The million word apprenticeship – Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
Start early and work hard. A writer’s apprenticeship usually involves writing a million words (which are then discarded) before he’s almost ready to begin. That takes a while. David Eddings … Continue reading
8 reasons why you should start tweeting or come back if you’ve stopped
This is based on a post I wrote back in 2010 and I think it still holds true. If Facebook is about renewing and making contacts, Twitter is about information … Continue reading
A modest author’s scrapbook of useful discoveries — Safari Friday searching the web for writers and readers
I came across Jerry Sims blog a few weeks ago. He describes himself as a relative novice in the world of digital publishing but he’s set himself a challenge for … Continue reading
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Beannachtai La Fheile Phadraig I chose this particular photograph because it has the feel of an Irish day and I love the rain coloured mountains in the background. Two gifts … Continue reading
We live through texts…quote for writers (and anyone who likes quotes
…we live our lives through texts. These may be read, or chanted, or experienced electronically, or come to us, like the murmurings of our mothers, telling us what conventions demand. … Continue reading
WRITER BEWARE! hunting down scams and writing pitfalls — Safari Friday searching the web for writers and readers
I’ve just discovered a long established American website that performs a great public service to writers across the world. Although sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, … Continue reading
You can never have too many festivals and we have a new one in Hove, actually
The first ever Hove Book Festival is only a few weeks away. Organised by bestselling novelist Dorothy Koomson, this is what’s on offer Write By The Sea With Simon Toyne, … Continue reading
Favourite book covers
I’m editing a charity anthology right now and I’ve been thinking a lot about book covers. Over the years some covers have burned into my memory – a sudden artistic … Continue reading
Why writers abandon stories — Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
If you find that you start a number of stories or pieces that you don’t ever bother finishing…it may be that there is nothing at their center about which you … Continue reading
International Women’s Day – a small carnival of interesting things
Cough. Splutter. Cough some more. I’m confined to the keyboard with a chest infection so I’ve been looking on the web for inspiration and information First I had a look … Continue reading
If you can’t get your head around what’s happening in Ukraine perhaps a poet can help…
A dear friend, poet and novelist Naomi Foyle will be reading tonight at English PEN’s Ukrainian Poetry Evening in Oxford alongside poet Ihor Pavlyuk and translator Steve Komarnyckyj Naomi isn’t … Continue reading
Life after 2020 – the theme of an international short story competition
What will the future bring? How will we respond to climate change? What does the Higgs-Boson mean to you? Are robots more than vacuum cleaners? Will death be conquered? I’ve … Continue reading
A Writer doesn’t need tricks…Raymond Carver: Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
I hate tricks. At the first sign of a trick or gimmick in a piece of fiction, a cheap trick or even an elaborate trick, I tend to look for … Continue reading
10 rules for writing a synopsis
I’m away for a few days so here is something from a year ago which I think is still interesting – synopsis training. The agent Carole Blake, author of From … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 