It has been five years and two months since my last post. I try not to feel too bad about this, as I was drawn away by novel writing, working two teaching jobs, moving house a multitude of times and launching my children into the world of adulthood. Still, I feel bad about it. Continue reading “Beginning Again”
Tag Archives: Bath Spa University
Embracing Newness
With the crisp autumnal air comes the start of a new semester, and I’ve been back teaching undergraduates at Bath Spa University for two weeks now. In many ways things are much the same as last year, what with dusting off the old lesson plans and lecture notes, desperately trying to remember names, getting swampedContinue reading “Embracing Newness”
The Writer’s Retreat with Anna Freeman
The Writer’s Retreat is an irregular feature I started back in October 2013, sending writers off to an imaginary scenario of isolation and standing back to see how bonkers they go when cut off from the outside world. My very first resident was poet and novelist Anna Freeman, and with her debut novel The Fair Fight hittingContinue reading “The Writer’s Retreat with Anna Freeman”
The Writer’s Retreat… with Anna Freeman
The Writer’s Retreat is a new regular (or possibly irregular) feature. Here is the scenario: You have one month alone on a remote Scottish Island. You have a comfortable cabin and enough food to last the duration. The only contact you have with the outside world is a radio. There is no television, internet access orContinue reading “The Writer’s Retreat… with Anna Freeman”
Listen… Can You Hear The Stories?
As anyone who read last week’s post will know I have recently come back from three days at the MIX Conference, run by The Literary Platform and Bath Spa University and showcasing projects that combine writing and digital technology. I’m still in recovery and need some kind of post-conference rehab program to integrate me back intoContinue reading “Listen… Can You Hear The Stories?”
Digital Discussions And Peacock Calls
Here’s the scenario. You’re a writer that likes to sit in your room alone and create stories, but you know the world is changing. You keep hearing about the threat to traditional books, you notice more people with ipads, Kindles, reading on their phones. You decide to get with the program, publish your own work,Continue reading “Digital Discussions And Peacock Calls”
Under the Influence – Part Two
Following on from last week’s post I’ve been thinking about the books and writers that have affected my work, and my approach to writing. The very first influence has to be Conan Doyle’s The Short Stories of Sherlock Holmes. I was lucky enough to study it for O’level and loved the brilliant mind of HolmesContinue reading “Under the Influence – Part Two”
The Strange Wildness of Life
Those of you who read my last post will know I’ve been finding the balance of writing and teaching a challenge in the past few weeks. The pace of university life is increasing and I’ve got a short story that’s fallen apart because my main character decided to go AWOL. So it was with a senseContinue reading “The Strange Wildness of Life”
Paperclip Girl loses the plot (and her character)
This is the time of year when the high wire act of balancing teaching and writing becomes most tricky. End-of-semester submissions have been handed in with another batch due at the beginning of May. This means I’m going to be marking, immersed in other people’s writing, for around six weeks. In addition to this, thereContinue reading “Paperclip Girl loses the plot (and her character)”
Sally Gander 