My new book is based on decades of experience writing, running workshops, mentoring and conversations with other writers. Perhaps you don’t know if what you’re trying to write is the thing you should be writing; perhaps you’re feeling disheartened by years of competition and Agent rejections. Or maybe you’re simply struggling to finish ‘your novel’. Or even … Continue reading New book out today!
Category: Short Stories
“Petersburg Tales”
I suspect that, based on prevailing theory and practice, many would regard Nikolai Gogol's Petersburg Tales (written nearly 200 years ago) as an example of how not to write short stories. And with some justification. There are four in the collection, each of them surreal and comic in equal measure, and - given modern sensibilities … Continue reading “Petersburg Tales”
Highlights from September’s posts…
"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway Here are a selection of recent posts from my Substack site. "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"
“Town & Country – New Irish Short Stories”
Given all the authors in Town & Country are Irish there should be no surprise at various common themes running through many of the poems: the city, the countryside etc. And, given this is collection contains twenty stories by twenty different authors, it is not something I would normally comment on in any detail (or … Continue reading “Town & Country – New Irish Short Stories”
“Real Time”
Without possessing an understanding of the cultural nuances relating to Indian life, I am sure I'm missing a lot of the subtleties in Amit Chaudhuri's collection of short stories, Real Time. Having said that, two things about the collection bother me. The first is how so many of the stories seem to 'fizzle out', lacking … Continue reading “Real Time”
“Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams”
Knowing what became of her it is difficult not to read Sylvia Plath through a ready-made filter. Having said that, there is enough darkness and foreboding in Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams to at least hint at what was to later transpire. Perhaps more than anyone else, the legend of her life is … Continue reading “Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams”
A selection from August…
"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway Here are a selection of recent posts from my Substack site. The post on gimmickry in poetry has been particularly well received; plus news on a nomination for a … Continue reading A selection from August…
Sometimes it’s remarkable how quickly a ‘low’ can be followed by a ‘high’…
Some recent posts from my Substack site: "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"
Portal to a range of new content…
Some recent posts from my Substack site: "Writing until the light goes out" "Writing until the light goes out"
“Laughable Loves”
One of the remarkable things about the stories in Milan Kundera's Laughable Loves is how he can create such an array of despicable, shallow, self-centred characters! They're so easy to despise! Perhaps that's what makes the stories funny, but I can't help but take them literally / seriously - which probably makes the characters all … Continue reading “Laughable Loves”
Ian Gouge - Writer 