Posted by writerlywitterer on 27/04/2016 · 2 Comments
I have written before about books arriving when I really don’t need them. So often they are books that are entirely inappropriate. Say a book that is historical, and since I am known as a historical writer, they will send it to me. The trouble is, it’s historical romance, or it’s historical-ish, and has a … Continue reading →
Posted by writerlywitterer on 23/11/2015 · 10 Comments
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 →
Filed under Books and Writing, Reviews, social, Uncategorized · Tagged with author, book writing, books, creative, crime writing, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction writing, Homo Sapiens, medieval, novel, review, Visconti, Visconti Homo Sapiens, writer
Posted by writerlywitterer on 17/08/2015 · 8 Comments
Last week was one of those exciting times when I was allowed out for a couple of days. It’s not easy when you’re let off the leash. I was going to Swanwick Writers’ School, which was a first for me, to give two one-hour workshops to aspiring and existing writers, but all the time while … Continue reading →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized, Writing Hints and Tips · Tagged with author, book writing, creative, crime writing, Derby, fiction writing, history, Swanwick, workshops, writing, writing festival, writing school, writing workshops
Posted by writerlywitterer on 18/05/2015 · 5 Comments
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 →
Filed under Books and Writing, Uncategorized, Writing Hints and Tips · Tagged with author, Berenger Fripper, blogger, Blood on the Sand, book writing, Calais, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Hundred Years War, Knight Templar, knights templar, library, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, stories, story, Templar series, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 27/04/2015 · 5 Comments
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 →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized, Writing Hints and Tips · Tagged with author, blogger, book writing, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, library, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, Scapple, scribbler, Scrivener, SimpleMind, stories, story, Templar series, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 20/04/2015 · 5 Comments
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 →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized · Tagged with author, blogger, book writing, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, Templar series, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 13/04/2015 · 15 Comments
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 →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized · Tagged with author, blogger, book writing, Dartmoor, Devon, distractions, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, library, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, stories, story, Templar series, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 30/03/2015 · 9 Comments
Welcome to another Jecks wittering. There are times when I sit at my desk and type and think about all kinds of happy things. There are times when I happily wallow in blood and guts in my mind – which is why I, like most crime writers, am such a well-balanced, pleasant, amiable fellow. I … Continue reading →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized · Tagged with author, backups, blogger, book writing, computers, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, library, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, stories, story, Templar series, Time Capsule, Time Machine, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 23/03/2015 · 14 Comments
I was reading in a magazine an article by the excellent Simon Brett earlier today. It was an obituary for Phyllis James and mentioned that some time ago, while talking about writing, they discussed the worst questions authors are asked. My own favourite worst is, “Where do your books sell?” It’s a natural question. It’s … Continue reading →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized · Tagged with amazon, author, big data, blogger, book writing, creative, Dartmoor, Data, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, library, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, stories, story, Templar series, writer, writing
Posted by writerlywitterer on 16/03/2015 · 39 Comments
This is a quick post to answer the question I have been asked several times recently, which is: how soon are authors paid for their work? Oh, boy, I remember the day Marion Donaldson called me to confirm that Headline wanted to buy my first book, and that she wanted another two titles in the … Continue reading →
Filed under Books and Writing, social, Uncategorized, Writing Hints and Tips · Tagged with author, blogger, book writing, Dartmoor, Devon, fiction, fiction writing, hints and tips, historian, history, Knight Templar, knights templar, medieval, medievalist, Michael Jecks, novelist, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, scribbler, Templar series, writer, writing