When writing short-form I think it helps to think in terms of the minimum viable wordage, or MVW...
Read MoreShort form
I rejected a publisher
in Short form
In 2005 I was approached by a publisher who wanted to publish an updated edition of a book that had been very successful, but needed updating. I ended up turning them down
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Click the cover to see this on Thames and Hudson’s website.
Review of Gothic: An Illustrated History -- Education version
in Bookshelf, Reviews, Short form
This review was first published in Teach Secondary magazine. I’ve included it here because it meets some of the requirements of the English Programme of Study.
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On this day: a 100 word short
A couple of years ago I was experimenting with writing articles of exactly 100 words. This was one I wrote about detective stories.
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Photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash
Bath time
Bath is a very beautiful city. It has a lovely cathedral, a nice canal walk (although I didn’t like the sheer drop on the edge of it), and an open, airy feel. But that’s not what made an impression on me.
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Review: Creative writing for social media
Good Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) practice may decree that the ideal blog post length is between 1760 and 2400 words, but I prefer to write for people rather than an algorithm.
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Think outside the box, by Terry Freedman
Why constraints are a good thing for writers of all kinds
in Oulipo, Short form
When it comes to communication, being restricted is definitely better, ie more conducive to effectiveness, than having no limits at all.
Read MoreA writer's woes
Today began promisingly….
Read MoreAn example of why pedantry is not a great idea
Reading a set of instructions that have emerged from the printer, and having spotted a missing space and an ‘s’ instead of an ‘a’….
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quotation marks, by Terry Freedman
How are literature and orgasm related?
If this were true, I’ve wasted a lot of money on literature courses, and there are a lot of Eng Lit teachers and authors making money under false pretences.
Read MoreHow long should a blog post be?
One of the questions that is bound to come up in the blogging taster course I’m teaching later this week is: how long should a blog post be? (I know it’s bound to come up, because I’m going to ask it!)
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Questions, by Terry Freedman
The writer's paradox
Many writers are introverts. Perhaps even most are. It’s an ideal state for the act of writing itself, where an ability to remain silent, and not interact with another person, for hours on end is a blessing.
Read MoreData
The most recent article I wrote for a client is characterised by 24 pieces of data. More correctly: metadata.
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A Minor Harp, by Terry Freedman
Writing the blues
What do these pieces of writing have in common, apart from being examples of creative nonfiction about blues music?
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Click the cover to go to this book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Covid-19: Time to read The Plague?
in Bookshelf, Video, Short form, News & views
In his novel The Plague, Camus described fairly accurately people’s attitudes and behaviour during a plague. It seems rather apposite in our current circumstances.
Read MoreThe 100 word constraint
Working within a limit of 100 words is both terrifying and liberating.
Read MoreShort story adventures
My first foray into the world of Oulipo.
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Click on the cover to be take to the book’s Amazon page (please note, this is an Amazon affiliate link).
Quick look: Short-form creative writing: a writer's guide and anthology
You may be very good at condensing a complex argument and proposals down to no more than six bullet points (as one of my line managers always demanded). This book makes it clear that there are more creative opportunities too.
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The scream, by Terry Freedman With apologies to Munch
Turn of phrase
Overheard snippets of conversation should be stored away for when required.
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