Desert Island Books. Maroon me with these, please.
So which ten books would you take to a desert island? (I know, you could take a kindle, but humour me. Imagine somewhere with no electricity, so after a month your kindle will be useless. The box of books will last forever). For me, well, I guess if I knew I was going...
Talking about writing at NALD conference, and me philosophising about writing.
Just attended a conference organised by NALD (National Association for Literature Development). Nearly didn’t go, but now I’m glad I did. Several things. Firstly, it struck me that there are an awful lot of people working and being paid for doing something associated...
Getting started on a new novel. How important is the opener?
Well it is the New Year and I have started it as I mean to go on, new book, 6,000 words a month I feel is a reasonable target, and so far I am sticking to it. This is my second novel, and some things are easier second time round, some more difficult. For instance I am...
Worthy books, TV adaptations, and not apologising for not reading anything Russian
I was in a book shop last week and managed to resist buying any more books. That is probably a first for me, but I'm trying to be mindful of the two shelves of books waiting to be read (that is of course forgetting all the books which have now been shelved elsewhere...
Writing – what you need: memory, organisation, feedback, no children
Just had a great night out watching Ardal O’Hanlon on stage doing stand up. Amazes me how stand ups remember everything they are going to say; I wonder if there is a trick to remembering several hours worth of material? Anyway watching him reminded me of course of...
Why do writers ignore the world of work?
I have just finished reading PD James’ The Lighthouse, and without spoiling the plot for potential readers, it involves writers and their writing and the plot was threaded through this to some extent. I remember also reading a crime thriller by Elizabeth George where...
Romantic fiction: porn for women?
I have been pondering some feedback I was given about a sample chapter from my novel. I was told that it was a “bit Mills and Boons”. Argh! Horror! Mortification! Luckily no-one else has agreed with this rather damning analysis, including my agent whose job it is to...
There is no such thing as a favourite book
OK here is a challenge for you. I believe that it’s impossible for a writer to have a favourite book. Having a favourite book means a) you have not read enough books and b) you have not changed over time. Both fatal flaws for a writer. I have literally (sic) thousands...
Why do so many writers live in Edinburgh?
Have you considered why Edinburgh is choka full of excellent writers at the moment? Is it something in the water? Or the air? Perhaps we should all go there and inhale deeply. I have to tell you, having been a student there for four years, inhaling deeply between the...
To blog or not to blog… My first attempt
Well I’ve just joined the 21st century by attempting to join the blogging hordes. No idea why. Yes I do know why actually. I am a writer; I spend all day sitting at a PC writing, so why not spend yet more time here, ruining my eyes, getting repetitive strain injury,...