Among his many theories, Carl Jung includes “the Collective Unconscious”. This “collects and organises personal experiences in a similar way with each member of the species.” If we consider a book to which millions have responded in a similar positive way, for instance Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, we may then see that the story touches uponContinue reading “The Novels We Love and Carl Jung’s Theory of the Collective Unconscious”
Category Archives: literature
Spaces, Holes and Boundaries in Creative Imagination
In the Birmingham City Art Gallery I found an artist whose work conjured up for me an imaginary conversation between two people meeting at a party: “So what do you do for a living?” “I tie threads round holes.” As I imagined the likely response, I gazed at a series of photographs of various holes inContinue reading “Spaces, Holes and Boundaries in Creative Imagination”
Sherlock Holmes And Creative Writing
Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft tells Watson in the latest BBC recreation of this much-loved character, has the mind of a scientist or a philosopher; yet he chose to be a consulting detective. When he was a child he wanted to be a pirate. And Conan Doyle tells us Holmes is also a consummate actor. He willContinue reading “Sherlock Holmes And Creative Writing”
How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Synchronicity Help You in Your Creative Writing?
Among his many theories, Carl Jung includes “synchronicity”. This may be defined as “the meaningful patterning of two or more psycho-physical events not otherwise causally connected”. I’ve known of this theory for several years, and have seen it operating not only in my life but in the lives of others. Now I realise how it canContinue reading “How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Synchronicity Help You in Your Creative Writing?”
How to Develop Villainous Characteristic Traits in Your Writing
An effective fictional villain has, to my mind, one essential characteristic. The villain should build up in the reader a passionate desire for his or her comeuppance.
Dangerous Interpersonal Tensions at The Wheel of Love, Esoteric Spiritual Group
As a novelist I enjoy writing about relationships. I’ve spent years observing people’s behaviour in all sorts of situations – within romantic relationships, family relationships, within groups both informal and structured, at dinner parties or self-help therapy groups or in other group situations such as writing workshops. In my mystery romance novel “Mystical Circles”, I create aContinue reading “Dangerous Interpersonal Tensions at The Wheel of Love, Esoteric Spiritual Group”
How To Answer The Question at a Writers Workshop “Does Anyone Here Want To Become Rich and Famous?”
At a recent Writers Workshop which I attended in London, one of the delegates asked this question of all of us who sat at my table: “Is there anybody here who wants to become rich and famous?” A silence followed, of about three seconds in duration, when it seemed that no writer present dared toContinue reading “How To Answer The Question at a Writers Workshop “Does Anyone Here Want To Become Rich and Famous?””
A Portal to Another World – What Makes Any Place a Dream Home?
A couple of days ago the words ‘dream home’ sprang into my mind. I don’t know why. Perhaps it was a bit like J.K. Rowling on that train journey when she was gazing out of the window day-dreaming and she thought ‘Boy wizard – doesn’t know he’s a wizard – gets invited to wizard school.’ Anyway,Continue reading “A Portal to Another World – What Makes Any Place a Dream Home?”
Interpersonal Relationships in the Hothouse Atmosphere of a New Age Commune
In my mystery romance novel “Mystical Circles” I explore the interpersonal relationships to be found in the hothouse atmosphere of a New Age commune. This is a place where relationships and liaisons flare and flourish or fizzle out quickly. The group I describe is based in an idyllic farmhouse in the Cotswolds. It is aContinue reading “Interpersonal Relationships in the Hothouse Atmosphere of a New Age Commune”
A US Reviewer’s Take on “Mystical Circles”
A US reviewer says: “What Juliet finds when she reaches the ranch is an oddly charismatic and dysfunctional group of people…. there are strange things happening in the commune, and when a priest shows up it further traumatizes the group… This loving and freedom-believing cult, while wonderful on the surface is a cauldron of deceitContinue reading “A US Reviewer’s Take on “Mystical Circles””
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