I'm in online writing groups. They are peopled mainly by novelists, and mainly those who self-publish. What's interesting is a proportion of novice writers seem more concerned with publication theory than writing practice. For example, when posting working drafts, this cohort worry about how to define it for Amazon. Some sling single chapters or incomplete drafts … Continue reading Abstraction Distraction
writing
Taking advice as directed
Last week I attended the Emerging Writer's Festival Criticism Masterclass. The main thing, absolutely the main thing I got from it, was to pitch. Write and pitch, imitate and make contact, read and practice. But mainly, pitch ideas. I'd never really done that before, but, reader, I did. I pitched one idea to one place … Continue reading Taking advice as directed
More please
In writing, as in physics, once things begin to happen, they keep happening. I've just had another story accepted and it'll be out next month. It will be the second published from my once upon a time ex-almost collection, so at least some of it was on the right track. A lot of time is spent … Continue reading More please
Over a barrel
Ideas Kaboom! The idea of creative writing is plastic. It's a vast global business, it's a singular remote activity, it's digital and ancient, it's free and expensive, it's a past time and a career, it's a legacy and aspiration, you can study it, you don't need to, it takes myriad forms, it's individual and there … Continue reading Over a barrel
Admiration x 3
I'm not into certain kinds of inspiration. I'm not on Pintrest for the words across artist landscapes or landscaped bodies encouraging me to be all I can be. I'm not a Just Do It person. In fact if you instruct me to Just Do It, I won't. Probably. I'm contrary and often, resistant. Sometimes I'm … Continue reading Admiration x 3
Sometimes, a flurry
While waiting to hear back from editors and opportunities, I've been submitting stories again. Often writing works like that. A lot of nothing but waiting, or a lot of nothing but editing, or a lot of waiting while submitting. There's even a lot of writing, in the appropriate moments. It's cyclical. So, I'm at that point where I've … Continue reading Sometimes, a flurry
Heroes here & there
Somewhere else in super hero films. Because the world is not America. Batman vs Superman, is a battle between Metropolis and Gotham. It's like a haughty hipster New York vs a brooding, damaged Jersey, kinda. Until the main characters realise they're on the same side, it's like Great Gatsby, but with capes and more money. But the real somewhere … Continue reading Heroes here & there
Here Be A Story
Some days it's me and the pixels, typing things and making stuff up. On some rare days, it's me celebrating some good news. Today is that day. Yes, indeed, it's that time again everybody, when I get an electronic communiqué to inform me a lil thing I wrote has found its home in the world and it's … Continue reading Here Be A Story
Something weirder this way comes?
I'm in two minds about the use of historical people and spiritual concepts in fiction. On the one hand it seems disrespectful to tear precepts and practices from their cultural contexts to insert them at will into stories. Then, on the other hand, that's what writers do and have always done. I used the poetry of John … Continue reading Something weirder this way comes?
Foots the Bill?
There's a new companion in the Tardis, if you haven't already heard. Pearl Mackie. She'll play Bill. I'm not about to judge her debut from two minutes on screen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaLficIRInM I posit the main difficulty with a completely new companion, is explaining. Most of the audience is familiar with The Doctor and his world and this new … Continue reading Foots the Bill?
Writing Bec 