Are you afraid to dip your toe in the water? Do you always write in the same genre? Do you believe that all you can write is romantic comedy or spy thrillers? Maybe that’s because that’s all you’ve ever tried. Strong beliefs can narrow your horizons. So why not change those beliefs? Set yourself a […]
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Writing on spec – why you should.
Writing on spec means writing a full, article, story, book or script without the promise of payment or publication. The risk is all on the side of the writer. For example, if you write a story and send it to a magazine without them actually asking you to do it – you are writing on […]
The Stinging Fly Stories Anthology
The Stinging Fly Stories Anthology is a new collection of stories that were published in the Stinging Fly literary magazine over the last twenty years. It’s not easy for a literary magazine to survive in these changing times. But the Stinging Fly has not just survived but has thrived. Their continued success is a huge credit […]
Does Life Imitate Art? The Grenfell Fire Tragedy
Does life imitate art, or is it the other way around? For me, that question has always been easy. I believe that art imitates, or reflects the life around us. But it can sometimes seem like the opposite. I have written about many subjects and explored many themes. Coincidence and synchronicity are bound to happen […]
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, […]
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 […]
Another New Year
New year is the time we are supposed to think about resolutions. Some of you will be groaning because the resolution you made last year didn’t happen. Don’t worry because most New Year’s resolutions don’t. Including mine. I’ll be the first to admit my resolution to declutter and streamline my home office didn’t get very […]
Can You Learn to Write?
Classes about learning to write are some of the most popular ones you can find. Yet, some successful writers denigrate these classes and their students. They say that such students aren’t ‘real writers’ because writing is something sacred, that cannot be learned. SACRED TALENT The idea that writers have this sacred talent that enables them […]
Proper Grammar
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GRAMMAR? The proper use of grammar is a subject of great debate on the Internet at the moment. Take a quick look at any social media writing group and you will see a great many writers arguing with passion. Unfortunately most of the arguments are not about stories and character, but […]