Did you you know that the National Library of Norway has promised to hold onto its books…
…even though they are going to digitize all their titles over the next six years. This means it will be possible for everything in their possession and out of copyright … Continue reading
Reading like a Writer – what makes editors unhappy?
Actually this week it is reading like an editor because I am looking at Dawn Laker’s critique of Empress Orchid, a historical novel by Anchee Min. Dawn is half of … Continue reading
International Writing Competition about Australia
The Stringybark Short Story Award 2013 is now open. They accept every genre — the only catch is that your story must have some link to Australia. Length: maximum 1500 … Continue reading
The one paragraph every writer should cut… Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
The editors I had at The New Yorker quietly helped me in peculiar, small ways. One thing they taught me was the value of cutting out the last paragraph of … Continue reading
Do Writers need Creative Writing Exercises?
You won’t be surprised that I am going to say yes to that question as I’ve just produced a book of 30 exercises, BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL, but what … Continue reading
An exercise from BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL
THE BLUE MAN OPENED HIS EYES AND SAID…. I took the photograph in Mill Cove House in Castletownbere, West Cork in 2010. The art gallery and cafe are surrounded by … Continue reading
Who needs quotation marks?
Well, the writer of this sign didn’t need them and Cormac McCarthy, author of the The Road and No Country for Old Men, never uses them. He believes in the … Continue reading
CYBER MONDAY! start shopping with a FREE copy of BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL
Phew! The 24 hour sale started a bit late but it is now up on Amazon so please do take advantage of it. I would be very grateful if you … Continue reading
Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes) Bernard MacLaverty defines the short story
A short story is like a good dram, as opposed to a pint – Bernard MacLaverty Listen to the Belfast novelist and short story writer define the short story on … Continue reading
For 24 hours only BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL will be free
Next Monday December 2nd my new ebook is free to download.* Word of mouth still sells more books than anything else which I find heartening, but before someone can recommend … Continue reading
THREE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS IN A GHOST STORY
From the archives – as I am in the middle of assignment season. I wrote this post in November 2010 and November seems the right month for ghost stories. Here … Continue reading
Getting pigeon-holed by Dragons – TERRY PRATCHETT Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
We categorize too much on the basis of unreliable assumption. A literary novel written by Brian Aldiss must be science fiction, because he is a known science fiction writer; a … Continue reading
How to make a tired woman very happy…
Two very nice things happened at the end of a long day. First a five star* review of BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL from a creative writing lecturer who wrote … Continue reading
Why I wanted to throw a warm-hearted feel-good book across the room
It’s unfair to call THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY a bad book because it has a compelling story line and is an easy read – which I … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 