Monthly Archives: September 2006

Integrity has been much on my mind in the context of writing and the media. How many times has a much loved book been barbarised by an unsympathetic screenplay for instance? Captain Correlli’s Mandolin comes to mind immediately. Here was … Continue reading →

Biographies are addictive reading for me; I have recently finished the autobiography of Richard Chamberlain and always enjoy something about the Royal family or ordinary individuals like Alison Lapper who have overcome terrible difficulties. Thus I was interested to read … Continue reading →

Entering competitions for short stories is something I enjoy doing. One of the most taxing is the one that gives you the first or the last line of the story. It was Philip Hensher, columnist with the Independent newspaper, who … Continue reading →

I believe in a world meant for everyone to live together happily in. I believe in living a life of love, sharing and making friends. John Hastings So do I, John, so do I.

Now that I am retired I enjoy watching TV – sometimes I even enjoy watching rubbishy TV – though I do concede that Rick Moody is right when he assers that any day that a person reads a novel instead … Continue reading →

Novelists who churn out books year after year often talk of being able to do up to 1,000 words an hour. My trouble is that I can sometimes do the 1,000 words, but none of them are any good.