Is there or isn’t there? A Guardian take on Literary Fiction.
One sentence in the opening of this article jumps out at me - 'Jane Austen...wrote fiction to entertain and to make money. And that is what we novelists have been…
‘Imaginative people have messy minds’
So says the Huffington Post. It also says that creative folk - daydream (a good excuse then) - are good observers - enjoy solitude - seek new experiences - are…
More inspiring medium?
When I'm struggling on my laptop and my characters have gone awol and the next part of the plot is eluding me would I be more inspired if I was…
One to think about
Thank you Elizabeth Spann Craig for this insight into her way of keeping writing on track. Some of it particularly pertinent for me today as yesterday I spent too much…
Hanging – an appropriate punishment here – I don’t think so.
This is an article that had particular interest to me for several reasons - it took place where I currently live, so that an immediate draw. Then the topic, especially…
A Primary Source that wasn’t – despite credentials
For those interested in historical research - a salutary lesson from USA - if anyone knows of similar examples from the UK I'd love to hear about them. http://readingthepast.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-puritan-maidens-diary-early-american.html?fb_action_ids=10200821907822115&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210200821907822115%22:462096447241028%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200821907822115%22:%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D Now…
Richard III – authentic re-burial rites discovered.
While the argument is raging over where to re-bury Richard III (likely to be Leicester Cathedral despite calls for it to be York) another academic has discovered a copy of…
Being Royal – never easy…
Forget the fairytales! Historically what was it like to be born royal? Generally hazardous. The new Prince George, son of William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and…
Writing Authentic Historical Fiction
Sticking my neck out a bit here - there is general acceptance that striving for accuracy when writing about the past is neither achievable nor neccessarily desirable, but authenticity -…
I think I’ll stick to the National Health Service…
Amusing article on Saxon Herbs and remedies - amusing that is for us. Not so funny for the Saxons! http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/saxon-healing-herbs.html?spref=fb Watch out for fascinating details appearing in the next books…