Posted by on Jul 29, 2008 in Jai Clare, short story reviews, The Cusp of Something | No Comments

Review: Jai Clare – The Cusp of Something Jai Clare’s collection, The Cusp of Something, is a rich work, and challenging. There’s a trend at present to only publish short story collections that have a thematic (ie Jhumpa Lahiri) or chronological link. Elastic Press has bucked this trend for several years, and this is the […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 27, 2008 in France, writing ethics | 5 Comments

Normal blogging will be resumed … … when I get my Protestant Work Ethic back. I think I left it in France. Actually, I’ll be wording it here on Tuesday. And p.s., the picture is so you can spot the writer!

Read More

Posted by on Jul 18, 2008 in holiday, Jai Clare | 2 Comments

Up, up and away … That’s what I am. With my suitcase full of books (thanks for your excellent suggestions), Assam tea and sun lotion, I am abandoning you for a week. When I return: Jai Clare interviewed and something about a literary Apocalypse (the two are not related), and, if you’re lucky, a visit […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 15, 2008 in teaching | 3 Comments

Writing, teaching, writing I wonder if other writers find that their own writing comes to a complete stop if they are teaching? Mine certainly does. I was facilitating Hove Library’s two writing groups on 5 and 12 July and from about 3 July until this morning I wrote not a work that wasn’t reports or […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 10, 2008 in critique, hilary mantel | 9 Comments

Me and him and Hilary Mantel A writer rang me today to ask why I was giving away all these free critiques. Didn’t I know I was undermining the work of professional editors and writing teachers? Wasn’t I creating a culture of dependency on myself? And who was I, anyway, to think my comments any […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 8, 2008 in A.L. Kennedy, critique, screenplay, workshop, zoetrope | 4 Comments

Tough love for writers You give it, and you get it. Since Saturday’s group meeting I’ve given tough love (otherwise known as harsh critique) to three writers – two of whom sucked it up with great grit and thanked me. Haven’t heard back from the third yet! And I’ve got it. My screenplay is being […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 6, 2008 in Comedy of Errors, writing classes, writing groups | One Comment

I love you, you big tart! Okay, I’m showing off – but my newly found recipe for redcurrant tarts is a true joy and I do, indeed, love it. It is made from paté sucree, which is not what the English call sugar pastry but involves powdered sugar and an egg yolk, and the currants […]

Read More

Posted by on Jul 2, 2008 in Mario Vargas Llosa, Mary McCluskey, screenplay | 6 Comments

In praise of the (screenplay) stepmother That’s homage to Mario Vargas Llosa, in case you weren’t sure, and the rest of the homage goes to … Mary McCluskey. Writing friends are worth more than rubies – and finding them is about as likely. I am lucky that Bunny Goodjohn is both a writer and a […]

Read More