You may not believe this, but film-making and film studies on the one hand, and writing on the other, have a great deal in common.
Read MoreFilm Studies as a way to improve your writing
Review of the Penguin Book of Oulipo
The word Oulipo is an acronym of a French group, Ouvroir de littérature potentielle. This is usually translated as Workshop of Potential Literature, although given its association with the sharing and critique of work on creative writing courses, the word ‘workshop’ might be ditched in favour of ‘work room’.
Read MoreRevoke of the Penny Borough of Ourselves
One of the techniques employed by the Oulipo is known as N+7. This is where you take each noun, and replace it with a word that is seven words on in the dictionary. Of course, results vary according to what dictionary you use. The following article is an N+7 version of my review of the Penguin Book of Oulipo. Enjoy!
Read More
Under Waterloo Bridge, by Terry Freedman
Photoprompt #21: Water under the bridge
I like the ‘noir’ feel of this picture.
Read More
ALCS and SoA Educational Writers Awards 2019 by Terry Freedman (2).JPG
ALCS Educational Writers Awards
The shortlisted books for the annual ALCS Educational Writers’ Awards were as beautiful and informative as ever this year.
Read MoreGood reading for would-be good writers
I’ve spent the last term on a course called Great European Short Stories. Here are my views on the course, the tutor, and the other courses of his that I’ve attended.
Read More
Lloyds Building, London, by Terry Freedman
My non-writing writing day
Not every day for the writer has to involve actual writing.
Read MoreWant to write? Develop a thick skin
in Archives, News & views
There’s nothing wrong with legitimate criticism — in fact, it should be welcomed. But don’t mistake nasty put-downs for useful advice.
Read More
Steps, by Terry Freedman
Photoprompt #20: steps
What sort of story or article does this conjure up for you?
Read More12 Ways to get repeat work as a freelance writer
You've successfully pitched the editor, so the hardest part is over. Now what can you do to maximize your chances of getting further work from the same outlet? Here are 12 things I've been doing for years with quite a bit of success. Maybe they'll work for you, though there’s no guarantee of course -- they don’t even work for me 100% of the time! But hopefully they’ll give you a better than average chance of continuing commissions.
Read MoreReview: Short-Form Creative Writing
Short-form writing is neither quick nor easy, but the effort is, in my opinion, worth it. This book explores the form with useful information, challenging exercises, and interesting examples.
Read MoreShort story adventures
My first foray into the world of Oulipo.
Read More
AZZCardfile screenshot, by Terry Freedman
Utility: AZZCardfile
in Technology, Utility
Head in the clouds? Updated
Writing in your head, or prewriting, can be a good idea -- and you don't always need to type it out.
Read MoreAn insane way to keep you focused Updated
in News & views
If you fond it difficult to stay focused on your writing, then maybe this is just the boot up the backside you need....
Read MoreWhy I reject rejection slips UPDATED
Conventional wisdom has it that you should keep your rejection slips to remind you of how far you've come as a writer once you’ve established yourself. I’ve even read of people who proudly plaster their walls with the things.
Read MoreThe value of clippings Updated
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 More
No photography, by Terry Freedman
Photoprompt #19: No photography
Another photo to act as a writing prompt, this time of a sign.
Read More
Baffled, by Terry Freedman.jpg
A conversation I had which I still don't understand
A recent conversation I had with a cab company has left me completely baffled.
Read More
Click the pic to be taken to this book’s Amazon page. (This is an Amazon affiliate link.)
Should writers aim for unmindfulness?
in Bookshelf, Moments, Reviews, Quick looks
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 More