Posted by on May 23, 2006 in Uncategorised | 3 Comments

Taking my name (in vain) A little rant today – aimed at one person, who knows who she is! Lady, when you wrote to an editor saying I’d suggested you send in your story, did you really think he wouldn’t get back to me? Especially as your story (yes, I’ve read it now, although I […]

Posted by on May 22, 2006 in Uncategorised | One Comment

I love it when a plan comes together … Especially when I have almost nothing to do with it Some months ago I travelled to Kendal to lead a workshop on Writing Fiction to Get Published – it was a great morning, organised by Kate and Linda whom I’ve mentioned before, and a really enthusiastic […]

Posted by on May 19, 2006 in Uncategorised | 2 Comments

Absent Yesterday was a day without computer. So double duty today! First a round up of fun and good things elsewhere in the blogosphere … Jim Ruland set a jolly little contest and garnered some thought provoking replies – visit Click for Jim’s comp and add your own comments Bunny Goodjohn had some good advice […]

Posted by on May 17, 2006 in Uncategorised | One Comment

Green Thought in an Urban Shade Launched last night in London. I wasn’t there, sadly. Well, I’m not sure if it was sadly or not – given that I have too full a plate of things to deal with right now – but I hope it went really well and that those who did attend […]

Posted by on May 16, 2006 in Uncategorised | 4 Comments

Good Days and Bad Days A large part of any writer’s life is sending out work and waiting. Sending and waiting. Sending … and waiting. This week has been an exceptional one. It’s only Tuesday and already I have had two rejections and (wait for it!) four acceptances. Four! That’s never happened before. Ruthie’s Club […]

Posted by on May 15, 2006 in Uncategorised | 3 Comments

Mmmm hmmm – or, The Joys of Recording Standing in front of a microphone recording your own work is a weird but increasingly common experience. The developments of podcasting, MP3 players, and other downloadable audio systems mean that writers are spending more time rounding their vowels and sounding their consonants than ever before. I’m sure […]

Posted by on May 12, 2006 in Uncategorised | One Comment

The craft of writing – being accessible I never imagined when I ‘became’ a writer that I would do some of the things that have become a regular part of my writing life. This week, for example, after folding 70 paper stories/sculptures for the Green Thought exhibition, I shall be travelling up to London to […]

Posted by on May 11, 2006 in Uncategorised | No Comments

More galleys Today I’ve received the galley’s from Deathgrip: Exit Laughing to read through. Looks pretty good – so I’m about to sit down and go into copy editor mode before I sign off my proofs. When people ask me where story ideas come from, this is the kind of tale that makes it impossible […]

Posted by on May 10, 2006 in Uncategorised | One Comment

Golden Swans for Green Thought These are my preview invitations for the Green Thought exhibition, showing at the Waterloo Gallery, 14 Bayliss Street, London, SE1 from 15 May – 27 May 2006, with an invitation only preview on 16 May 6.30-8.30 pm. The exhibition will be formally opened by Irish Ambassador His Excellency Daithi O’Ceallaigh […]

Posted by on May 9, 2006 in Uncategorised | No Comments

Question from a reader … who wants to be anonymous! How do you know when a story is finished? Good question. There are two failures at opposite extremes of the scale. One is the story that is written and sent out in a white heat of creativity (I’ve been guilty of this one) and as […]