This blog has been neglected recently while I finished the first draft of my novel. Yes, I’ll say that again. I finished the first draft of my novel. I have writer friends who can get these things knocked out fairly quickly. I am not one of those people. I’ve had the idea for this book… Continue reading First draft – be gone!
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The joy of libraries
It’s National Libraries Day! Here are some reasons I love them: They’re one of the last places you can spend time where you aren’t being sold something. Every time I read an article talking about how libraries can diversify their income in tough times by putting in a coffee shop a small part of me… Continue reading The joy of libraries
The writer’s privilege
The conversation about privilege in the creative industries rumbles on. Like many writers, I work. Full time. I also have a small child. So I thought what I might do is make a diary of the time I get to spend writing this week, to see where, if I was from a more privileged background,… Continue reading The writer’s privilege
Finishing a book…
Nick Hornby recently told a book audience that it was ok not to finish a book if they weren’t enjoying reading it. It’s a subject of much debate among book readers I know – my husband makes a point of finishing books where I am much happier giving up if I don’t like them. I… Continue reading Finishing a book…
Dr Sketchy’s Nottingham
Work on the next book continues and I am struggling. For a book about variety theatre, it’s not very colourful. I decide a research trip is in order. While my two main characters are mainly dressed in suits for their acts – a boy impersonator and a comic – the rest of the acts are… Continue reading Dr Sketchy’s Nottingham
Launching a novel…
I’ve sat in the audience for author events before, listening to someone rad their words aloud. I’ve also organised author events – I have been that person who takes your picture with the writer you admire, who always carries Sharpies, who makes small talk while they sign stock copies. But this week were my first events… Continue reading Launching a novel…
Circ – a Ten to One novel
I am attending my first ever author event tomorrow. My first ever where I’m the author, I mean. It is being held at the brand spanking new shiny Library of Birmingham, currently perched among the Frankfurt markets like a glorious Christmas cake on a table of Lebkuchen. The event is the first of a week-long programme to… Continue reading Circ – a Ten to One novel
Review – NottWords workshop with Lara Elena Donnelly
There’s something decadent about knocking off work early to go to a writing workshop. And so it is with a light heart that I bid my work colleagues a good weekend and appear at the door to Nottingham Writers’ Studio on Friday afternoon for Lara Elena Donnelly’s workshop Who is your City? Lara starts us… Continue reading Review – NottWords workshop with Lara Elena Donnelly
Writing maps
In the endless stream of articles and posts about curing writers’ block, there’s lots of advice about writing anything, just anything, to get your shift on. Morning pages. Free writing. Notebooks. But what about maps? Writing maps are a lovely little resource that come in handy handbag sized packets. Each map contains a series of… Continue reading Writing maps
Review: Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud
How I long for the days when I could spend a long afternoon curled up on the sofa in a book. These days, 20 minutes of snatched bus journey or late at night with a book torch are more likely reading situations. The quality of reading is necessarily affected by having to check where you… Continue reading Review: Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud
Susan E Barsby 