19 Jul 2012
I Had A Dream
Let’s say, my greatest triumphs have been nothing more than dreams. From scoring the winning try for Wales (recurrent) to performing with my two fellow musicians at the Celtic International Festival in Lorient. But I suspect you’re not really interested in rugby, nor in Celtic folk music. And you want more than just dreams. So I’m going to have to come back down to earth and put a thick... read more
11 Jul 2012
Remembering Thirty Years Later
When I was young, I remember watching a period TV drama with my parents about the fortunes of a well-off family prior to World War 1. It actually ended with the war breaking out. I can remember today how disappointed I was at this. I can remember also the many discussions I had with my mother who claimed how impossible it was for the show to go on, because World War 1 changed society so radically. All I... read more
25 Jun 2012
Notes On The Page
Am I an exception or does music play a large part in all our lives? I’ve just returned from a walk around our small historical town. My intention to pay particular attention to whatever music I might hear around me. At just 9:30 on a Sunday morning I’d not been expecting to hear much. After all, most people were still sleeping off the effects of last night’s partying. You see, we are in... read more
20 Jun 2012
Who Is Telling Your Story?
I suppose like most people their greatest writing difficulty is particular to their time and situation. Over the years I’ve probably had several greatest difficulties. But the one I’m up against right now is finding a narrative voice. This is the one I’m having to face up to this in my (2012 project) novel. To be honest narrative voice is always one I’ve struggled with. Thinking... read more
14 May 2012
Those Were The Days
There were days—and they weren’t so long ago—when writing held no fears for me. I’d just arrived in a new town and joined a writing group to get to know people. Having never written before I caught the bug and soon started a blog for which I wrote flash fiction. I started to various writing challenges and posting them on my blog. People started to notice and even appreciate my... read more
9 May 2012
How Does Your Writing Sound?
I’ve just finished one of the most poignant yet captivating books I’ve read in a long time: Sabastian Barry’s On Canaan’s Side. Right at the beginning his narrator asks: “What is the sound of an eighty-nine-year-old heart breaking?” An extended metaphor, dragged up by a childhood memory gives us the answer. For those of you intrigued enough to want to find out,... read more
13 Apr 2012
On Discovering Something New
I’m sure you’ve all noticed the new Form and Genre Challenge we have inaugurated here at Write Anything every Sunday and which replaces our much loved [Fiction] Friday prompt. So many of us cut our writing teeth on this and we were sorry to see it go. But nostalgia aside, the new challenge has helped me to discover some untried sides to writing. Every Sunday a new challenge will appear with the... read more
5 Apr 2012
I’m On My Way
You’re going to build are house. The foundations have been laid, the materials bought, the workers hired. You’re ready to start building. The first brick is laid. In your mind’s eye you can see the finished product rising up out of the ground. But you’re not there yet. The work still has to be done. Yet, it’s reason enough to celebrate. You’re under way. This month... read more
