Monday morning inspiration
“The author of genius does keep til his last breath the spontaneity, the ready sensitiveness, of a child, the “innocence of eye” that means so much to a…
New Yorker 20 under 40
Ah, another list. Another list that makes me feel inadequate, not only because I’m not on it but because I haven’t even…
Monday morning inspiration
Remember you love writing. It wouldn’t be worth it if you didn’t. If the love fades, do what you need to and…
Public Lending Right
It’s sad to see that the budget for Public Lending Right is being cut by the new Tory/LibDem government. It’s a worthwhile…
Monday morning inspiration
Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly…
“Becoming a Writer” by Dorothea Brande
This is a wonderfully lucid book. I would not hesitate to take writing advice from Dorothea Brande, for the simple reason that her own writing is so elegant…
Monday morning inspiration
Writing fiction is not “self-expression” or “therapy”. Novels are for readers, and writing them means the crafty, patient, selfless construction of effects.…
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz
I quite liked this book. I think that, perhaps, if I had come upon it by chance in a neglected corner of…
“Bon Voyage, Mr President” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A short book of four short stories. I liked the main one, Bon Voyage Mr President. It’s quite a straightforward story, with…