More than Writers

  Last Monday, 30 March, just after 7.00 pm I walked out of a shop in a busy shopping centre in Orpington, to the most beautiful, breathtaking sunset I have ever seen, as shown in the photo above.    It wasn’t there when I went into the shop, and to my absolute surprise, there it was like a gigantic painting, suspended in the sky.    I immediately got my phone out and started taking photos.    I noticed one or two other people doing the same.    The photo doesn’t actually give it justice, as it was one of the most awesome and largest scenes in the sky that I have ever come across. My first thought was that it was a sign from God placed there for everyone to see, and the words “Jesus is coming” flowed from within me to a gentleman nearby who was also in awe of it, taking photos and who replied “Yes, He is coming soon”.  I love the wonderful, special connection you feel with brothers and sisters in Christ, even though you have never m...

  This year Good Friday falls on April 03rd which is actually quite fortunate given its my turn on the blog this month. I first wrote this piece some four years ago not long after becoming a regular blogger on this site. It was originally published in our local Methodist circuit monthly devotional newsletter which started during Covid when our churches were closed and who lacked internet access  and still continues to this day. My reason for writing it was to show that in the age of modern media which all of us especially Christian writers have to adapt to especially with ChatGPT and AI now part of the mix, I wondered had the internet been around in first century Palestine how the events of that first Good Friday may have been recorded for posterity especially from Pilate's perspective.  It is based on  John 18:28 – 19:16 (NRSV) . . Context: When we read this version of Christ’s passion, we can almost feel ourselves becoming caught up in the action. Are we among ...

  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 ...