Creative Content Guy
“Feeling safe would seem to be a pretty basic right in a so-called civilised society” I’m a writer. An introvert. A naturally quiet guy. Sometimes when I’m in a shop or restaurant I’ll speak so quietly I can’t even hear myself talk; the staff have got no chance. But there are benefits to being quiet. … Continue reading On Listening to Women, and Being a Quiet Man 👤
This simple little writing exercise should help get your creative juices flowing, and also engender a sense of calm. Imagine yourself in the perfect garden. Explore and describe this garden through writing. This is your garden. Don’t be constrained by realities. This garden can be anything and anywhere you want it to be: countryside, urban, … Continue reading The Garden ✍🏻 a Writing Exercise
A valuable companion to morning pages We rush through life: wake up, check the phone, walk the dog, dash to work, grab a coffee, lunch at the desk, trawl through emails, go home, have a quick dinner, watch a bit of telly, then sleep for a few hours until we have to get up and … Continue reading The Evening Check-in ✍🏻 Reflecting on the Day
Men don’t talk. We don’t “open up”. We find it difficult to show our feelings. We won’t ask for directions – and with satnavs and smartphones, these days we don’t have to. These may be clichés, but clichés are rooted in fact. When I used go to collect our kids from primary school, I noticed … Continue reading Breaking the Male Silence 👤
It’s OK to be you As writers, we observe and analyse, document and comment, our own feelings and opinions thinly veiled behind the exploits of allegedly fictional characters. A certain level of detachment is essential if we’re to be at all effective in our craft. As writers are typically introverts, this tends to come easily. … Continue reading The Writer as Outsider 📄
But which one? A letter to my younger self. I admit that I thought this would an easy little exercise. But then I sat down to write… To what age me should I address this letter? Which of the many people I’ve been? On considering the options, a certain song by Frank Sinatra sprang to … Continue reading A Letter to My Younger Self 📄
I’m a novelist and scriptwriter, Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow and Advisory Fellow, workshop lead and creative coach. Click here to get the lowdown on updates, insight into projects, and a look behind the scenes on creative stuff. You can also follow TFW on Twitter, or like the Facebook page.
Martin Sketchley 