I’ve just contributed a short story, The Tattoist’s Mother, to issue 6 of the Amphibian literary journal. The theme was ‘Healing’, and it reminded me just how much I love writing short stories. There’s something incredibly satisfying about a finite piece of work, even though that doesn’t mean you (I) Read more…
My play, Nothing On Earth, is published as of today by Aurora Metro Press. I’m super-excited to get my own copy… see more here: https://www.aurorametro.com/product/nothing-on-earth-play/
So… it always feels to me as though autumn is one of those pivotal seasons for writing. I really, REALLY want to get stuff finished or at least, the shitty first draft finished, before the Christmas break. In theory, this is because I think: a) I will let it rest, Read more…
These last few weeks I’ve been trying to conceptualise a new piece of theatre. Difficult. Writing a synopsis… Even more so. Minimalism does not come easily. So I am practising The short form. Hence, ARGGHHHHH. All the writers I know and have ever known HATE writing synopses, pitches, treatments, whatever Read more…
I’ve been wondering this recently as I run workshops in lots of different kinds of writing; report writing, reflective, case studies, expressive, writing better emails… and it made me wonder about the value of just, well, getting any words down. One of the things I pass on to people who Read more…
I’m finding writing inspiration in new places this autumn; from ancient woodlands to cathedrals to singing workshops. And the more outside my usual haunts the better. Last week, I went to experience a shape singing workshop, run or sung by the Sacred Harp. Shape singing is an old form, plain Read more…
I’ve been thinking and talking with other writers, and some non-writers, or would-be-writers-if-they-could-stop-prevaricating-and-just-get-on-with-it…. about- Getting on with writing! It’s taken me ages to learn what works best for me, and these can be narrowed down to: Works for me. Take off every time.
This week, I have been going to new places with both writing and exploring the countryside for inspiration, and one feeds into the other. It’s a circular thing in fact; I write a bit, I go out and see or hear something that inspires me, I write about it, regardless Read more…
In my weekly creative time with my friend, we’ve been coming up with new ways to work that inspire us both. This week, we looked at the questions that Proust was asked in 1890, a version of which is in the Guardian, and roughly goes: What is your idea of Read more…
… editing my novel. I haven’t written prose for a few years- I’ve been immersed in playwriting for so long that some major things have begun to emerge as the differences between the two. They might seem obvious but they’ve been interesting to me to explore… This all feels wonderful Read more…