How I regret that in my life as a reader I’ve paid so little attention to plot. Ask me about any novel that’s stuck in my mind and I’m likely to tell you about the characters the settings or the general situation, and when I sat down to write New History that’s all I thought … Continue reading The plot thickens (and frustrates)
Following my comments on creative writing courses, I was pleased to get a letter this week from Bristol University confirming I’ve been accepted for the Write On course starting in April. The course, a mixture of taught sessions and mentoring, is aimed at anyone with a writing project they want to take on to the next … Continue reading Write On
Have spent the last two days (okay, not all of them!) in a discussion with Matt Curran on the benefits of mentoring for writers, I thought I had better save at least some of my pearls of wisdom for my own blog, especially as I could feel the conversation coming around to that old chestnut … Continue reading Age-old mystery solved (long!)
Laura Swaffield of CILIP may have conferred a unique honour by reviewing my novel in the March edition of Update despite the fact that it hasn’t been published (the novel that is). Many thanks, Laura, and a warm welcome to any CILIP members who may have come here as a result. I certainly hope you’ll read the … Continue reading CILIP members: Tell Laura I Love Her
But possibly not love? Tim Lott , one of my writing heroes, has been complaining (Saturday’s Guardian) that love stories no longer figure in contemporary literary fiction, and to a great extent he’s right. Not that big name writers don’t have romantic strands, but as he says, you wouldn’t call Atonement or Birdsong love stories. If anyone’s … Continue reading Something in the air
Ali Bacon, Author 