More than Writers

  When I’m preparing to write a post for More Than Writers, I often search the blog site to check if the topic has been raised before. This also checks I’m not repeating myself. Not finding many posts using the word ‘Comfort’ was satisfying and disappointing at the same time. While grateful I wasn’t regurgitating age-old topics, I was concerned that many posts covered the struggles of being a writer, myself included. From ideas to marketing via structuring and editing, it seems as if comfort is not a word familiar to writers. I’ve often reflected on creating a commissioning document for my writing. I wrote one when I was exploring freelance writing and journalism in the early 2000s to dedicate my writing endeavours before God. I dismissed this as irrelevant as I sought to engage with poetry as my writing focus this time. While I considered topics I could write about, I struggled to know how find ‘my voice’. I enjoy the artistry and wordplay of poems from Maya Angelou to Brian Bil...

  It might seem crazy but one of the most helpful things I read last year was a book that told me to put it down. Not in an audible voice, as that would be reason to seek medical intervention! The suggestion came from the author, who in no uncertain terms told the reader to stop reading and put the book down. Right now . That’s not a strategy employed by many authors. In fact, most authors employ a whole range of techniques to captivate their readers with the express intention of keeping them hooked for as long as possible. Suspenseful cliff-hangers are commonplace to keep us page-turning into the next chapter and the next title in the series. The book in question was “Tides and Seasons” by David Adam, a book of prayers and reflections in the Celtic tradition. No suspenseful cliffhangers here. Instead, the author simply reminded the reader that we don’t have to go searching for Jesus or strive to find his presence anywhere other than where we are. Reading, writing, work, leisur...

  I’m gallivanting a lot these days, what with my trip to the Netherlands not that long ago, and a Writers’ Retreat coming up in a couple of weeks. Last week was spent in Somerset where we have a caravan. My sister and cousin came over for a few days, to see the sights of Somerset. Whilst researching the best places to go to, as my sister likes a very full programme in the holidays with as full an itinerary as can be managed in daylight hours, I came across Lorna Doone. I found out that we were near the Lorna Doone Valley, which may or may not be a much later invention, but it was a lovely outing. As I’m getting all the research ready for a historical novel myself, I was intrigued by Lorna Doone. I started reading it, and some of the things he mentioned sparked my interest, as I haven’t really written a proper historical book before. It seems like the author has woven facts and fiction together in a way that feels right. To me at least. We visited what would have been the main ...

Image Credits:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images I see March as a hopeful month. I admit I’m biased. I had my 60th birthday a week ago. This year also marks my thirty year anniversary of taking up writing seriously. But March is lovely, whatever the weather does, because with each passing day, there are more and more signs of lighter evenings, spring flowers emerging everywhere and so on. It is a month to lift the spirits. And, of course, Easter often falls in March though not this year. Easter is the definition of Hope Springs Eternal because our hope is eternal. As writers, we’re not always hopeful, are we? The rejections, the never hearing back (publishers, agents, competitions), the setbacks do take their toll.  It’s why we need the support of other writers who know this writing journey for what it is - hopeful, tough, and a right roller coaster of a ride. It’s why ACW is so important.  If you don’t know anyone in the writing industry when you’re star...

Photo by  JESHOOTS.COM  on  Unsplash I’m writing a follow-up to the excellent blog piece by Brendan Conboy on 26th March: https://morethanwriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/are-you-offended-by-bad-language-by.html , but with a slightly different slant. Brendan writes about how he left a secular open-mic poetry event early because he found the language and attitudes offensive. It’s normal for a Christian to have heightened sensibilities to the use of swear words or disrespectful attitudes. This comes from our upbringing, or in my case, learning about the faith and following the example of others.  But what is the line that a Christian writer shouldn’t cross? Is it acceptable to include topics such as immorality, violence or explicit sex in our fictional writing? Or should we skirt around and allude to them? Some would argue that these things should not form part of a Christian writer’s story. And yet, they are a part of life. If we don’t include them because we are a ‘Chris...

I was talking last month about the dangers of a knitting retreat day. One of the dangers I wasn’t anticipating was the no show of one of my  key project patterns. It had decided to be a pesky out of line duck, and it stayed at home. The pattern was for knitted and crocheted hearts. The palliative care unit in my local hospital takes donations of pairs of identical crafted hearts to give to patients and their loved ones. This of course is an ongoing project. Which makes me feel better. But not much. Of course I could have googled it and asked the office nicely to make me some copies. But I chose to go with plan b. Square bunnies. Well… who knew how successful they would be… Read on for more about both these projects and lessons about writing I learned from them. As I started thinking about how to start this post a song appeared in my head. As they do. Possibly my favourite Cliff Richard song ever (duet with Cindy Kent of The Settlers). ‘Love is more than words’.   Anyone re...