No, I don’t mean we ought to kill people or small animals. It is a saying in writing circles. You kill your darlings… The parts of the book that you work so hard to get perfect and instead you have to cut them to make the story flow. In Here Be Dragons I had a… Continue reading Killing your darlings
Tag: writing
The Meeting
It is strange meeting people you haven’t seen in years. On the honeymoon I had the opportunity to meet up with some mates I hadn’t seen in about twenty years. How much do you change in 20 years? The answer is loads and not that much at all. It was weird. They said I was… Continue reading The Meeting
Here Be Monsters
You used to see that on maps, old maps… Don’t go any closer because here be monsters, and then a waterfall or illustration. But this is the chosen name for the last in the series of the Here Be Dragons children books I’ve written. Yes, there are monsters, but no they aren’t all as nasty… Continue reading Here Be Monsters
Moving
Don't get me wrong... I moved 3 and a half years ago, but I left my workshop. The paints, pencils, artwork... everything frozen in time. But there have been problems. The workshop got a leak, there was a flood... The artwork started to deteriorate. There was a mold that started to creep across the… Continue reading Moving
Oh errrr… I been Longlisted
So, a while back I entered the New Welsh Writers Competition with a story I thought was a long shot. It was set in the past and I was submitting it for a dystopian award. But it really is a dystopian story, and horrifically true. In 1800 a sailor, James Norris, was placed in Bethlem… Continue reading Oh errrr… I been Longlisted
Reading
I don't mean reading books but reading your work outloud. Yesterday I read a piece on motherhood. It was a memoir and a creative essay. I was terrible at it. I kept my head down and I didn't look up. I couldn't. What I was reading was so personal that if I had I couldn't… Continue reading Reading
Kicked
The other day I was kicked from a group on Facebook. Why? My drawing is too realistic. I kid you not. My drawing had to be a cheat... Why is that? And why do I face this all my life? I reach for the stars but all I end up with is dust... Maybe I… Continue reading Kicked
I’ve lost my voice!
No, I don't mean I'm hoarse and I can't speak, but that on the piece I'm working on. I have been ill and it has made my head fuzzy and not working great, so I've taken longer than I normally would off. My breaks when I got a WIP going are normal less than a… Continue reading I’ve lost my voice!
Resolutions
Can you make resolutions if you still have stuff to do? Me and my fella were driving back from collecting a new tablet (it wasn't working properly) when I said that you could feel the days lengthening. He agreed and said he felt better. The shortest day this year, the winter solstice was the 21st… Continue reading Resolutions
Walking
Why is it that taking a walk makes you feel better? Stretching your legs can make you grin and the problems you thought were bad, can seem so much smaller than before. Do I write for the deadlines or do I write for myself? It's a no-brainer. If I don't write for myself then I… Continue reading Walking
Kate Murray - Cleaver 