If you're a blogger, it can be difficult to keep coming up with things to write about. So here are a few blog post ideas for those of you who run writing blogs like me. Maybe they'll also spark some article ideas for other types of bloggers too! 1) Share your writing space Do you... Continue Reading →
Uppark – Where HG Wells Discovered the Morlocks and Mars
Victorian society was carefully divided by class. In large country homes, those in the lower orders were literally beneath their "betters", situated at the bottom of the house. At Uppark House this separation provided inspiration to one of the world's most famous authors, HG Wells. Wells' connection to Uppark comes via his parents. His mother... Continue Reading →
Following Famous Writers around Reading – Oscar Wilde and Jane Austen
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 →
The Oldest Bookshop in the World – Chiado Bertrand, Lisbon
You may not expect the oldest bookstore in the world to be found in Portugal. But in the Chiado Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon has a Guinness World Records certificate to prove it. The original shop opened in 1732 and has stayed open ever since, albeit moving around the city. The current shop opened in 1773,... Continue Reading →
Collaboration – the Next Big Thing for Writers?
Collaboration is a buzzword of the modern era. These days you don't have to be in the same room or even the same time zone to do it. Internet-based tools mean people can collaborate no matter where they are. But could it be the next big thing for the usually solitary pursuit of writing? Writing a... Continue Reading →
8 Self-care Tips for Writers
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 →
Scotney Old Castle – A (Fake) Romantic Ruin
Oh look another ruined building! If you're a regular reader, you'll know these pop up a lot, but this one has a twist - it was ruined on purpose. Scotney Old Castle sits in lovely landscaped grounds, below Scotney New Castle, a Victorian house built to replace it between 1835 and 1843. If you didn't... Continue Reading →
3 Simple Tips to Get Visitors to your Blog (And Keep Them There)
A successful blog needs visitors, and a lot of advice will tell you that fresh, frequent posting is the only way to get them. But this year I had the most visits and visitors to my blog since I started in 2013 - and published half the number of posts I did back then. How?... Continue Reading →
Can Writing by Hand Boost your Creativity?
These days most of us write using a digital device, be it a PC, laptop, or even phone. Before that, we had word processors, typewriters, and the printing press. Each of these inventions has given us the ability to get more words, to more people, in the quickest possible way. But some argue that writing... Continue Reading →
5 Ways you can “Write” without Writing
However much I may want to write, there are times it just isn't happening and this can make me feel like a failure. People often think writers write no matter what, bashing out their perfectly plotted story, full of well-rounded characters that always behave with no issues whatsoever. Aha aha aha. But really, writing is... Continue Reading →
