~ a question centred on the concrete yet wrapped up to sound philosophical and therefore more meaningful. It's one of those questions where we all instinctively think we know the answer - of course! - yet I suspect consistently fail to act on that basis. The 'concrete' is the beginning of a five-day writers' retreat … Continue reading How important is tomorrow?
Author: Ian Gouge
As a compulsive writer, I have authored over thirty books: novels, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry, and some non-fiction. As an independent publisher (using my Coverstory books imprint), I have also produced a number of books for other writers, plus anthologies in which many contributors have had their work showcased - some for the first time.
New Podcast Episode
I have just added readings of a few selected poems from my collection First-Time Visions of Earth from Space to my podcast "Walking Thru Fire". You can find this episode - and many others! - on Buzzsprout, and it should find its way onto other podcast platforms - such as Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music etc. … Continue reading New Podcast Episode
“The Field”
Often the challenge with 'portmanteau' novels such as Robert Seethaler's "The Field" is one of maintaining a cohesive narrative thread throughout the work in order to prevent it from fragmenting into discrete and inadequately connected portraits. The premise behind "The Field" - the deceased, all buried in the same graveyard in a small European town, … Continue reading “The Field”
the old life – a poem
the old life in almost every kind of light his forearms mimic the skin of a snake about to slough or a paper-bag used too many times wrinkle-thin about to crack wide open yet it teases at a capacity for something else as if waiting to be filled with what all that’s left are memories … Continue reading the old life – a poem
Allotment Project update: it’s amazing what you can achieve in 6 months or so!
Please check-out the latest update on our allotment project.
Whatever you measure, make sure it’s the right thing…
Three months ago I wrote a post describing how I used a tracker to measure my artistic endeavours - and how I used the log as a way to justify that I was working hard, making progress, being productive. All the numbers looked good. Clever me. The metrics were based on the number of projects … Continue reading Whatever you measure, make sure it’s the right thing…
“The Angels of L19”
It is difficult to like Jonathan Walker's "The Angels of L19" - in the sense of the novel giving you a warm, comfortable, fuzzy feeling - but impossible not to admire it. Without doubt it is a real pressure-cooker of a book: intense, unrelenting, dark, ominous, ambiguous, challenging. Perhaps the latter most of all. Not … Continue reading “The Angels of L19”
To advance, Retreat..! – Part 2
Four-and-a-half years ago I attended my first Writers' Retreat: best part of a week at the Garsdale Retreat in the Yorkshire Dales and on the edge of the Pennines. It proved to be a rewarding and productive experience, and one which - in many ways - succeeded in being something of a launchpad in terms … Continue reading To advance, Retreat..! – Part 2
Imposter Syndrome – the worst possible thing for a Writer?
For as long as I can remember, when it comes to my writing I have always found myself desperate for positive endorsement - both my own and from others. In the first instance we're talking about self-esteem; in the second, about reviews, comments, feedback, sales. Actually in my case it's about more than just endorsement; … Continue reading Imposter Syndrome – the worst possible thing for a Writer?
Mid-June Writers’ Retreat
A small number of places remain on Writers' Retreat UK's June retreat in Lincolnshire. Having been on a number of retreats now, I know just how stimulating and rewarding - and productive! - such retreats can be. You can find details of the retreat here.
Ian Gouge - Writer 