Write down the rabbit hole…
I try not to read my favourite authors as a "writer". Deconstructing creative works can often suck the life out of them (and equally make you appreciate them more, it's a fickle thing). But if you are a writer, you'll be a reader and you'll be learning whilst reading whether you intend to or not.… Continue reading Learn about Writing from your Favourite Authors
I love a good cave. Not in a hard-hat-gee-that's-a-tight-squeeze-caving kind of way, but anywhere with a decent cave tour gets my attention. Kents Cavern in Devon have a very good tour and literally layers of history to uncover. The caves have provided shelter to animals and humans for thousands of years. A human jawbone fragment… Continue reading Exploring Kents Cavern, Devon
Terry Pratchett moved to a village outside of Salisbury in 1993 and lived there until his death. The Terry Pratchett: HisWorld exhibition is all about his life and full of personal items. Given his worldwide fame, it's not surprising that people have come from around the globe to visit this exhibition about Sir Terry Pratchett's… Continue reading Terry Pratchett: His World, Salisbury Museum, UK
Juggling a blog, social media, your WiP, competition entries - not to mention your day job - can make it feel like you need twelve pairs of hands. If you're struggling to keep your writing on track, a simple schedule may be the answer. Here's how to make it work: Make a List First, write… Continue reading Reach your Writing Goals with a Schedule
Wells is the smallest city in the UK. Its status as a city dates from medieval times, and depends on its stunning cathedral complex. It's been a filming location for a number of productions including 'Poldark', 'Dunkirk' and 'Hot Fuzz' - the high street and market place are immediately recognisable from the climactic shoot-out scene.… Continue reading Around Wells Cathedral and The Chained Library
Halloween is a time to curl up inside, away from the dark and damned. It's a time to dim the lights, light the fire and read my collection of supernatural stories, 'Tales from the Creeping Edges'. That's right folks, my next e-book will be ready to buy on the 31st October. The world looks ordinary,… Continue reading Want Something Scary to Read this Halloween? ‘Tales from the Creeping Edges’ will be available to download 31st October
Winchester was the capital of ancient Sussex. Alfred the Great established Winchester as his base when he started to unite together the disparate parts of what would be England. He's still there today, commanding the High Street opposite the Town Hall. It always seemed a magical place to me, a world away from the sixties… Continue reading Notebook Collection #8 – Winchester Cathedral
In 'On Writers and Writing', Margaret Atwood discusses (among other things) the notion that a writer is in fact two people. The 'writer' is an ever present twin aside the 'person'. One observes, the other writes. This duality is explored mirrored by writers themselves in many stories from 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' to 'A… Continue reading What Name do you Write Under?
You know him. He's that guy who wants you to feel his successes are your failures as he feels your successes are his. He may not achieve much but it's all him if he does. He'll find the negative in every positive. He sees each fall as reason to stop climbing. The future, he swears,… Continue reading Self doubt is a bastard
If you're a writer, you're going to spend a good bit of time on your own. And whilst it's a cliche to say writers are introverts, you've got to be comfortable enough in your own company to be able to spend extended period on your lonesome, writing your masterpieces. In general, solitude is often viewed… Continue reading The Art of Being Alone
