Tag Archives: sale

Pass the chocolate

Posted on March 2, 2011 by

Today I’m pumped about being a writer, and about the possibilities of living on my work. Why? Because today was Mission Submission day in Thessalon. Mission Submission is not only the name of my office on Zoetrope, but also the … Continue reading →

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Non-fiction – obviously

Posted on January 30, 2011 by

I’ve spent a lot of my life in the freelance art business, most of it as a full-time artist, making my living from printmaking or pottery. Usually I haven’t had to take another job to keep the bills paid. Of … Continue reading →

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If you can’t be a good example…

Posted on November 11, 2010 by

…at least be a horrible warning. To my surprise,I hear from various people that they look to me as a role model for how to be a fiction writer. As far as I’m concerned I’m not doing anything extraordinary. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing the Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Yes, I am getting older – and better

Posted on August 21, 2010 by

I’m in my mid-fifties. Looking back on a life involved with language and literature, I realise that I’ve been a writer almost since I became literate. For quite a lot of that time, I’ve been a very bad writer, and … Continue reading →

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We may not need no steenkin’ rulez – but we like ’em

Posted on August 17, 2010 by

Is there a writer anywhere who doesn’t have some rule or rules for writing? I have a few. Elmore Leonard has a famous list of rules, and so does Kurt Vonnegut. More recently Neil Gaiman, one of my favourite writers, … Continue reading →

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The value of rejection

Posted on August 14, 2010 by

Progress in the career of writing comes in different forms. My favourite thing is acceptance, selling a story I wrote and getting paid for it. It’s wonderful for my ego, even if it’s only moderately nice for the pocketbook. (Let’s … Continue reading →

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The “m” word

Posted on July 18, 2010 by

I’ve spent most of my life working – and often making a living – in one or another of the arts. If I were to choose a single thing that most makes me want to tear out my hair, it … Continue reading →

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She shoots, she misses, she misses, she misses…

Posted on July 7, 2010 by

…but then – SHE SCORES! Hooray! I resist goal-setting. I think it’s part of my self-image as an artist. You know; artists are disorganised, they’re random, they don’t do things the way other people do, blah, blah, blah. This January, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fumbling towards competence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments