So, what does your bookcase look like…?
Glen Donaldson, Australian writer-blogger-player-with words, appealed to readers to send him a photograph of their home bookcase. I sent pictures of my four in what I would like to think … Continue reading
Dartington Trust Gardens are looking for a Poet in Residence
The position is open to any poet in the UK and will run from January to December 2022. The poet in residence will make four weekend trips to Dartington, one … Continue reading
Poems by Phone…because sometimes you need a shot of magic
I’ve just read that a new bright blue telephone booth has been installed in Dubuque, Iowa to give callers a direct line to poetry. It is a year long project … Continue reading
A Publisher Reveals 9 Things You Should Never Put in a Plot (probably)
Blind Eye Books is an American publisher of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance novels featuring LGBTQ protagonists. Editor in Chief Nicola Kimberling has decided not to say what she … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a writing exercise using the power of ART and GOOGLE
Today it’s time for an ekphrastic exercise – writing about or inspired by a painting. In Dostoyevsky’s novel The Idiot, characters see a painting of Christ that is supposed to … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a creative writing exercise – reclaim the word NICE
Hope’ is the thing with feathers –That perches in the soul –And sings the tune without the words –And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a creative writing exercise – start a memoir with a drawing
There’s a big difference between thinking about a story concept or the way a character develops and thinking with a pen in your hand. Writing – even when you know … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a creative writing exercise that will work for ever and ever….
Actually, this isn’t a writing exercise at all. It is a writing prompt. There’s a difference: an exercise is designed, it is crafted and – ideally – should be tested … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a writing exercise: a character lucky dip
I love the random nature of this exercise. Most of the time it is just writing practice, exploring how to reveal emotion and develop character, but it is a bit … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a writing exercise: Creating a Dark Character
AS WRITERS WE NEED people to do bad things: they create story. They may not be the heart of your writing, the central core, but they kickstart action and reaction. … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a creative writing exercise and your main character is drunk…
Write two versions of the same scene. The setting is a work place and the main character is someone who turns up very, very drunk. First version: write in the … Continue reading
Written a short story on the theme of solitude?
Indy publishers Everything With Words are publishing a book of short stories in spring 2021 on the theme of solitude.Submissions should be between 2,000 and 6,000 words long. There is … Continue reading
START THE WEEK with a Creative Writing Exercise
A very straightforward creative writing exercise …all you have to do is write and keep on writing until you’ve managed to incorporate all the words on the scrabble board. To … Continue reading
Lockdown Writing Competition…think short, short, short
The wonderful people at Fish Publishing – who organise some of the best international writing competitions – have come up with a project that tries to capture the strange times … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 