November 1943. WWII raged across Europe. In the small village of Tyneham, Dorset, the 225 residents were told they had 28 days to leave their homes. The army was commandeering the area for military use. The inhabitants left their homes believing they would be able to return once the war was over. But they never... Continue Reading →
Writing competitions can be a fun way to hone your writing skills and, if you're lucky, get your work published. Plus they may also come with a financial reward - cha-ching! And whilst there's no magic winning formula I can share, here are a few practical bits of advice about entering. 1) Plan well You... Continue Reading →
Do you do New Year's resolutions? I suck at keeping to them so more power to you if you do. But whilst they might not be for me, I am a fan of setting goals for the year ahead. Last year I focused on my blog and saw my best year in all my stats.... Continue Reading →
There is only a smallish group of people who can earn their keep doing what they truly love. If what you love is writing or anything else arts-based, this group becomes even smaller. Unless you're independently wealthy or are supported by someone who earns enough for both of you, you have to get what we... Continue Reading →
Writers love to write (and talk) about writing. Fortunately, sometimes they say some pretty good stuff about it. They can be just what you need if you're lacking inspiration or just need a kick up the bum to go and well, write. Here are ten of my favourite quotes on writing. "The first draft is... Continue Reading →
If you're a regular reader you'll know I've visited a lot of places in the UK, and occasionally abroad, with links to famous writers. But I've also got some literary connections much closer to home that I thought I'd share with you. Reading is a local town for me, and although it might not be... Continue Reading →
You can't turn on the TV or flip through a magazine without being told how unhealthy we're all becoming. And whilst no-one has the perfect lifestyle, writing isn't the healthiest occupation there is. Yes, you're exercising your mind and being creative, but are you taking care of yourself in other ways? Whether you write full-time... Continue Reading →
There's no shortage of history in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Many of the places you can visit were once home to Shakespeare's relations, including the homestead of his wife, Anne Hathway. Part of the building dates from the 1400s, and it provides an intriguing window into the past. There's not a great deal known about... Continue Reading →
You write so that when you fall, your descent will be arrested, by a silver net of words tied in knots onto the walls. And you ask, are they strong enough, tough enough, tall enough, what if they just break so that you crash into the floor? So you write and on you tie them... Continue Reading →
It seems almost impossible that I should have neglected to find the final resting place of the author of my favourite book, Alice in Wonderland. Â And yet I did. I assumed that Lewis Carroll was interred somewhere in London or Canterbury perhaps. The truth is he rests in a fairly unassuming graveyard in Guildford, roughly... Continue Reading →
