Blog

Customer Care

I enjoyed an entertaining surprise last week, which reminded me of an excellent lesson for authors. 

I was walking through my home town of Exeter, in the usual daytime daze, when a lady came running up shouting my name. 

It turned out to be the owner of my favourite shop, a vintage clothing emporium. A couple of years ago, I'd told her I was on the lookout for a flying jacket, but couldn't find one anywhere.

She promised to let me know if one came in, and I thought no more about it until... 

I was grabbed and beckoned into... Read more

Pointless Planning

I really should have learnt by now, it's such an old and obvious lesson, but sometimes I still forget. 

Planning can be pointless. 

I'd don't mean in general. In most areas of writing, planning is vital. I would never go into a teaching session, or book talk, or start writing a novel without planning. 

But there are some areas where it's redundant. As I was forced to remember (painfully) this week. 

I had an important section of my new book to write, and much of it was based around dialogue. So, the night before, I duly sketched out what the... Read more

Time Off

I was working on my new book this week and hit upon a problem, as you do. The answer wasn't coming, so I took myself away from the laptop for a few minutes to have a shave, and... 

Bingo! The solution appeared in mind, just like that. 

The week before, I had another issue which I just couldn't resolve. I went to bed, feeling annoyed and concerned, and... 

Kerching! I had the answer clear and obvious when I woke the next morning. 

Which brings me to the point of this blog. Writers just don't - perhaps can't - do time... Read more

Writing Parenting

It's been a joyous few days on the writing parenting front. 

What's he talking about now? Well, it's the strange way I think of myself when working with aspiring authors. 

I love teaching writing just for the simple delight of sharing the passion with fellow travellers. But a particular high comes from seeing some actually get published. And so come news of not one debutant, but two. 

First was Fay's War, by Rosalie Simons, a lovely historical story with a futuristic twist - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fays-War-NUMBER-1-BOOK-ebook/dp/B00VXCYBZE 

And then I receive a heart-warming thank you from fellow crime writer, CJ Browne, for my... Read more

Blog archive

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009