More than Writers

  Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reading through the accounts in the Gospels depicting the events of Holy Week, and, while the narratives are very familiar, I’ve been struck by some of the little details that add interest, or even intrigue, to the basic story.  For example:  ·         The disciples were told to find the venue for the Last Supper by entering Jerusalem and following a man carrying a pitcher of water (Luke 22:10-12) ·         Simon of Cyrene “happened to be coming in from the countryside,” (Luke 23:26) and was thrust into a key role in a world-changing event as he was forced to carry Jesus’ cross ·         As Pilate was attempting to make his judgement about Jesus, a message came from his wife, urging him to leave Jesus alone (Matthew 27:19) ·         One of the criminals on the cross beside Jesus turned t...

  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...