More than Writers

In three days, I will be exhibiting at the first-ever creative writing festival organised by the University of Gloucestershire. I am nervous to say the least. Even the word ‘exhibiting’ is enough to make me feel petrified, after all, I’m just flogging books (hopefully). There will be various workshops and panels with some of the top authors in the business. This makes me even more nervous, and the little voice of self-doubt increases in decibels daily. I try to convince myself that this is a classic case of imposter syndrome, to no avail. I reach the stage of searching for an excuse so that I don’t have to go. The fact is, I don’t ‘HAVE’ to go, I WANT to go, despite the pain and anguish. Still, I question in my head, ‘Am I worthy?’ I am sure you can all relate, because what writer has never felt like this? We all have, right? I heard a story recently that has helped me immensely with these thoughts and feelings. You may have heard it before, but I’ll share it with you now. A lady...

 My first job was as a trainee reporter on my local newspaper. Little did I realise how useful that would be when, many years later, I find myself writing and publishing crime novels and having to do the publicity and marketing myself. Knowing that local papers survive on tiny staffs and shoestring budgets means that your story about your new book and how it came to be written is exactly what they want! Local news about local people is what sells papers - so don't be bashful! You're helping them. And if your books are in local bookshops, then you're supporting them by making sure local people know where to go to buy them rather than online. But you do need to do some work. Don't just ring up the paper, tell them you've got a new book out and expect a reporter and press photographer to turn up at your door. The way to their hearts is via do-it-yourself. You need to give them what they can use. First, collect print copies of all your local media: is there a local week...

I don't watch the news very often, and I don't even listen to it on the radio as much as I once did. It makes me too angry. I struggle with the way events are interpreted or misinterpreted to support an argument or pre-existing idea and I find it hard to know who to believe or trust. In Jeremiah, God talks about the false prophets and ‘the lying pen of the scribes’ who falsely handle his word.   Very few people today are saying, ‘peace, peace’, where there is no peace. Quite the opposite. It seems to me a lot of people are saying, ‘fight, fight’ or ‘fear, fear’ or ‘hate, hate’. But is there any good reason to fight or fear or hate? I don’t want to make a political point (at least, not party political). I want to explore how we represent our faith and our God in a world where it seems that only the loudest, most negative or extreme voices are heard. Extreme opinions get reactions, good or bad. They get followers. Violence and negativity makes the news. Loving voices don’t...

  Coffee & Cake    Where do you enjoy writing most ? Are you someone who must have absolute quiet and solitude or do you find inspiration in a place where you are one of many? I am fortunate to have a small box room in my home where I can write. In times gone by I have made do with the sofa and the kitchen table; other places writers can be found scribbling away are in the garden shed or a corner of their local library. I have heard of one who wrote their first book in the car because it was the only place where they could get peace and quiet. My alternative go-to-hangout in recent times is my local cafe. With its cozy cottage feel, display of artwork, handmade crafts, and vintage clothing, it is a great place to get those creative juices flowing. Fueled by the homemade food and filtered coffee in a relaxed atmosphere, writing becomes a sociable rather than solitary occupation. It seems I am not alone in this view – Samuel Pepys and other noted artisans met in cof...

I did a double take when I saw the sign pictured below. I was shopping in Dunelm and there, in the middle of the shop, was a sign that read ‘Jesus’. I was quite excited!  Then I realised what it actually said. Keys (!). The Jesus/Key sign brought to mind Revelation: This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open Revelation 3:7 I googled the definition of ‘key’ -  KEY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary Here are a few definitions from the link, you may like to consider more. Key: ‘a set of musical notes based on one particular note’ Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our writing were played/written in ‘Jesus Key’? A set of words based on Jesus. Key: ‘a list of the symbols used in a map or book with explanations of what they mean’ Those of us who write devotionally seek to illuminate the Bible. Writing in Jesus Key means seeing Him in verses...

  By Lesley Hargreaves I was doing a bit of doom scrolling this week - as is my wont. Well done if it's something you never do. It's a bad habit, but there are worse. Mainly, I find myself reading instructions on how to reinvent myself in 5 easy steps or cooking instructions for chicken stuffing balls or watching Victoria Wood be a genius. However, this week I came across a clip of Emma Thompson being interviewed. She was explaining how irritating she found it as a writer when the Internet kept offering to check and correct her work. She also explained that she writes using a pen and paper because she feels that there is a connection between the brain and the hand. Without pretending to have any sort of scientific light to shed on this theory, I would say that she may well be right. For one thing, when you are writing with a pen, it slows you down. That may well make the act more thoughtful and add depth. Certainly, if I want to memorise something, I find that writing it down h...