creative writing

  • Stabby Words and Cutting Remarks

    Last week Gary Parkin wrote a very good blog post about word lists and why it’s a good idea to use one when you are writing. You can read what he had to say about it here. Basically, Gary makes the point that it can be useful to have a small lexicon of era/genre/character specific…

  • It’s heeeeerre!

    Yup, the moment we’ve all been dreading and looking forward to in equal measure is here: my book is now available on Amazon. I promise not to go on and on and on about it and asking you all to buy it. After today. But for today, every time someone decides not to buy my…

  • If Only I Knew…

    My debut self-published story collection ‘And The Angels Cried and other stories’ is launched on Amazon Kindle tomorrow. I’ve hardly slept for a week and have been obsessively checking and double checking everything. I can do no more. I have read, with great interest, many blogs written by friends and colleagues who have gone down…

  • Writing As Therapy: A Guest Post by talented Writer Avery Caswell

    I am delighted to welcome talented writer Avery Caswell to my blog today. Avery has written a beautiful book called ‘Luck’ available from Amazon UK and Amazon US. She is currently seeking representation for her new book, Conjure Silver.  I am particularly happy to have this post because I, too, have found writing to be…

  • Glasgow Style

      ‘Hello there, doll,’ he says. ‘Hi,’ she says, smiling. ‘Mind if I sit here?’ He points to the barstool beside her. She sighs. ‘If you want to.’ ‘You’re no from around here, are you?’ ‘How observant.’ She attracts the barman’s eye. ‘Ah’ll get that for you, love.’ ‘I can pay for my own drinks.’…

  • It’s Not easy Being Green.

    Kevin hated waste. He despised the plastic packaging on the fruit and veg in the supermarket,

  • The Coward’s Tale: A Musical Map and a Publishing Journey with Vanessa Gebbie

    [tweetmeme source=”nettiewriter” http://www.URL.com] I am beyond thrilled to be participating in Vanessa Gebbie’s blog tour to promote the paperback publication of The Coward’s Tale, undoubtedly the best book I have read this year.  You can read what I thought of the book here and visit Vanessa’s own website here. NT: Hi Vanessa, and thank you…

  • Writing Roolz

    [tweetmeme source=”nettiewriter” http://www.URL.com] Are you a pantser or a planner? When it comes to writing – actually, I’m the same with most things, truth be told – I do love to plan. There is nothing like a route map showing me “You Are Here” and detailing the route I should take to get to “The…

  • NaNoWriMo #1

    I haven’t written much for a while. There are all sorts of boring reasons with which I shan’t bore you, but ‘ma heid’s been like a stair heid’. It’s better if I don’t translate from the Weegie. Anyway, I’m hoping to change all that come November when I take part in this year’s NaNoWriMo. In…

  • Moth

    [tweetmeme source=”nettiewriter” http://www.URL.com] I read my book until you come to bed, unsmiling and unwilling to look me in the eye. You pull your t-shirt over your head and throw it at the basket, missing. It lies there, crumpled and sullen, daring me to say something. I pretend to be engrossed in my book but…