Colouring - it's not just for kids. It's also for writers. Adult colouring books have been around for a while now. And by ‘adult’ I mean they’re more complicated than ones for the kids, not that they’ve got er, ‘adult’ subject matter (maybe yours do, I’m not judging). Colour for balance They're marketed as therapy,... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a top class castle ruin, look no further than the dramatic Corfe Castle. Perched above the small town of Corfe in Dorset, it's a popular tourist destination (if you plan to visit, be aware that it will get busy), managed by the National Trust. And as the post title alludes to,... Continue Reading →
Thoughts are curious creatures. They're generated by our own minds and yet we don't always have power over them. I don't think writers have more thoughts than anyone else, but perhaps some of us have ones that are more potent and persistent. And these thoughts may explain why writers often suffer from insomnia. I've had... Continue Reading →
There's a definite other-worldly feeling to Winspit Quarry, cut into the edge of the tempestuous Dorset coast. Fittingly then the place has been used as a filming location for two classic British sci-fi series, Blakes 7 and Dr Who. The quarry was used as the location for the planet Mecron II in the Blake's 7... Continue Reading →
This is not a thought. It is a spiked ball that rolls restless and pin-pricksdowneachvertebratill it lodgesand waits,for sleep, for sober, for silence, then pierces soone byone byonemore pour in. A dam breaks with neglect, so too this vessel,fit to burst. When it does there'll be no red flag,just a smoulder of regret and a... Continue Reading →
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 →
I first encountered Jacek Yerka's work via a blog I frequent and as soon as I did, I knew I'd found something special. I've never studied art so I can't use fancy terms to explain what it means or why I like it, but I do find certain artworks and artists inspiring. Needless to say,... Continue Reading →
We all struggle with writer's block from time to time. It's the worst feeling, wanting to writ but feeling like the creativity has been sucked out of you. There are no easy answers. Sometimes you have to wait it out. Sometimes you can force yourself through it. But one neat trick to try is this... Continue Reading →
(Pre-lockdown visit m'kay) This will probably come as a surprise to absolutely no-one, but my favourite part of any big, old house is the library. Frankly, a grand house without a library is just a waste of time. Stourhead in Wiltshire contains one of my favourite grand house libraries. It's a gorgeously light and airy... Continue Reading →
Everyone has good days and bad days. Some people's bad days are worse than others. And sometimes those bad "days" last weeks, months or even years. In traumatic times, writers often turn to their craft as a way to deal with things. But the therapeutic nature of writing is complicated. Writing can help - but... Continue Reading →
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