Twice a week now – on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings – I take up a seat in the reference section of Ripon library and settle down to write for ninety minutes. It is, in a way, my job. Thus far I have been untroubled by library patrons or fellow-writers heading for where I sit… Read More The luxury of being forced to write…
Many years ago when I was studying at University, during holidays I used to work in a bookmakers. It was a wonderful experience for a young man learning about people and life. ‘Welshman’ is a short story based on those experiences, and whilst it is not a retelling of a specific event nor portraying real… Read More ‘Welshman’ – new podcast episode
If you’ve read my previous reviews – all the way back into 2018! – you’ll know that I loved Natasha Pulley’s “The Watchmaker of Filigree Street” and “The Bedlam Stacks”. Sadly I can’t say the same of “The Kingdoms”. The beginning of the book is something of a confused muddle. I know the main character… Read More “The Kingdoms”
Last week I had the great privilege of mentoring at another Writers’ Retreat. In addition to a couple of workshop sessions, at the core of my mentoring are 1-2-1 sessions with each of the attendees during which we discuss their current and future projects. Sometimes they arrived burdened with uncertainty over what to do next,… Read More Another great mentoring experience!
Delighted to be starting as Writer-in-Residence at Ripon Library next week!
Jon McGregor is nothing if not inventive and challenging – and “Lean Fall Stand” is both of those things. Spoiler alert! The primary action of the novel (covered in the ‘Lean’ part of the story) concerns an ill-fated expedition in Antarctica. The rest of the novel – ‘Fall’ and ‘Stand’ – narrates the post-expedition experiences… Read More “Lean Fall Stand”
“you have to make an effort when putting pen to paper; it’s more meaningful; you leave something of yourself in the marks you make” Caroline, in my forthcoming story “Smoking in the Park”
I like to add some variety to my working routine. Often – as this morning – I make my way first thing to the café in one of our local supermarkets. Usually first or second to be served (black Americano and an almond croissant), I plant myself at the far corner table and open my… Read More Working in ‘the office’…
On Thursday next week I embark on another three-day gig as on-site mentor for a writers’ retreat. The commitment involves running a couple of workshops, some evening sessions – ice-breakers, readings etc. – and individual 1-2-1s with the participants. Based on my experiences thus far, I am probably looking forward to the 1-2-1s most of… Read More Looking forward to mentoring again…
If you were looking for a collection of short stories with a somewhat dizzying array of themes, characters and styles, you could do a lot worse than take a look at Daniel Mason’s “A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth”. Thanks to the variety in the nine stories offered us, it is actually very… Read More “A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth”
The other day I read my short story “Park’n’Ride” at a local writing group. Someone whose opinion I respect described it as ‘brilliant’. It was – needless to say – a real boost! Of course it was also a demonstration of how subjective our appreciation of writing – or any art – is. “Park’n’Ride” has… Read More One little word…
I have just published two new episodes on my “Walking Thru’ Fire” podcast; both are short stories. “Downsizing” – sometimes short stories can surprise you, emerging not from specific ideas or experiences, but growing organically from seeds which you are later unable to identify or remember. “Downsizing” is one such story. It will be included… Read More Two New Podcast Episodes
I am delighted to be able to announce the publication of “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”. At a recent reading event, I was asked which of my collections was my ‘best book’. It was an innocent enough question, designed to aid a purchasing decision. It was also an unfair one. Any marginal preference I may have for… Read More Published today! “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
I have just added readings of poems from my collection The Homelessness of a Child to my podcast “Walking Thru Fire”. You can find this episode – and many others! – on Buzzsprout, and it should find its way onto other podcast platforms – such as Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music etc. – in the next… Read More New Podcast Episode: “The Homelessness of a Child”
The stories in David Constantine’s “Tea at the Midland” are a little like stained glass windows: sometimes you see fully formed portals through which the sun shines, and on other occasions just a fragment or two of glass glinting in the sun. As a consequence – and as I may have said before – don’t… Read More “Tea at the Midland”
I am delighted to be able to announce the forthcoming publication of “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”. At a recent reading event, I was asked which of my collections was my ‘best book’. It was an innocent enough question, designed to aid a purchasing decision. It was also an unfair one. Any marginal preference I may have… Read More New publication: “Selected Poems: 1976-2022”
The best part of a week since I returned from my retreat and, in terms of ‘what next?’, things are now clearly in focus. Which was one of the things the retreat was all about, to answer questions like that. And the ‘what next’ things are tangible and solid. Firstly: finish my next novel; second… Read More After the dust settles…
At the beginning of the UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hamish Wilson began writing a series of sonnets. With one a day for the first twenty-five days of the period, these poems eventually became “Lockdown Journal”. Many single Covid / lockdown poems written at the time seem to me to fail for two main… Read More “Lockdown Journal”
06:30 – 14th May 2022 When yesterday’s working time concluded, I’d managed to get about 25% of the way through the second edit of ‘Reunion’. That has been the major activity of the week and has gone well. As well as some other bits and pieces, again spent a little time on drafting some of… Read More Retreat – Day 4
06:55 – 13th May 2022 Another decent day yesterday with the majority of my time spent on editing ‘Reunion’. Some work on the Sonnets as I edge closer to drafting #80. Plus I started work on my Reviewers’ list by reestablishing control over my Goodreads author profile. I think I’ll be doing some work on… Read More Retreat – Day 3
Ian Gouge, Writer 
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