The other day I went to the Firefly launch (Firefly is a Welsh publisher of children's books). There were a load of good readings and I got chatting after. One of the editors asked me... "Do you illustrate your own books?" "No," I said, but what got me was that I was filled with fear.… Continue reading Irrational Fear
Tag: creative writing
An Unexpected Guest
I could smell smoke in the air, cloying and bitter. "Something's up," I told the chickens. They pretty much ignored me and continued to scratch at the grain I'd just flung at the ground. A niggling headache had begun to softly pound behind my right eye and I knew that something was wrong, but what.… Continue reading An Unexpected Guest
That Good Night
The daily prompt has asked for a piece written in the style of a favourite author. I recently submitted a radio play for a competition around Dylan Thomas. It wasn't short-listed but I thought I'd share. Please be kind though - radio is not my forte. THAT GOOD NIGHT CAST Ben Older, mature student. Well-spoken with an old… Continue reading That Good Night
The choice
I got lost. It's easy to see, they had said, but it wasn't. A track leading into a forest. It's angle steep and leaving me wondering if the car would make it. I was instantly glad I'd decided to bring the four by four. The track was covered in ruts and grass grew down the… Continue reading The choice
Tyler Keevil and the Burrard Inlet
I have problems with some books. They get into my head and then never leave. 'The Burrard Inlet' is one of them. They are a selection of short stories all connected by the Inlet. Set in Canada is explores just what humanity is, the good and the bad. The actual inlet divides Vancouver's north shore… Continue reading Tyler Keevil and the Burrard Inlet
Practice makes perfect
Today I put my tips into practice. I sat down with a book that has hit 15 000 words (which is my limit without a structured plan), and planned out the next chapter. And just that chapter. It was strange but to begin with I felt like I was looking at the story though a… Continue reading Practice makes perfect
My Advice if you are starting out…
Many writers I talk to say that they write. "So where are you published?" I ask. "I'm not." "Don't worry. What competitions have you tried?" I ask "I'm not good enough..." And that is the problem. I write knowing there are problems - there always are because of the dyslexia. I have the story edited… Continue reading My Advice if you are starting out…
Image problems
And I'm not talking my own personal image. That is as good as it gets. Instead, I'm talking about the use of images in art. Copyright is a nightmare. Not on the cover I posted yesterday - that is a public download and copyright free. No, instead it is for the next book. The novel.… Continue reading Image problems
Balance
"Mum!" The shout went up as the bike wobbled and toppled over, spilling the child onto the floor. There was a moment of silence. "Ow!" "Are you okay?" Mum asked, running over and pulling the bike off her daughter. "Yeah." Came the slow reply, and then. "You let go." It was a statement and in… Continue reading Balance
The Cover…
Well, I've been working on the cover for the anthology - Love, Just, Is. And this is what I've come up with. What do you think?
Kate Murray - Cleaver 