In order to say 'Thank you' to those of you who have read and followed Writeral.com and my blog over the past two years or so, I would like to offer you a free copy of one of my books in ebook format. The choices are either my collection of short stories, "Secrets & Wisdom", … Continue reading FREE BOOK to say ‘Thank you’
Category: Uncategorized
Untitled
a few precious words are released unprotected into the maelstrom living on their wits and the genius to melt into an image the mind’s eye trick to trace pattern myth and ghosts in the never-there when we caress them our crass manipulation falls so often short yet there they remain imperious … Continue reading Untitled
It’s been far too long…
...since I updated some of the pages on my site. With that in mind, I set myself the task to do so this weekend. Here's a summary of the updates: My Writing Diary It has been far too long since I updated this page. Indeed, since I updated a number of my pages. A job … Continue reading It’s been far too long…
A life of its own.
One of the things I have learned over the last few years - especially recently - is that, when trying to write the concrete things we call 'books', they have a dynamic all their own. Sitting down and writing a short story or a poem off-the-cuff is probably the most relaxed kind of writing there … Continue reading A life of its own.
“The History of Bees”
When I started reading Maja Lunde's "The History of Bees" I immediately took against it. 'Here we go again,' I thought, 'another book that goes: excerpt from story A, then B, then C. Then back to A...' But a number of things redeemed it for me: it was never always A,B,C, A,B,C. Lunde mixes it … Continue reading “The History of Bees”
Not quite the winter of discontent…
September 1st. The first day of autumn, at least for us in the northern hemisphere. Where I live they say it will be warm again next week. Kids back to school, of course... As time gets shorter - both in the sense that it seems to travel faster, and that there's inevitably always less of … Continue reading Not quite the winter of discontent…
When you view words through numbers…
I can't help myself. Even though I am striving to be a writer - a better writer - I often seek measurement of my success through numbers. It is, I suppose, something to do with upbringing, or education, or profession; but there is a solidity in numbers which is satisfyingly concrete - especially when one … Continue reading When you view words through numbers…
No rhyme nor reason…
Sometimes, almost magically, words surprise you. Especially when you're not looking for them, settling down perhaps to watch tv or listen to music; just when you imagine your concentration is elsewhere. How can you write anything when you don't mean to...? Yesterday evening - and obviously not quite finished... a cracked voice tries to recapture … Continue reading No rhyme nor reason…
Gas Street Basin
In Birmingham early for a business meeting, I found myself whiling away the time at the Gas Street Basin on the Birmingham and Worcester canal. It had been the haunt of my first canal holiday way back in the seventies. Redeveloped over the years, only the canal remained the same: the same shape, the same … Continue reading Gas Street Basin
“The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth”
This may be damning with feint praise, but William Boyd's "The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth" is the kind of book you should take on holiday with you. Inoffensive, easy-to-read, unchallenging; perfect for the beach or to snuggle up with by a fire in a country cottage. It's well written - which is one of the … Continue reading “The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth”
