I watched a TV show which packed more excellent writing and publishing advice into 50 minutes than you’d see in 5 literary festivals. And because it involved little or no thought on my part, I collated it into a blog post. You’re welcome.
I had plans for 2018. We don’t talk about them any more. But let me tell you, I have MAJOR plans for 2019. They involve a whole new blog, sort of, a major writing project, and jokes about candles and mental health. If you only knew how excited I was, you’d call a health professional. Fact.
What would a writer ask Santa Claus to deliver at Christmas? This is a question I explored in a guest post over on Anne R. Allen’s blog. I’m not sure what Santa himself would make out of it, but let’s just say I don’t think he’ll have this writer on the dinner party guest list in 2019.
Is it ever possible for a writer to be happy with what they’ve achieved? Or do the goalposts keep moving? Today we ask a most un-Christmassy question… is it much harder to succeed when you’re a success?
This week, I am in two places at once. I’ve finally achieved what I’ve been trying to do for months – do two things at the same time, while only doing one thing. It’s a miracle – unlike my eyebrows. But what has this all got to do with a writers’ office Christmas party?
Famous writers are regularly asked to provide glowing blurbs, or one-line reviews, for other people’s books. While many find it difficult to say no, it’s impossible for an Irish writer to say no. So because I am always generous and charitable, I decided to write a few honest blurbs which might help them through this particular diplomatic minefield.
Ever since superheroes became part of our staple diet of entertainment in the last century, superpowers haven’t changed all that much. But we need new superpowers today for the Internet generation. So for writers and bloggers, what would they be?
The way that publishing works today is unrecognisable in comparison to 15 years ago. For many readers and writers, it hasn’t changed for the better, resulting in much weeping, wailing, and a deluge of think pieces pretending to know what they’re talking about (just like this one). But you know what else changed as much in that time? Television. And it’s kicking ass. Why can’t publishing?
I went to Wicklow for the day and got all sorts of notions about what I’m demanding from books and TV shows from now on. And just like those shows, some parts of this post will be more enjoyable than others. Boom!
As we are now in a post-thinking society, I’ve decided to pose some questions relating to the publishing world after Brexit, and what it’s all going to mean for writers and readers. Warning: this post contains no fake news, and one shocking lean towards optimism.
