Sketchbook/Notebook
A note about journaling visual and written imagery One of the things I love to do is talk to artists and writers … Keep Reading
The Train by Georges Simenon
William Faulkner compared him to Chekov. Clearly, Faulkner hadn’t read Three Bedrooms in Manhattan. We’ve just returned from a holiday in Cadaqués, … Keep Reading
Fénéon, Félix, Novels in Three Lines
Lessons in editing and delay when writing a novel On the luckiest days, you come across a book that you know you’ll … Keep Reading
Exhibiting Poetry
Pin it on a wall Five years ago, I began sticking my poetry to a wall, forsaking frames and pinboards in favor … Keep Reading
Dramatising the Chapter
How thinking like a screenwriter can improve your novel One of the facets I like the most about scriptwriting is the anticipation … Keep Reading
Happy Happenstance
A text and collage workshop Artist Patricia Thornton and I ran Happy Happenstance workshop at Phoenix Art Space, where we had a lovely turnout and great fun … Keep Reading
The Unsent Letter
I recently ran a creative writing workshop at Spring Gallery alongside our Edgeland Modern exhibition, Back of the Envelope. It was a great success, … Keep Reading
Writing as Construction/Deconstruction
Thoughts about text after my first attempt at screen printing I attended my first screen printing class at East Side Print in … Keep Reading
A Comparison of AI Poetry vs. My Poetry
A Human and Chatbot GPT “Experience” the Colour Blue “Blue gives other colours their vibration.” – Cézanne I wrote a villanelle about … Keep Reading
Anne Carson and a Blue Ballerina
The book as exhibition and an exercise in self-compassion I met Anne Carson many moons ago during a reading she gave at … Keep Reading
Maman, Louise Bourgeois
How this sculpture has played a role in my life. Over the last month or so, I’ve been looking after my mother, … Keep Reading
How I Prepare to Write a Book
I’m not one of those writers who sit down and write a story from beginning to end. All three of my novels … Keep Reading
How to Find the Time to Finish Writing Your Book
Firstly, you need to rearrange your ideas regarding time and, probably, writing. You do not need a dedicated and allotted time to … Keep Reading
How I Format a Book of Poetry
I was recently asked this question and thought it might be helpful if I addressed it in my weekly blog. There isn’t … Keep Reading
An Image I Use for Keeping Creative Faith
It is difficult to return to creative work after any length of the interruption. I’ve left projects for ten hours, ten days, … Keep Reading
Why I Always Cut My First Chapter
Why You Should You Cut Your First Chapter. I know it's daunting but trust me. It takes a while to get into voice and … Keep Reading
When to Cut a Character
When to Cut a Character? Even if you have finished a draft! … Keep Reading
Do I Know Enough to Write this Book?
Do I know Enough to Write this Book? (Internal Voice) … Keep Reading
Why You Should Send Your Book Baby to a Small Press
When a small press editor reads a book submission, they consider the impact the book might have on the world first, then … Keep Reading
Word Regard: Spy
Short talks to inspire writing To generate ideas, do all the obvious things, such as reading, looking, and listening, but you already … Keep Reading
Word Regard: Images and Nancy Spero
Short talks to inspire writing “An artist’s job is to articulate what might otherwise be incoherent.” Nancy Spero My love affair with … Keep Reading
Batch Writing
Research and write in batches of time if you want to increase your writing diversity and become prolific. This means choosing a … Keep Reading
Before You Edit Your First Draft…
Before You Edit Your First Draft… Read. Read. Read. I choose three books to study after completing the first draft. One is … Keep Reading
The Gift of Mediocrity
Today is International Women’s Day. It is also the day that children in the UK are able to go back to school … Keep Reading
Changing the Goalkeepers Changes the Game
Occasionally, I am asked why I run Backlash Press. It’s a fair question and, truth be told, one that I have wondered … Keep Reading