Encounters – Amanda Fluff

I first encountered Miss Amanda Fluff in the convenience store on Monks Way. I’d popped in to buy a pair of Snickers, and saw her slip a packet of Fisherman’s Friend inside her donkey jacket. Unperturbed at my observance, she winked and promptly left without paying. Intrigued and indeed a little breathless at her audacity, … Continue reading Encounters – Amanda Fluff →

Selecting multiple files at Compile stage in Scrivener

Here's a handy Scrivener tip if you want to include or exclude specific documents from Compile. SHIFT+click or CTRL+click to select or deselect documents in the right-hand Compile pane, then right-click and check or uncheck Include in Compile, as applicable. Saves a lot of clicking on individual documents, which I was doing up until today! … Continue reading Selecting multiple files at Compile stage in Scrivener →

Think. Feel. Write.

Today sees the launch of Think. Feel. Write.! This has been inspired by my personal experiences of the therapeutic benefits of writing, and my work with the Royal Literary Fund, both as a Fellow and as part of the Social Sector Projects initiative. Studies show that expressive or reflective writing can help us find direction, … Continue reading Think. Feel. Write. →

Why Me?

Hire great writers. If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position, hire the best writer. It doesn’t matter if that person is a marketer, salesperson, designer, programmer, or whatever; their writing skills will pay off. That’s because being a good writer is about more than writing. Clear writing is … Continue reading Why Me? →

Do you remember a guy that’s been?

I have an obsession with time and dates. It’s reflected in everything I write. If when watching telly I see a clock in the background, or can make out the face of someone’s watch, I’ll note the time. If the programme’s old I’ll check out the “first aired” date, then try to work out where … Continue reading Do you remember a guy that’s been? →

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Residency

Over March-May I'll be Writer in Residence at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre. I'll be seeking stories to fictionalise from local people regarding the theatre itself, Stafford and the surrounding area, with the possibility of publication on the Gatehouse website. I'll also be offering one-to-ones to writers seeking guidance, or those who have always fancied writing but … Continue reading Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Residency →

Collected

Here's an article I wrote for the Royal Literary Fund's Collected showcase, in which they rather generously describe me as a radio dramatist... You can find my other radio-related posts here. I'm a writer, editor, and Royal Literary Fund Fellow. Find out more, tweet me, or email.

Sightings

I'll be appearing at Birmingham Literature Festival on October 6th, talking about literary entrepreneurship. The panel, called Making Writing Work, will be chaired by Malachi MacIntosh, and also feature Nick Makoha and Crystal Mahey-Morgan. We are in the midst of a literary revolution. Gone are the days when writers followed just one career path, as now we welcome … Continue reading Sightings →