Sometimes, when you read other writers writing about writing, you might be forgiven for imagining that ours is a pastime undertaken in a holiday camp sitting at a desk where our notebooks are accompanied by a packet of crisps and a pint of beer. It’s all a bit ‘Hi-De-Hi’! “Let’s play this game children: it’s … Continue reading Writing as Life or Death – or is it more important than that?
Following on from my recent rumination about time and what to do with it ("Today's the day"), over the last few days I have turned my attention to kick-starting some new Coverstory books publishing initiatives. The first of these is a new short story collection following on from the 2022 volume Making Marks in the … Continue reading Getting my act together…
This was how my study looked yesterday. Today everything in the picture has gone and the room is bare. Tomorrow afternoon it will belong to someone else - and my new study will probably start out by looking much like this image... A strange continuum. Or the end/beginning of an era. At least that's how … Continue reading When one door closes…
In less than six months our daughter starts her University journey - and for over forty weeks of the year will no longer be living at home. This will be hard on the heels of our son starting work on his degree placement year - so he won't be home at all during the summer … Continue reading Not expecting fear…
We're all wasting our time. Small-minded cancel culture trumps everything. We might as well burn all the books now - though I think someone tried that ninety years ago... Michelangelo is pornography
Over the weekend I deleted all those bookmarks and links to my 'old life', the professional life I led which was more about pursuing kudos and power and money - rather than anything truly important. That deletion was, I confess, more a symbolic step than anything else (just like deleting my old LinkedIn account a … Continue reading Let’s be realistic…
The library is one large first floor open-plan space. At this end of it, in the reference section, six tables: four uniquely shaped allow pairing to make two octagonals; the other two - rectangles - form a square). Purple chairs surround all three arrangements. Purple is the theme here: chairs (soft and hard), shelf signs, … Continue reading In the Library
In the last week I have been struck by two almost throw-away comments made to me by friends. The first, in discussing the role of a writer - particularly when it comes to things like readings and Open Mics - was the statement that "our job is to entertain". I confess I've always struggled a … Continue reading Sometimes someone says something…
Last week I had the great privilege of mentoring at another Writers' Retreat. In addition to a couple of workshop sessions, at the core of my mentoring are 1-2-1 sessions with each of the attendees during which we discuss their current and future projects. Sometimes they arrived burdened with uncertainty over what to do next, … Continue reading Another great mentoring experience!
06:55 - 13th May 2022 Another decent day yesterday with the majority of my time spent on editing 'Reunion'. Some work on the Sonnets as I edge closer to drafting #80. Plus I started work on my Reviewers' list by reestablishing control over my Goodreads author profile. I think I'll be doing some work on … Continue reading Retreat – Day 3
Ian Gouge - Writer 