Against the Shitty First Draft

By Gabriela Denise Frank Can we strike shitty first draft from our vocabulary? No wants to do a shitty job at anything. Writing time is precious and …Against the Shitty First Draft

Easter in England: Bigger eggs, hot cross buns and more days orf!

In which another Jackie nails exactly how Easter works in the UK There are certain times of year where I find my homesickness levels for England rise. One of these is the Easter weekend. I have lovely memories of …Easter in England: Bigger eggs, hot cross buns and more days orf!

Starting to Write – A Free 10-Part Course (Lockdown Version)

Look! Going back to basics … holiday sorted 😁

tobylitt

Do you want to learn about writing?

You’re in the right place.

This is a free writing course for complete beginners, or those who have written a bit but want to go back to the start – because they know they need to get better.

Now is exactly the right time for you to give writing a go. Your usual excuses – mostly likely – no longer apply. You’re indoors. You have a bit more time than you normally do. Perhaps a lot more time. In this course, I will try and help you put that time to the best use.

In 10 Lessons, I will take you through the basics of writing short stories – just as if you were sitting among the other beginning writers in the Creative Writing workshop I run at Birkbeck College, London.

I’ve been teaching at Birkbeck over 10 years. Over that time,

View original post 205 more words

On Meg Tilly, Early Trauma and the Rise of the Fragmented Memoir

Re-blogging for the interesting observations about fragmented writing but also because I want to know more about this film. Anyone heard of it? In our Craft Section this month, Sonja Livingston explores the link between trauma and fragmented memoirs, and that unlikeliest of literary pioneers,…On Meg Tilly, Early Trauma and the Rise of the Fragmented … Continue reading On Meg Tilly, Early Trauma and the Rise of the Fragmented Memoir →

All’s Well That Ends Well

Flash memoir is much more difficult than “only 750 words” suggests. As readers, we see finished pieces. Work that’s had a writing buddy or teacher or…All’s Well That Ends Well

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Sh*tty First Draft

Interviewing an author for the Brevity Podcast, I ask how his book is coming along. He says it’s terrible. He has no idea how he’ll make his way …Yes, Virginia, There Is A Sh*tty First Draft

Should You Quit Writing?

A writer asked me: Have you ever in your work as the Unkind Editor told someone they should quit writing? Which may be another way of asking if you …Should You Quit Writing?

Beyond Act One: Why We Need More Stories about Older Women —

I’m re-blogging this because … well, look at my photo. Of course I’m interested. I don’t feel sidelined as I get older, but then I never thought I was mainstream, or that mainstream was a desirable option. But I am definitely in favour of strong female protagonists, regardless of age. And I am definitely, definitely … Continue reading Beyond Act One: Why We Need More Stories about Older Women — →

Review: Leaving Blackwood

By Khaiah Thomson I was given a copy of Leaving Blackwood by the publishers in exchange for an independent review. The Blackwood trilogy is a Young Adult supernatural fiction series. Back in the mists of time I reviewed Welcome to Blackwood, and now Leaving Blackwood is out and my goodness, it was worth the wait. … Continue reading Review: Leaving Blackwood →

Poem: On the number three bus

I wrote this in lockdown 2020 specifically for 1000 Monkeys, a local poetry group. The poem rhymes more than I normally do because I suspected that Janice, who runs 1000 Monkeys, would like it. She didn’t put it in the newsletter, but she put the one I wrote after this one, which is on here … Continue reading Poem: On the number three bus →