Tag Archives: writing

LAMENT: Writing in the Moment

Frank O’Hara, New York poet, wrote in the moment.  He responded to the deaths of well-known celebrities – if his poems had anything, they had “immediacy”.  But this dashed off almost fresh from your journal page feel, paid tribute to performers whose fame would carry on long past their death: James Dean, Billie Holiday. WritingContinue reading “LAMENT: Writing in the Moment”

ART: Steve Martin at MOMA

Missing being able to pop into an art gallery these days? Try this – viewing 2 pieces from MOMA with actor/comedian/writer Steve Martin words and video on MOMA site here. As Steve looks at the pictures, which seem to be abstract art, he gets a whole new insight into one of them. As he says,Continue reading “ART: Steve Martin at MOMA”

HUMOUR: Writing Exercise

This morning, I went around the house, seeking a writing perch for my pen, journal, pot of ink, coffee, and laptop.  I took the materials out of storage in one place, nearly settled in the living room – before finally choosing the kitchen table, trying to gather my accoutrements before realising another was missing, andContinue reading “HUMOUR: Writing Exercise”

WRITING: Book Launch Successful

As a writer, I am delighted to find the “Book Launch” podcast by Tim Grahl, who helps authors build their platform and market their books.  Here’s why: Tim has had 5 authors in the NY Times bestselling booklist in the same week there are episodes on so many useful topics Tim comes across as a decentContinue reading “WRITING: Book Launch Successful”

WRITING: Getting a Literary Agent….

Written a book and want to query with an agent?  The email accompanying your book proposal should be short and simple – advice from Bookends Literary Agents in this 8 minute video.   All through February, Bookends Literary Agency will be giving advice on how to approach an agent with your manuscript – dos andContinue reading “WRITING: Getting a Literary Agent….”

Frankenstein Handwriting

It’s possible to see the workings of a writer’s mind through manuscripts of how they wrote – e.g. Mary Shelley drafting “Frankenstein”

Other People’s Phone Messages

I don’t normally listen in on other people’s phones – but we’re all invited to do so in the opening title sequence for the TV series “The Rockford Files”.  What a great idea for an opener – it immediately tells us so much about the main character of the downbeat Private Investigator – the humour,Continue reading “Other People’s Phone Messages”

Poetry style: 30 snags to avoid

Poetry editor and publisher, Helena Nelson at Happenstance Press regularly reads poems with a view to publication or feedback – in a blog post, she has listed 30 problems in poems which distract her from the poem; like a snag, they trip up the eye and break the fourth wall. Of course, personal annoyances areContinue reading “Poetry style: 30 snags to avoid”