This is a short unedited extract from a work in progress and relates to an article I wrote about whether art imitates life or if it is the other way round. You can find ‘Does Life Imitate Art? here. Extract from When The Sun Shines by Grace Jolliffe After work, Josie got on the bus […]
Author Archive | Grace
So Why Do You Really Write?
Why do you really write? Do you know? Some of us think about this question all the time, particularly when the writing is hard going, or when we receive a particularly stinging criticism. But despite thinking about this question a lot, most writers will answer by saying something about wanting to be published, having stories […]
Are You Writing For Readers?
I recently read an interesting post that sparked yet another hot debate on a social media writer’s group. This particular writer said that they don’t care if nobody ever reads their writing. In their world there is no such thing as writing for readers. They write for the pure love of writing. Now, I tried, […]
Why I Love and Sometimes Hate Writing Fiction
Writing fiction has always been what I wanted to do – apart from a brief notion about becoming a helicopter flying archeologist/criminal investigator – which ended when I was ten. Finishing a book is supposed to be a joy, but I must admit the book I am finishing at the moment has made me feel […]
Book Scammers
Book scammers love writing groups. Writing groups are great – they are full of friendly writers sharing information and encouraging each other. They are also full of inexperienced writers, and for scammers that makes them easy to find. They pop along and join in and in a friendly way they introduce their scam as though […]
Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression have a way of sneaking up on us slowly and silently. Or they can hit you like a train when you least expect it. Depression take on a different form for all of us and because of that it can be hard to recognize, until it’s too late. It is a cliché […]
Reading skills – do magazines dumb us down?
Reading skills are essential – no matter what we do in life. The importance of reading is impressed on us in school. If our school was any good it would have taught us that reading is not just an important life skill – it is a source of pleasure. If we learned this, then as […]
Zero Content Books
Zero content books seem to be the latest ‘thing.’ This idea is being pushed hard by ‘writing gurus.’ They even tell you how – all you have to do is register for their seminars. Sound tempting? Well, not to me. If you look closely at these adverts you will see advice such as – be […]
Three ways to spot scams aimed at writers.
HOOK I’ve just been reading some posts on a writing group over on Facebook. The opening post was from a man who claimed to be looking for coauthors. On his initial post he said ‘no experience or up front fees.’ He also referenced his own website. The site was ‘under construction’ and full of spammy […]
Top 20 Creative Writing Blogs
Hi everyone – it’s always good to get a surprise especially when it’s a really great surprise. Practical Creative Writing has been selected as one of the top 20 Creative Writing Blogs I am over the moon. It’s great to know I’m doing something right especially since I do everything on the site myself. It’s been […]