Category Archives: ideas

Naming Characters – Wednesday Writing Spot

Posted on September 24, 2014

For this week’s Wednesday Writing Spot – sorry there hasn’t been one for a while – I would like to welcome my good friend and fellow author, Kath McGurl, who many of you will know from her fabulous Womag blog. … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Posts, ideas, Inspiration, Wednesday Writing Spot | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Writing for The Friend

Posted on August 23, 2014

Last week I was lucky enough to listen to a talk – as well as have a chat with – Shirley Blair, Fiction ed of The People’s Friend.  Fascinating stuff.  Here are ten things you may or may not know … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, News, Short stories for magazines, Writing | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Ideas – a poem that inspires a story

Posted on August 4, 2014

Recently, a lady wrote in to my Dear Della column in Writers’ Forum and asked me about turning a poem she had written into a story.  She wanted to know how to go about it. This is something I’ve done … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, plotting, Writing | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Creating Suspense in Short Stories – Three Top Tips

Posted on June 27, 2014

I used to believe that the art of writing suspense was mostly about technique – short sentences build tension and pace, longer sentences slow it down. But suspense means so much more than this. So what does the word suspense … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Short stories for magazines, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Happy Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2013

A very quick blog to say festive greetings and also, I must apologize for the distinct lack of reading material I’ve produced lately. In the last few weeks I’ve been moving out of my house, trying to find a new one, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration | 6 Comments

Christmas Presents for Writers

Posted on December 9, 2013

That time of year again! How does Christmas creep up on us so fast? If you’re anything like me you’ve got one or two writers in your life so I thought I’d share some of my present ideas 🙂 I … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration | 4 Comments

Wednesday Writing Spot – Calling all short story writers who want to write a novel?

Posted on October 23, 2013

If you’ve ever tried to write a novel and you’re on social media – particularly around this time of year – you have probably heard of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short).  It’s simple, you write a novel in … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, NaNoWriMo, Wednesday Writing Spot, Writing | 7 Comments

Inspiration and writing

Posted on January 10, 2013

I was writing a short story yesterday – well trying to write one actually – and it was like wading through treacle. There was nothing actually wrong with it, I mean the words were OK, but I was not enjoying … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Tips on writing | 13 Comments

I Am A Best Selling Writer

Posted on July 30, 2012

I am a best selling writer.  And so is Lynn Hackles.  Here is the picture of us recording these words on film.   No, we have not gone mad.  No, we have not just hit the best seller lists. And … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Writing conferences & schools | 8 Comments

The Fleetingness of Beautiful Things

Posted on May 7, 2012

This is a picture of my amaryllis – or to be more accurate, Adam’s amaryllis, which is in our kitchen. It flowers twice a year if I’m lucky. The flowers last for about a week. And then they die.  Isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ideas, Inspiration, Writing | 13 Comments