V is for the VISAGE so irksome to a writer’s sight (or falling out of love with your manuscript)
ANNE BRADSTREET was America’s first published poet. Born in Northampton, she became part of 17th century Massachusetts aristocracy – the men in the family were state governors and founders of … Continue reading
U is for UNUSUAL WAYS OF REVEALING NEWS
In 1963 the British novelist and critic David Lodge was a student working on a satirical revue for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The cast included the soon-to-become iconic actress Julie … Continue reading
T is for TRICOLON – the power of three
A tricolon is a sentence made up of three clearly defined parts. It’s often used in speeches Veni, vidi, vici (I came; I saw; I conquered.) Julius Caesar “with malice … Continue reading
S is for SPOILER
In 2011 the University of San Diego’s psychology department researched the way readers react to stories where the end is revealed at the beginning. Subjects were given a dozen short … Continue reading
Monday CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE because it’s a good way to start the week A SEPIA ROMANCE
Ten lines of dialogue that begins with an argument and ends with a kiss…
Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes) Anne Lamott
Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you … Continue reading
R is for REBUS
A rebus is a visual pun – see below Rebus is also one of the most interesting and dysfuctional detectives in criminal fiction – created by Ian Rankin. I have … Continue reading
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers WRITING CALENDAR
Safari = Swahili for long journey.I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a reader get … Continue reading
Q is for QUEM QUAERITIS (oh, yes…!)
QUEM QUAERITIS is a question: Whom do you seek? It was asked by the angel guarding the tomb where Christ’s body had been buried, when the three Marys came visiting … Continue reading
P is for PERSON-IFICATION
Personification gives objects or abstract concepts a human voice or quality. We all use it in everyday speech: time races by, shoes kill us, the wind moans. Advertisers use it, … Continue reading
O is for Ode (part II)
I tried to find a video of Lucille Clifton reading her poem ODE TO MY HIPS when I posted my ‘O’ contribution to the international A-Z Challenge earlier today and … Continue reading
O is for ODE
The classic Greek ode was a serious literary form that publicly celebrated the achievements of a noteworthy individual – an Olympic athlete for example. Much later the English Romantic poets … Continue reading
N is for NAMING FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
FIVE RULES YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN’T BREAK 1) If your character is based on a flesh and blood person make sure the name is radically different to their real life one. … Continue reading
M is for MEMORY AND MEMOIR: HOW TO FORGET
MEMORY, according to the philosopher Suzanne Langer, should not be thought of as a noun – a storehouse or recording machine – but as a verb, an activity that makes … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 