Day 49 I’d really meant to write those words! But first… … I had to catch the bus to Edinburgh. Rhiannon and I were the only ones on board without silver hair. But we’ve always thought like silver-haired people: get to town early and beat the crowds. … then we needed breakfast. We went to Read More
November 30, 2001: I completed Not The Greatest Story Ever Told, my shithouse NaNoWriMo “novel”: November 30, 2011: I finished Not The Greatest Story Ever Told II! There’s been a major word drought since I wrote that book. I’ve oscillated between “what kind of dickhead writes about themselves like that?” over-exposed deer-in-headlights-let’s-hide-from-the-world-forever terror, and the Read More
December 2 – WritingWhat do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing – and can you eliminate it?Author: Leo Babauta, Zen Habits What's happening on Twitter? What's happening on Facebook? I'll just Tweet about that thing I saw on Facebook. I need to get those Christmas cards written or they'll never get Read More
I love hearing authors talk about the nuts-and-bolts day-to-day minutiae of their writing lives. The rituals, the quirks, the paralysing self-doubt – it’s all gold! I thought I’d chance my arm and email some of my favourite authors and see if they’d tell me about their world. Today’s kind volunteer is best-selling author Claire Allan from Derry, Northern Ireland. Read More
Following on from the whole Baby or Budgie debate, while in Australia I found evidence that Dr G and I were destined to be together. It seems we've both wanted the same thing all along! While pawing through a folder full of stories I'd scribbled as a five year old, we found this: I Read More
Here is Puff Daddy Seany Sean and his modestly titled new perfume. Back on Scottish shores but I finally got to do my Early Show thingy before I left! (video here, beware giant head) It went okay but I was so bloody nervous I talked like a robot. I wish I could have done a Read More
Remember how I wrote that ol’ book? It’s almost two years since Transworld signed me up. The whole publishing process has been the most mental rollercoaster ride and it feels strange to have barely mentioned it, especially when I documented all the other rollercoasters of the past eight years. I was quiet during the book Read More
Recently we were sitting in the car out the front of my dear in-law’s house. We were running late as usual, so Gareth had to write on the Mother’s Day card before we went inside. GARETH: Sorry we’re late. MOTHER-IN-LAW-MARY: Is everything alright!? G: Yes. MILM: Are you sure!? G: Yes! MILM: But you were Read More
Sign in the paper shop window: FOR SALE – ANTIQUE COMPUTER DESK. . . . Fun With Amazon Rankings DR G: Oh my god. You're NUMBER ONE! SHAUNA: What?! DR G: Number one in…. Books most likely to be pulped by April! SHAUNA: Books most likely to prop up wonky bookshelves! DR G: Books most Read More
It's the love that dare not speak its name: woman and teapot. Behold the Brown Betty, a Christmas gift from the in-laws. Made in England, sensible and sturdy; its a vessel that would steer one through great Wars and Depressions. Or just perch regally on the crappy IKEA coffee table of some modern-day nitwit. (Does Read More
