Twitter allows only 280 characters per “tweet”. That’s around 20 to 25 words on average. How can that be any use for creative writing?
Read MoreUsing Twitter for creative writing (updated)
Creative Writing
A randomly created short story
She walked over to the window and reflected on her deprived surroundings. She had always loved urban Truro with its plain, pong parks. It was a place that encouraged her tendency to feel worried.
Read MoreCreative writing exercise: reflections; I remember
The exercise was to take photos on the theme of reflections, and then write about one of them.
Read MorePseudo-intellectualism (corrected)
(Corrected) This article is around 50 years old. Unfortunately, it is still pretty relevant.
Read MoreA phone call to technical support reported as a one-sided conversation
Under normal circumstances you can only hear one side of a conversation over the telephone. With that in mind, I’ve reported this (true) conversation from my side only. You should be able to infer what the person on the other end was saying.
Read MoreThe Big Sweep
I think it’s important for writers to not only read widely, but also write widely. By trying out different styles and genres, you can start to see how they work.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read MoreOscar
The following was written as an assignment for a course called Creative Writing for Social Media.
Read More
The Oulipo: part of my writing ‘toolkit’. Picture by Terry Freedman
The Oulipo, and how it has helped me as a writer
Unlike other approaches to writing, Oulipo is based on constraints rather than such devices as free association.
Read More
The clothes I wear when carrying out an experiment. Picture: Scientist, by Terry Freedman
An Oulipo Experiment
An account of my experimentation with an Oulipo technique called “acronymic poetry”.
Read MorePhotoPrompt #59: Man in a hat
I find pictures like this help me if I’m attempting to write ‘hard-boiled’ fiction.
Read More
A selection of my reference books — Terry Freedman
Review of the Writing Inspiration Jam course
This one-off session from the City Lit looked like an exciting course to try. It ticked several boxes: no long-term commitment, and brimming with ideas.
Read More
Two soft drinks, by Terry Freedman
Solitude: a poem
I don’t write poetry. My days of doing so have been over for several eons. However, the first homework we were set, and which I completed and submitted, was to write a poem inspired by a photograph. Here goes.
Read MoreLanguage Barrier
Here’s a piece of writing I submitted for a creative writing course at the City Lit. It was received quite well, and one of the other students said it was the most accurate description of Santa Monica that she’d ever read. Others liked the dialogue. Me? I still chuckle over the misunderstanding about drive-in movies!
Read More
"Hugues Merle (French, 1823-1881), 'Hamlet and Ophelia'" by sofi01 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. Speech balloons added by Terry Freedman using Phrase it.
Variations on Hamlet
In recent years I’ve become interested in a branch of writing called Oulipo, and have discovered that it’s not only people associated with the theatre or film who have put their individual stamp on Hamlet. Writers too have got in on the act.
Read More
idea by Terry Freedman
A note about Oulipo
Sometimes what you produce is unutterable rubbish. But occasionally you really do produce something worth keeping, or which sparks an idea for a new piece of writing.
Read MoreA writer's woes
Today began promisingly….
Read More
Locking yourself in as far as orators are concerned can lead to more creativity. Phrase: locus and chalet, by Terry Freedman
Courtroom: Yachtswoman The Oulipo: A Taxation
in Oulipo, Creative Writing, Events
Doglegs your yachtswoman need a boost of instigator?
Read MoreLocking yourself in as far as options are concerned can lead to more creativity. Photo: lock and chain, by Terry Freedman
Course: Writing the Oulipo: A Taster
in Oulipo, Creative Writing, Events
Does your writing need a boost of inspiration?
Read More