Castles always make me happy. I’m lucky to live within a short distance of two of the country’s greatest – Kenilworth and Warwick. I’ve visited both many times but it’s Kenilworth that most captures my imagination. Is this because it lies in ruins whereas Warwick is still intact and has a Tussauds exhibition in it? WhenContinue reading “Elizabeth, Dudley and Happy Times in Ruined Castles”
Category Archives: mystery romance writer
The Novels We Love and Carl Jung’s Theory of the Collective Unconscious
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”
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”
Learning From David Hockney
On a recent visit to David Hockney’s exhibition “A Bigger Picture” at the Royal Academy, not only was I uplifted and enthralled by his art, but also I took away with me several insights for creative writers. Here are five highlights that apply to novelists as well as artists: 1) Working From Memory Frees the Imagination Hockney does aContinue reading “Learning From David Hockney”
An Answer to Prayer, or Just Good Luck?
Often traditional Irish / Celtic prayers travel cyberspace, packaged as good luck messages inspired by folk religion and treated as if they’re magic words – giving luck and chance greater respectability to our way of thinking than the idea of prayer to a God who is listening and answering. So, today I ask: ‘Why pray?’ and ‘Does it work?’ Many doContinue reading “An Answer to Prayer, or Just Good Luck?”
How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Complexes Help You in Your Creative Writing?
Among the writings of Carl Jung, we find the psychological concept of “complexes”. A complex may be defined as “a core pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions and wishes in the personal unconscious organised around a common theme such as power or status.” Many of us have probably heard someone described as having an inferiority / guilt / martyr complex. AndContinue reading “How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Complexes Help You in Your Creative Writing?”
Dramatic Conversion Experiences, and the Mystery of Love versus Willpower
This is the second in my series of posts reflecting upon recent conversations with others about their beliefs. And this question came up: Is faith about emotion or the will? Quite often you may hear people say, “It’s all very well for you. You have faith. I wish I had faith – but I don’t.”Continue reading “Dramatic Conversion Experiences, and the Mystery of Love versus Willpower”
How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Archetypes Help You in Your Creative Writing?
Among his many theories, Carl Jung includes “archetypes”. An archetype may be defined as “a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behaviour”. If you read Robert McKee’s Story, you will find that the key to writing a great novel lies in “building archetypal elements into the story.” So what exactly are these “archetypal elements”? And how exactlyContinue reading “How Can Carl Jung’s Theory of Archetypes Help You in Your Creative Writing?”
Virgin Births, Electric Monks and Troublesome Beliefs
I enjoy listening to people talking about their beliefs. This is a source of inspiration for me. So here are my insights from some recent conversations – and they’re about the Virgin Birth, the electric monk, and package deals of beliefs. Many of us can fall prey to a certain mental habit: we believe what we want to believe,Continue reading “Virgin Births, Electric Monks and Troublesome Beliefs”
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