I have a box in my garage filled with the stuff I used to write when I was a kid. It’s got the story that started it all – the story I wrote for a contest that won me a prize of 50 books (some of which I still have). There are the pencilled stories … More That box of old writing in the garage
It’s eight years this week since I started blogging. It’s been a blast. I’ve been blown away by the scale of readership, which I never expected when I started. That’s been helped by the fact that my blog was ‘Freshly Pressed’ by WordPress.com in 2013, and was then hit by a ‘Redditlanche’ in 2015, which … More Eight years of blogging – let’s party!
I never make ‘New Year Resolutions’ as such – for me, change is a case of steadily moving forward and an arbitrary date isn’t important. Still, New Year gives time to reflect, to contemplate, and to look at directions. And I’ve got a few ideas. I’ve got directions for writing, which will be unveiled – … More Some new year directions for 2018
Happy New Year. I can’t believe it’s 2018 already. May this year be kind to you and bring all happiness. What do you have lined up for the next twelve months? As for me? I have some ideas… Regular posts restart soon – get ready for more obscure English words, science, humour, history, more science, … More Happy New Year – 2018!
A couple of years ago I posted this gem about what happens with the party’s over – when National Novel Writing month ends and authors have most or all of a 50,000 word novel to hand. What then? Check this out: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) – a worldwide spurt by writers to pen the … More Ways to wrap up your 50,000 word writing sprint
Has anybody read Bored of the Rings? Yes, I typed that right. It’s the Harvard Lampoon parody of the well known fantasy trilogy by a certain Oxford Professor. One of the funniest scenes – for me, anyway – is where the adventurers are attacked by a Thesaurus, a monster with a pronounced gazetteer and large … More Bored of the Rings versus Bill the Galactic Hero
Writers’ block is a perennial problem – the inevitable moment when a blank page refuses to fill. And if you’re working to a tight deadline – as professionals do, and as happens in November’s National Novel Writing Month, you’ll know the frustration. I thought I’d re-post some tips from my archives to help you through. … More Top tips to beat writers’ block
