Wild fantasies and an unexpected letter from the Mistress…Most Estimable ADVICE from the 1830s
Mrs Finnegan’s Chronicles: the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT staying indoors at The Regency Town House Sometimes I have fantasies about things that could not possibly … 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
A screenplay…is merely the scaffolding for a building someone else is going to build – John Irving QUOTES FOR WRITERS
There is no (literary) language in a screenplay. (For me, dialogue doesn’t count as language.) What passes for language in a screenplay is rudimentary, like the directions for assembling a … Continue reading
The Wit and Wisdom of Mrs Finnegan, the 1830s housekeeper extraordinaire
My housekeeper’s room is a fortress fit for an ancillary pope. Not so long ago in an ORDINARY week you could have found me here in the evening sipping a … Continue reading
Mind-reading and social-isolation for housekeepers — Most admirable ADVICE from the 1830s
Mrs Finnegan’s Chronicles: the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT from The Regency Town House How can you tell what someone thinks? I am walking out … Continue reading
Reading “…this will be magic, heaven, and salvation. I promise.” Anne Lamott QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Books are paper ships, to all the worlds, to ancient Egypt, outer space, eternity, into the childhood of your favorite musician, and — the most precious stunning journey of all … Continue reading
An exercise that can help you travel back in time – sensory description in memoir writing
Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon – E.L. Doctorow Adapted from Back to … Continue reading
Originality is non-existent – so steal, advises film director Jim Jarmusch QUOTES FOR WRITERS
Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street … Continue reading
Fine clothes and malevolent accusations — Most excellent ADVICE from the 1830s
Mrs Finnegan’s Chronicles: the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT WITH two good dresses and a quantity of shawls and fine fichus given to me when … Continue reading
Until we can party again – I’ve slashed the price of my creative writing guide
Back To Creative Writing School is now just £4 which is the lowest price it has ever been. And it’s going to stay that low until I can: Browse in … Continue reading
Don't try to shock with your metaphors – Jorge Luis Borges QUOTES FOR WRITERS
When I was a young man I was always hunting for new metaphors. Then I found out that really good metaphors are always the same. I mean you compare time … Continue reading
Despair and Dinner Parties ADVICE from the 1830s
Mrs Finnegan’s Chronicles: the Celebrated Authority in affairs of the HEART and HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT I have lately taken up residence as Housekeeper at The Regency Town House in West Brighton … Continue reading
Writing can help with anxiety – John Yorke, head of BBC Studios Writers' Academy QUOTES FOR WRITERS
It’s easy to be simplistic about this, but I think if people do have time on their hands and the urge to write, then writing is an incredibly good process … Continue reading
Mrs Ainsley Departs – the 1830s housekeeper is leaving (but someone will take her place….)
Worrying messages have been arriving all day from Mrs Ainsley, the Regency Town House housekeeper and Agony Aunt, 1830s style: I might be going on a LONG HOLIDAY soon. Will … Continue reading
