Inspiring pictures for Writers – portrait of mother and child
Warning: this is a heartbreak of a painting. It turns on its head the usual image of a mother and child; here it’s the child offering comfort and protection. It … Continue reading
Why great novels are dangerous – Julian Barnes QUOTES FOR WRITERS (and people who like quotes)
I think a great book—leaving aside other qualities such as narrative power, characterization, style, and so on—is a book that describes the world in a way that has not been … Continue reading
Inspiring Pictures for Writers – diving into fable and fantasy
Not into fantasy? Don’t write it; don’t read it? I understand and could say the same except…except it’s good to get out of the comfortable niche we create for ourselves. … Continue reading
Don’t expect the puppets of your mind to turn into people on the page…QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Don’t expect the puppets of your mind to become the people of your story. If they are not realities in your own mind, there is no mysterious alchemy in ink … Continue reading
Inspiring Pictures for Writers – a street in a French town leading somewhere…
An arresting pen and ink drawing by David Gentleman. The simple graduation of colour in the sky suggests something is about to happen… Gentleman is an illustrator who studied at … Continue reading
If you’ve earned more than £300 from a short story don’t read on….
Seriously, don’t. Nottingham Writers Club Short Story Competition is not for you. It’s for anyone who’s thought: I don’t stand a chance because only experienced writers will win. Nottingham Writers … Continue reading
International Short Story Competition
Short FICTION is a high-quality British print and online journal, publishing some of the finest short stories from around the world. General submissions (up to 5000 words) can only be sent … Continue reading
Accept bad writing…Jennifer Egan QUOTES FOR WRITERS(and people who like quotes)
You can only write regularly if you’re willing to write badly… Accept bad writing as a way of priming the pump, a warm-up exercise that allows you to write well … Continue reading
A chance to be poet-in-residence at a London park – don’t let lack of experience stop from you applying
Are you a poet who likes flowers and people and parks? The Poetry School and London Parks and Gardens Trust have teamed up for a poet-in-residence training scheme centred on … Continue reading
Inspiring Pictures for Writers: Norman Cornish – the miner’s artist
A quick five minute exercise: describe this scene, put in sounds – the children aren’t crossing in silence – and colour. Add tiny details: a button hanging by a thread, … Continue reading
Write by the Beach – an inspiring writing conference in Brighton April 2017
Bigger, better with TWO DAYS OF EXPERT WORKSHOPS plus a GUARANTEED ONE-TO-ONE with one of 15 brilliant agents and publishers, Write by the Beach is back. Organised by the Beach … Continue reading
Where Stephen King gets his ideas QUOTES FOR WRITERS (and people who like quotes)
So where do the ideas—the salable ideas—come from? They come from my nightmares. Not the night-time variety, as a rule, but the ones that hide just beyond the doorway that … Continue reading
Inspiring Pictures for Writers – create a compelling character
What does his voice sound like? What does he say he wants? What does he really want? What doesn’t he want anyone else to know about him? This outstanding self-portrait … Continue reading
Poets: learn, share and celebrate at the Anglo-Portuguese Festival
Building Bridges Through Poetry April 27th -May 3rd 2017 Something very special… Experienced and pioneering poets are invited to join Casa dos Poetas for a week-long series of poetry workshops, readings, … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 