100 words

Writing the blues

April 30, 2020 in Creative Writing, Oulipo, Short form

What do these pieces of writing have in common, apart from being examples of creative nonfiction about blues music?

The 100 word constraint

January 29, 2020 in Creative Writing, Oulipo, Short form

Working within a limit of 100 words is both terrifying and liberating.

I've never written a detective story but...

January 28, 2020 in Bad writing, Oulipo

The trouble with detective fiction.

Latest Book Reviews

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Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

Quick looks: The Oxford Book of Caribbean Stories

Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

One of the things I think can add to one’s enjoyment and also improve one’s writing is to read stories from other cultures.

Bookshelf, Quick looks, Reviews

Bookshelf, Reviews

My reviews published in Teach Secondary magazine in 2024

Bookshelf, Reviews

This pdf contains the reviews of mine that were published in Teach Secondary magazine in 2024.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Literary Journeys: Mapping Fictional Travels across the World of Literature

Bookshelf, Reviews

Here are two versions of the same review: the one I submitted to Teach Secondary magazine, and the edited one they published.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Hitler’s People – The Faces of the Third Reich

Bookshelf, Reviews

Here are two versions of the same review: the one I submitted to Teach Secondary magazine, and the edited one they published.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Review of How to Teach Literature – and Still Love Reading

Bookshelf, Reviews

Here are two versions of the same review: the one I submitted to Teach Secondary magazine, and the edited one they published.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Review of Dickens: The Funny Bits

Bookshelf, Reviews

Here are two versions of the same review: the one I submitted to Teach Secondary magazine, and the edited one they published.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Collection, Creative Writing, Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Picture Perfect

Collection, Creative Writing, Bookshelf, Reviews

As indicated by the title, the first thing to know about this anthology is that it comprises both poetry and prose, rather than one or the other. Many of the pieces are quite unusual...

Collection, Creative Writing, Bookshelf, Reviews

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Nuts and bolts

Bookshelf, Reviews

It's rather disconcerting when one considers that buildings like The Shard are essentially held together by nuts, bolts and washers.

Bookshelf, Reviews

Compare and contrast: Love Triangle

Bookshelf, Reviews

Like, I suspect, many people, I have never knowingly come across an isosceles triangle in my life, and wouldn’t know what to do with it if I did. However...

Bookshelf, Reviews

Bookshelf, Journalism, Language, Reference, Bad writing, Back Catalogue, Reviews

Review: Waterhouse on newspaper style

Bookshelf, Journalism, Language, Reference, Bad writing, Back Catalogue, Reviews

This book may be thirty years old, but its advice is still pertinent. If you want to have a blitz or crackdown against, or shake-up of, bad writing (all examples of 'tabloidese'), then this is the book for you.

Bookshelf, Journalism, Language, Reference, Bad writing, Back Catalogue, Reviews