another notebook, pick up another pen, and just write, just write, just write. In the middle of the world, make one positive step. In the centre of chaos, … Continue reading
Writing Your Family Biography
I’m running a non fiction course for students in London who want to learn how to use writing techniques to transform the bare bones of family history into a gripping … Continue reading
Carnival of Blogging Advice for Writers – to celebrate my first year on WordPress
What’s a carnival when it’s on a blog and not on a village green with the smell of candy floss in the air? (For American readers I think that should … Continue reading
Ten good reasons to study creative writing …. some might surprise you
1) It’s a vocational subject. In every job and area of life it’s valuable to be able communicate as clearly and effectively as possible. 2) It could help you get … Continue reading
Wannabe Writers on TV
Heard from two bloggers – Catherine Ryan Howard and Kathleen McGurl – about a pilot for a new reality television staring real wannabe writers trying to get publishing deals and … Continue reading
Monday creative writing exercise because it’s a good way to start the week ……Scrabble Scramble
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
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 