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Distraction versus Interruption

I have often referred to my desire for total silence and lack of distraction when I write. My use of the double-world-blocker of ear plugs beneath a set of noise-cancelling headphones normally does the trick at home. But, away from home, I find I need it far less. There is something about the gentle hum… Continue reading Distraction versus Interruption

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Cherry trees and train journeys…

Outside I can see a plastic watering can, child-size, lying in the middle of my lawn. My living room is cluttered with toys; a stuffed dragon beside me on the sofa, a selection of puzzles half in and half out of their boxes, a piece of white paper with a single orange felt-tip line stands… Continue reading Cherry trees and train journeys…

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Character Crush

I am starting to annoy myself. Not a rarity, by any means, but I'm annoying myself in a whole new way at the moment. You know those kids who go on a gap year and for the next decade of their lives start all their conversations with “On my gap year…” I have a similar… Continue reading Character Crush

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Enjoy the view, enjoy the ride…

Life can be strange, the journey never quite as we expected, the road never as we envisaged. Yet, however hard to climb that hill is, no matter how fast we take those bends, there is always beauty to be found, always. I took my children to Bristol this weekend. After a dozen of her friends… Continue reading Enjoy the view, enjoy the ride…

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The beauty of book two…

There is something quite beautiful about writing a second novel, and that is the fact that it is your second. The very fact I have already written one book gives me the confidence that it is possible to do such a thing in the first place, it takes away the nerves of it being an… Continue reading The beauty of book two…

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The hunt is on…

I have an odd problem. A mouse has moved into my car. Yesterday, in an effort to get rid of said mouse, I spent a good portion of my afternoon cleaning my car, vacuuming, taking out all the detritus that had built up since I last cleaned it, which was, let’s be honest here, a… Continue reading The hunt is on…

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When being a creep pays off…

I’m just back from a few days in London. I did the usually Londony things I like to do: museums, cinemas, revelling in the novelty of Starbucks (these don’t exist in deepest, darkest Somerset) But possibly the most enjoyable and valuable solo pursuit was people watching. And note taking. If you were in a Kensington… Continue reading When being a creep pays off…

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Looking back, looking forward…

I'm a tad excited. I had the pleasure, this week, of being interviewed by my good friend and mentor, Simon Hall, for a piece on summer schools for none other than Writing Magazine. This is exciting. Hugely so. Not only did Simon think of me when he needed a writer to interview (I kept thinking,… Continue reading Looking back, looking forward…

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Murdering, meditating, meandering

I’m pretty evangelistic when it comes to meditation. Not just for healing, but for unleashing your creative potential. I’ve written before about my meditation mind-palace for ironing out plot issues. Recently, however, I’ve been meditating for a slightly different reason. You see, I’ve been killing people this week. Thankfully they’re not technically real, they just… Continue reading Murdering, meditating, meandering

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When plans go awry…

In real life, I'm a big planner. I love a plan. I don’t mind if life doesn’t go according to that plan, or if said plan goes, at some point, skewwhiff. So long as there is, in place, a plan of some sort. Writing, on the other hand, is a whole different game. It wasn’t… Continue reading When plans go awry…