Getting your writing buddy fix – extracts from February newsletter
Getting your writing buddy fix. This time last year we were about to go into lockdown for the first time. Little did we know then how long this thing was going to take. One of the things we had to get used to was Zoom (or the infernal Microsoft equivalent.) Way back...
“I find I just can’t read”: Special Books for Terrible Times. The Top Ten Books you CAN read during a pandemic.
As readers of this blog will know, I am an avid reader. I devour books. And yet, like many, many people, I've found it hard to settle with a book during this everlasting pandemic. Weird, isn't it? Is it lack of concentration, general anxiety, or is it the feeling that...
Giving something back – free feedback – extracts from January newsletter
January: 2021 is all about helping each other. Let's put that year behind us and think about how we can have a much better time in the future. One way I'm going to try to spread a tiny bit of cheer is to offer you folks some free feedback on your writing. This is an...
Top Ten Non Fiction Books to Entertain and Surprise
Despite my background as a non-fiction writer, I haven't yet written a blog covering my top ten non fiction books. Time to put that right, methinks. I'm focusing here on books that anyone might enjoy, so I've excluded specialised works or things which have dated, and...
A Room of One’s Own – Extracts from December Newsletter.
We did it. We moved house. Moved out of the Airbnb madness of central Edinburgh into a quieter, leafier location. Which meant I got to rethink my writing space...again. Over the years I've had a few different set-ups. The first study was in a low ceilinged...
Top Twenty Books of 2020
Has this been a good year for reading? You would think that being forced to stay at home might help reduce the 'to read' pile, but I found it hard to choose the right book during that long enforced lockdown of the first wave of coronavirus in spring. Dystopian fiction...
Christmas is coming – or not? Extracts from November newsletter.
Call me sentimental, but I've always loved Christmas. In fact I do find it hard to understand why other people don't love it. Every year, my tree decorating gets earlier and earlier, and usually, by this time in November, most of my present shopping is done, my food...
Top Ten Books to get you in the Christmas Mood
Normally by this time of year - early November - I'd be well into my Christmas preparation. Presents bought, turkey ordered, things planned... But it's hard to get in the mood this year. Browsing in shops is a no-go, and who wants to give yet more money to Amazon? And...
Covid blues and writing – extracts from October newsletter
Once a month I send out a newsletter – you’re probably being asked to sign up to it right now! Subscribing lets you win freebies. But if you’re allergic to email newsletters, no matter, here are some extracts from my October newsletter. You are not alone. These are...
Top Ten Films about Writers and Hollywood’s worst misconceptions.
Writing has to be one of the most misunderstood professions. Some readers seem to think a book gets written by magic, involving no time or effort. But a book which is easy to read hasn't necessarily been easy to write. Getting published is a struggle, and even that is...