“If I didn’t make films I don’t know what else I would do, apart from playing jazz and making a nuisance of myself.” (Woody Allen) Woody Allen’s words above show the nature of passion for art. For many creative people cannot imagine giving up, retiring, or falling into silence, before they die. The master of comicContinue reading “The Double-Edged Sword of an Artist’s Silence”
Category Archives: Writing
Unconscious Research and Dream Yoga
What might walking backwards through the Australian rainforest have to do with a mystery romance novel set in the Cotswolds? It was all part of my “unconscious research”. And it was a long research journey too, I admit. If you’re intrigued, go to Martin Willoughby’s blog to read my guest post on how “Dream Yoga” played a roleContinue reading “Unconscious Research and Dream Yoga”
Minor Characters Who Highlight the Theme in Great Fiction
The success of a great novel does not lie entirely in the hands of its hero. Many of my favourite novels come with a surprise gift – the character who is most interesting of all, who is not the main protagonist. This is the character you wonder about later, the character that seems to step outsideContinue reading “Minor Characters Who Highlight the Theme in Great Fiction”
Structure, Collapsed Middles and Fiction Writing
One of the greatest challenges I have found in writing a novel can come through a surplus of ideas. Which ones do you choose, and which have to be set aside to be used in another novel? The result of trying to pack in too many ideas is often a collapsed middle. So the best way to dealContinue reading “Structure, Collapsed Middles and Fiction Writing”
Mystical Circles, Emotional Charge on the Spiritual Journey – How Life Itself Inspires an Author
Over the last few months, some readers have been asking me, “What inspired you to write ‘Mystical Circles’? And, as I have just issued a revised edition of the novel on Kindle with a new cover design, I thought now would be a good moment to answer some of those questions. The story evolved outContinue reading “Mystical Circles, Emotional Charge on the Spiritual Journey – How Life Itself Inspires an Author”
Mental and Emotional Byways, Complexes and Hang-Ups in Fictional Characters
Having just read an interesting blog post about depression, I was led to reflect upon how easy it is to allow your own “principles” to override compassion, empathy and honesty about the reality of human life. This applies to all of us, but there is a special challenge here for those of us who write stories, andContinue reading “Mental and Emotional Byways, Complexes and Hang-Ups in Fictional Characters”
Currents, Backwaters and Muddy Tributaries in Fiction: and the Fascination of the One Star Review
Reading a novel is like going on a voyage down a river. Sometimes the water’s smooth and calm, sometimes rough; occasionally you may find yourself in whitewater rapids; and ultimately it flows into the sea. If your boat gets ambushed by a rogue current and becomes snarled up among tree roots and rushes in aContinue reading “Currents, Backwaters and Muddy Tributaries in Fiction: and the Fascination of the One Star Review”
Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity
In my last post, on the case of Jimmy Savile, I wrote about the dark side of celebrity. We live in a society obsessed with celebrities – the gods of this secular age. And we try to convince ourselves that fame would guarantee entry into a perfect region of love, wealth and success. Yet theContinue reading “Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity”
Seeking Personal Growth; and Sitting at the Feet of a Charismatic Guru
We find ourselves in a culture where many seek answers to the deep issues of life in spirituality, beyond the boundaries of organized religion. Different needs within people draw them to seek spiritual relief – and for some, esoteric New Age spiritual groups hold a strong appeal. You’ll meet some of those who are attractedContinue reading “Seeking Personal Growth; and Sitting at the Feet of a Charismatic Guru”
People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her
As the third personality in my mini-series on People of Inspiration, step forward Susan Boyle. In the musical “I Dreamed a Dream” , which I saw at the Birmingham Hippodrome, I learned much about this gifted singer and deepened my knowledge of her life-experiences and background. The show starred Elaine C. Smith in the role ofContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her”
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