Although I’ve read both The Importance of Being Earnest, and Stephen Potter’s One-Upmanship books, many times over the years, it has only just struck me that, in one particular chapter, Potter may have been influenced by Wilde.
Read MoreMirrors and windows
What have mirrors and windows have to do with children’s literature?
Read MoreTampering with natural ignorance: Oscar Wilde on education
Wilde’s pronouncements on education are very humorous, but contain an element of truth.
Read MoreOn this day: Inheriting ebooks
On 24 June 2012 I reported on some discussions around the question of whether you can inherit ebooks, or pass them on to your heirs.
Read MoreReview: Exercises in Style
Anyone interested in the craft of writing should read this book. It’s not a primer, or dictionary, or anything of that nature. But it does exactly what it says on the tin.
Read MoreOscar
The following was written as an assignment for a course called Creative Writing for Social Media.
Read MoreLondon Book Fair 2021
The London Book Fair is online this year, and lasts for two weeks, starting tomorrow (22 June 2021). Having registered, activated my account, and trawled through the sessions, the following in particular appeal to me, in no particular order…
Read MoreQuote styles
Quote styles
Read MoreA bang on the head in the future tense
In the middle of the night, I will wake up (if you can call being semi-conscious being awake), walk purposefully towards the door to go to the bathroom — and almost knock myself out.
Read MoreOulipo books reviewed on this website
Here is a selection of books about or featuring Oulipo that I’ve reviewed on this website. It’s not an extensive list, but I’m adding to it all the time.
Read MoreWriting when distracted
If I didn’t write while I’m distracted by things going on I’d never write at all. Is the answer to go on a writing residential, once they’re running again?
Read MoreThe Oulipo of photography
The principles of Oulipo can be applied to photography as well.
Read MoreTerry Freedman's Books Bulletin: what's coming up?
In the forthcoming issue of Terry Freedman’s Books Bulletin (after a long hiatus) we have various items, including…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreWriters' Summit
As I mentioned in my blog post about this year’s London Book Fair, this week there is also a Writers’ Summit.
Read MoreThe London Book Fair, Rights Conference, and Writers' Conference
As always the London Book Fair programme looks great, and the biggest problem you will face, I think, is deciding which talks to attend in the seminar programme. Bonus: this year the Fair is free to attend.
Read MoreAn 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 MoreMy blackberry isn’t working: technology and language (humour)
Freelance writing awards
There’s an opportunity to enter samples of your writing for a freelance writing award.
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