I surprised myself by getting a large slug of "C" planning done yesterday, attempting outline how I might fill in the gaps between the narrative bookends already written. Putting potential books on the shelf, if you like. The next exercise on this particular journey should be completion of six character profiles; these will then help … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 26th February →

If I'm honest, the first draft of my as yet unpublished article "What is Poetry for?" started out by adopting something of a harsh and confrontational tone. However, following on from the splendid Contextual: 15 evening on Thursday, when I was redrafting it yesterday, I was forced to soften my stance somewhat. Given I still … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 25th February →

Without doubt yesterday's highlight was the Contextual: 15 virtual poetry reading I hosted in the evening. Not only did we have our highest ever attendance which peaked at 28, we were treated to some superb poetry from Kerry Darbishire, Tom Larner, Kate Miller, Gillie Robic, and David Thompson. My profound thanks to our readers and … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 24th February →

Things didn't quite go to plan yesterday as my Crash rehearsal had to be cancelled. However, I made up for it to some extent by indulging in a read-through in my study - doors closed again to protect the innocent! I tried to up the pace a little, which I managed to do - but … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 23rd February →

There were two major consumers of my time yesterday: the first was my Library session where I was able to devote a fair chunk to continuing my draft of "C" (now over 11k words) as well as offering some suggestions to someone who dropped in to discuss a potential project they are working on which … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 22nd February →

One of the things to be wary of when mapping out a new long story is, I find, trying to do so too early. I had an example of this yesterday when using the 2.5k words already written to try and put some scaffolding around what "C" might be. In consequence it all looks very … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 21st February →

A very good day yesterday with two concentrated chunks of work. The first of these was a full read-through of Crash, trying to employ a greater range of pause and variation in my delivery. And being able to record it, meant I could listen back afterwards. The result? Well, the reading took 45 minutes, which … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 20th February →

As expected, yesterday was a completely barren day; not one word was written, nothing read. Which was totally fine as a) it was what I expected, and b) because there were other, more important things to do. Of course if you subscribe to the theory that a writer is never not working - always observing, … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 19th February →

Interesting. I did pick up that beginning of a "C" narrative yesterday, and within a few hundred words found myself with four characters demanding to have their stories told and a whole history to unravel... I had intended it to be a short story, but the way it has started to weave itself suggests something … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 18th February →

In accordance with 'the plan', I read through the entirety of Crash yesterday and did so with one eye on Martin Sheen's performance in Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood (or at least the opening three minutes of it). Watching Sheen is part of the 'homework' Andy has given me for the week, and I have … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 17th February →