Tag Archives: Writing

Listen to my Verbal Spew

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Plug ALERT. My newest piece of creative work is aliiiiive and kicking. It’s named ‘Verbal Spew’ and you can check it out on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and a mix of other outlets.

It’s only around seven-odd minutes long, making it a handy little commuter companion or a something to listen to when you’re on the toilet.

Yes, five tracks of verbal ‘spewings’ about the hilarity and futility of modern life — and how, in some way, we’re all tapped into it, for better or for worse.

The enitre thing pokes fun at existence— I’m also poking fun at myself (I’m just a flawed human, after all)—while celebrating the dumbfounding amusement of being on planet Earth.

Anyway, you can draw your own conclusions. Have a listen and let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

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Charle’s Bukowski’s ‘so, you want to be a writer?’ is a must read for budding wordsmiths

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In many ways, writing is a lone pursuit, and as such, you have to remain inspired, remain motivated and put pen to paper for all the right reasons.

Writing because you feel you have to is a must and scribing sentences should be for you first and foremost, before anyone else.

Some may disagree, but whether you’re looking to write advertising content, novels, poems, motivational speeches, jokes or film scripts, you should read or listen to Charles Bukowski’s ‘so, you want to be a writer?’ first. Continue reading →

The evolution of digital publishing

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Much like the music industry, digital consumption has had a huge impact on the way in which books are written, delivered, packaged, and sold.

In today’s world, more than 26% of consumers prefer the tablet version of a magazine over its print counterpart.

But, while digital publishing is a sign of progress, and in some ways evolution, we should never discount the joy of getting lost in a physical book. Nor should we overlook the role of the marketing paper or the print publication. And, tangible books aren’t dead like some people will have you believe. And, if vinyl is making a mainstream comeback, surely that’s a sign that physical publishing has its place in the future too? Continue reading →

How to conjure up the perfect setting for your story

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The author must know his countryside, whether real or imaginary, like his hand – Robert Louis Stevenson

Imagine you’ve created the most heroic, heart melting, courage-perspiring hero plus a snarling, devious, and downright dirty nemesis for said hero to battle (or similar, depending on what your story is all about). Now imagine the setting your story is as dull as a dry cracker or simply doesn’t fit around your characters and their various plights.

Your story will fall flat – flat as the proverbial pancake. Continue reading →

Creative interlude: Writer’s Block starring Bryan Cranston

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Writer’s block is something that plagues all of us from time to time – but there are ways to overcome it.

If you’re currently staring at your screen in disbelief wondering where the next flurry of words is going to come from, forget what you’re doing for a moment and watch this short called Writer’s Block starring the one and only Bryan Cranston. Continue reading →

compelling characters

5 quick fire ways to create a compelling character

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It’s a Monday morning (or afternoon) and your mind is muddled from the weekend’s events.

You’re on your third coffee and you’ve been staring at that same page of text for the past two hours wondering how to bring the characters in your story to life.

Never fear, here are five quick fire ways to create a compelling character for your reading pleasure… Continue reading →

George Orwell

A literary interlude: Down and Out in Paris and London

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Famous for literary classics including Animal Farm and the dystopian thriller 1984, George Orwell is arguably one the world’s finest ever word smiths.

The first ever novel Orwell wrote was called Down and Out in Paris in London, for which he exchanged his upper-class roots and tweed jacket for the impoverished life of a bottom feeder in two of Europe’s most cut-throat cities. Continue reading →

flash fiction

Flash Corner: Eternal Scribblings

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Jim pushed his paperwork around the table like a child does their peas around the plate. He recounted the phrase in his head, over and over again like clockwork. The syllables clasped his brain as he studied the sentence inside his head; words of wisdom served to him from beyond the grave.

‘You’re never too old to learn something new and never too young to teach’ was the phrase that had changed his life in ways he couldn’t quite explain, ways which were far less tangible; they were floating in the air around him. Continue reading →