The electrophone? The Gecophone?

July 30, 2025 in Audio, Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

Although I’ve been writing for donkeys’ years, I’ve never written anything for radio.

How can you write a blog if you don't read any blogs?

July 29, 2025 in Creative Writing, Reflections

Every time I teach my Writing for Blogs course, it transpires that ~~some~~ most of the people on the course do not read any blogs.

Coming soon...

July 28, 2025

My blogging course: reflections.
Quick looks at the four most recent books I read.

Battersea Power Station. Photo by Terry Freedman

My Writing Machine

July 28, 2025 in Creative Writing, The lighter side

I first had the idea for a writing machine many years ago, while watching an episode of the Avengers.

On this day: Further thoughts on using Word for Desktop Publishing: Frames

July 27, 2025 in How to, Word, Archives, On this day

If you have the occasional desktop publishing to do, or if you only require a sort of limited desktop publisher or simply don’t have the time to learn a whole new program, Word will do fine.

Quick look: The many lives of Anne Frank

July 09, 2025 in Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

The structure of this book is very interesting.

Quick look: Hard Rain Falling, by Don Carpenter

July 08, 2025 in Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

The style is plain and simple, and all the more powerful for that.

Picture of question marks — Graphic by Terry Freedman

My North Thames Gas Saga

July 07, 2025 in Memoir, Creative Writing

Quite by chance I’ve been reading about bureaucracy recently — such as in customer (dis)service — and it reminded me of North Thames Gas’s attempts to drive me mad. That was many years ago and North Thames Gas doesn’t even exist any more, but even now the mere mention of a gas company starts my nervous twitch going.

Terry Freedman and Fred Terryman discuss the question: What makes a great and successful writer?

July 03, 2025 in Creative Writing, EiS

This is a transcript of a conversation between Fred Terryman and myself. It’s been lightly edited, with the pauses taken out for ease of reading.

Nonfiction notebook: Paragraphs I’ve enjoyed writing

July 02, 2025 in Reflections, Nonfiction Notebook

Most of my reviews are very positive, and I frequently conclude by recommending the book in question despite my criticisms. However, I do think it’s important to be honest about a book’s or an exhibition’s downsides. I also like to open a review, where possible, with a personal, perhaps humorous, observation.

Compare and contrast: A Town Without Time reviewed

June 26, 2025 in Bookshelf, Journalism, Reviews

The book includes the obituary writer who can hardly wait for his subjects to drop dead so that he can at last see his work in print.

Compare and contrast: Pen Names reviewed

June 26, 2025 in Bookshelf, Reviews

Once again I am presenting you with two very slightly different reviews of the same book.

Compare and contrast: The Library of Ancient Wisdom reviewed

June 26, 2025 in Bookshelf, Reviews

Once again I am presenting you with two different reviews of the same book.

Compare and contrast: Adaptable reviewed

June 26, 2025 in Audio, Bookshelf, Reviews

Once again I am presenting you with two very slightly different reviews of the same book. The first is the review I sent in to the editor of Teach Secondary magazine. The second is what was actually published.