2020 – A New year!
A new year is always a time to take stock, to think about things, and plan and scheme! This year is going to be one of change for me. I’ve finally taken back the rights to half my books from Simon and Schuster and will be working with a number of other publishers to market … Continue reading
Tuesday 19th
A day of surprises The trouble with working from home is, you never know what interruptions you’ll get. Today I was out early with the hounds, up over towards Belstone, and we had a pleasant wander – but I knew that I had a lot to do today. So we cut the walk and came … Continue reading
Nose to the Grindstone
Yes, I know I said I was going to be writing more regularly … but just now the main writing has to be the work on the next Jack Blackjack book, which has to be complete by end November. It’s been a very bitty year, this. Little bits of work on so many different projects, … Continue reading
Another Week, Another Edit
Last week I was glad to finish one edit – this week I have another. It’s one of the more accurate observations, the fact that all writing is rewriting. I estimated that my first novel was the result of reading and rereading my manuscript somewhere in the region of thirty five times. By the end … Continue reading
Beating the Bounds
Today is the first day of a new way of working for me. Working in silence. It’s very odd. It’s very quiet. Yesterday was full of noise and bustle because we had the seven-yearly parish beating of the bounds. Many years ago this tradition was created in order that the people of the parish knew … Continue reading
The Week in View!
There are some times when, as a writer, all you can do is sit down and crack on with books. There are other times when all you want is a little time to be able to do just that! This week is one of those weeks when what I really need is more time to … Continue reading
The Last Week of Work
Sorry to have been quiet last week, but I was working on the latest book. I still am, which is why this is likely to be a short blog too. However, it occurred to me that I ought to share the results of my last week’s work. I am in the period which I normally … Continue reading
Getting the Ideas Right
This is one of those little posts where I discuss the way that I get things done. Not that my methods will work with everyone. They certainly won’t! However, if you are trying to write up a report for the boss, or get ideas down for an important essay, or even a dissertation, and you just … Continue reading
Trials and Irritations!
This is one of those blogs where I have a brief rant. And why not? I’m sitting here before a computer that is gleaming and lovely, when outside the birds are singing, the sun is shining and … yes, I’m sitting here indoors, in a Dartmoor granite house that is freezing. It’s so cold I’m wearing … Continue reading
Distractions All the Way
One of the hardest aspects of writing is the fact that there are so many damnably attractive alternatives. You sit at the desk and try to focus on the day ahead. That involves thinking about the coming scenes, planning, plotting, getting the mind into the right frame for envisioning bloody murder or a battle scene, … Continue reading
