I feel a bit like the first person in Khalil Gibran’s story of The Gravedigger. It’s taken me years and years, but I am finally getting rid of boxes and boxes of my clippings, ie the articles I’ve had published.
Read MorePhotoprompt #19: No photography
Another photo to act as a writing prompt, this time of a sign.
Read MoreA conversation I had which I still don't understand
A recent conversation I had with a cab company has left me completely baffled.
Read MoreShould writers aim for unmindfulness?
Perhaps a useful aim of writers is to lead the reader to put the book or article down, and disappear in a flight of imagination. After all, surely one measure of success is that what you’ve written led someone to think of something, or to make connections, that had not occurred to them before?
Read MorePhotoprompt #18: Bricked-up window
Evidence of what must be one the most ill-conceived taxes of all time (apart from the poll taxes in 1381 and 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales).
Read MoreQuick look: Short-form creative writing: a writer's guide and anthology
You may be very good at condensing a complex argument and proposals down to no more than six bullet points (as one of my line managers always demanded). This book makes it clear that there are more creative opportunities too.
Read MoreTurn of phrase
Overheard snippets of conversation should be stored away for when required.
Read MorePhotoprompt #17: Green light
I wonder if this image could be used for something other than the obvious.
Read More10 websites for free illustrations for your articles
Here are 10 websites where you can find high quality pictures that are free to use on your own website or blog.
Read MoreWorld Zombie Day
You never know who you’re going to meet in London. Yesterday, I saw a zombie walking around the Microsoft Decoded conference.
Read MoreBook review: The Online Journalism Handbook
This is a very useful reference book for anyone who is serious about online journalism.
Read MoreHow to automate your writing schedule with Google Calendar
Unfortunately, Google cannot (yet!) do your writing for you, but it can help you by identifying times when you could write, and inserting “Writing” (or “Research” or whatever you choose) into your calendar.
Read MorePhotoprompt #16: Let's have a haggle
Another photoprompt. This notice, seen in a shop window, could provide the starting point of a story or article.
Read MoreReview: The Story of Paintings
With children as the target audience, this book is a fair-paced romp through the history of paintings from cave paintings to the present day. All that in less than 100 pages!
Read MoreBook review round-up to August 2019
Here are links to recent book reviews I’ve published on this website. Look out for more soon.
Read MorePhotoprompt #13: Southwold Beach Huts
Believe it or not, this photo was taken in the summer!
Read MoreMind your language (2): A strange sign
Perhaps I shouldn’t take things so literally…
Read MorePhotoPrompt #15: Lymm Dam
What does this picture inspire you to write?
Read MoreMind your language (1)
Words are being used in ways which are completely wrong – in fact, in some cases the meaning is the exact opposite of the way the word is being used, like when the word "choose" means you have no choice at all.
Read MoreBlogging taster course
One of the daftest pieces of advice I was given, by a so-called marketing expert, was to not bother with maintain my own blog: too much hassle. Write on other people’s blogs instead.
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