Lean on the delete key, says Barbara Kingsolver QUOTE FOR WRITERS
Revision is my favorite work, the part of the process when art really happens. Once you know where you’re going, you can back up and tilt every scene in just … Continue reading
“If I give myself just one constraint…suddenly I’m free” Sarah Viren on rejecting and accepting the restrictions of genre QUOTES FOR WRITERS
I am an essayist, not a poet, but that means nothing when I’m working on one line, trying to find or make a word that fits the sound and meat … Continue reading
Why the first draft just won’t do by Leonard Cohen QUOTES FOR WRITERS
My first thoughts are dull, are prejudiced, are poisonous. I find last thought, best thought. Leonard Cohen
MY BOOKS by crime writer William Shaw who discovered one Christmas that owning a book was very special
William Shaw, described by The Sun as a “a master of modern crime” is the author of The Birdwatcher, Salt Lane and Dungeness (2019); also of the Breen and Tozer … Continue reading
I’ve just discovered an excellent guide to writing dialogue and I can’t keep it to myself…
I come across many how-to write articles online and you probably do as well. Some are rule-bound and dogmatic and are usually written by bloggers who don’t have any publishing … Continue reading
Poetry is necessary…Adrienne Rich QUOTES FOR WRITERS
I have never believed that poetry is an escape from history, and I do not think it is more, or less, necessary than food, shelter, health, education, decent working conditions. … Continue reading
MY BOOKS by a creative writing adviser including the one that saves her from 3am dark thoughts
The books that made Marcia Humphries, the National Creative Writing Adviser for U3A. The University of the Third Age is a UK-wide movement formed over 30 years ago which brings … Continue reading
Why we need litrature – Ursula K. Le Guin QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Literature is the operating instructions. The best manual we have. The most useful guide to the country we’re visiting, life. Ursula K. Le Guin
One million self-published print books in 2017
It is the first time the number of self-published books have topped the one million mark. That’s a massive increase on 2016 – a jump of 28% – says Publishers … Continue reading
Three things are important if you want to write, says Madeleine L’Engle QUOTES FOR WRITERS
I have advice for people who want to write. I don’t care whether they’re 5 or 500. There are three things that are important: First, if you want to write, … Continue reading
MY BOOKS by an author who met his hero and wrote a book about it, and believes that the DNB is never, ever wrong
Born in England in 1964, James Christie graduated from college with a degree in creative writing as well as College Colours “in recognition of outstanding service to the student body … Continue reading
“…remember how much we love the mere act of putting words on the page…” Lee Martin QUOTES FOR WRITERS
In every workshop I teach, I pass along a single piece of writing advice. It comes from Isak Dinesen who encouraged writers to, “Write a little every day, without hope, … Continue reading
MY BOOKS by an Australian teacher who believes The Hulk is one of the classic tragic characters of modern literature
Glen Donaldson is a Year 3 Australian school teacher who lists his three favourite words as (1) bugbear (2) Pollyanna and (3) shenanigator. Glen owns two Dobsonian telescopes – one … Continue reading
Why we can all read Chekhov and learn from him, says Francine prose QUOTES FOR WRITERS
You can pick up a volume of Chekhov’s stories and open it anywhere, and, no matter how well or poorly the Russian has been translated, you will probably have a … Continue reading
