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 get it back. AL Kennedy The Guardian, Feb 2010
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 scheme that provides income to writers. OK, at six pence per loan it’s not a huge amount, but…
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 what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. Neil Gaiman The Guardian,…
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. I think of my novels as being something like fairground rides: my job is to strap the reader…
Monday morning inspiration
Honour the miraculousness of the ordinary. Andrew Motion The Guardian, Feb 2010
Monday morning inspiration
Think with your senses as well as your brain. Andrew Motion The Guardian, Feb 2010
The only possible system
Capitalism, we are told, is the only possible system. Anything else is impractical dreaming. Capitalism delivers prosperity, stability, growth… except when it doesn’t. The credit crunch is nothing new – remember the Asia currency crisis, the Russian debt crisis, Black…
Monday morning inspiration
Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always…