Writer / Woodcarver / Tree-whisperer
Do We Need Escapist Fiction? You don’t have to be a Houdini-type to escape reality. In the 21st century, we are inundated with distractions and entertainment to divert us from and numb us to the harsher realities of global capitalism and its consequences. Most are inconsequential fripperies quickly forgotten once “consumed”. What about Escapist Fiction?
Or "What Have Euphemisms Ever Done For Us?" (Euphemism: “The substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.” Dictionary.com) I love the English language and the multitude of ways it can be used creatively to communicate, entertain and enrich our lives. There’s no denying I can… Continue reading Tell it How it is?
The familiar adage ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ is often quoted to suggest that the written word is more effective than violence in achieving political or social progress. But what of the power of vocabulary? The choice of which individual words to use can change the implied meaning, emotional impact and influence people’s… Continue reading What’s in a Word?
Art: “The expression or application of creative skill and imagination [...] producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” Oxford English Dictionary Creative people enrich our lives in so many ways, through their writing, music, paintings, sculptures, crafts, performance, fashion and films. Could you imagine life without them? Government funding notwithstanding,… Continue reading Do you want there to be art in the world?
Everybody’s busy. Everyone I meet says they are. With so much to do in our Western, post-industrial lives, it is easy to resent being made to wait. It can seem like a waste of time, during which we are prevented from engaging in the many activities that fill the rest of our existence. Overstimulated, short… Continue reading Waiting is…
“The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” ― Philip Roth Often I have too many ideas about what to write and don’t know what to do with them. Scribbled thoughts abound in multiple notebooks, of which I have at least one per jacket or coat plus some spares to make sure there’s always one… Continue reading Works in Progress
In 1830, at the northeastern tip of the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands, on the shore of the picturesque village of Cromarty, Hugh Miller discovered imprints of life sandwiched between layers of rock 400 million years old. Last week, embraced by walls fashioned from the same sandstone, thirteen undergraduates gathered to marinate in time… Continue reading Creative in Crom-Arty
Firstly, I need to request that if you identify as an “aspiring writer”, you drop that term immediately. If you write, you are a writer. If you don’t feel confident with that label, and you must seek an alternative, might I suggest “improving writer”? I recognise that most writers could fit into this category, but… Continue reading Book Recommendations for Improving Writers
I’m generally quite a calm, thoughtful, reticent kind of guy, not given to emotional outbursts or ranting. To a certain extent, this is due to my upbringing by parents who were children during World War Two, the “mustn’t grumble” generation. They faced food shortages and other hardships that could not be overcome or lessened by… Continue reading Alter Egos
I am honoured and delighted that multi award-winning author, Joanne Harris, took time from her busy life and agreed to my request for an interview. Biography Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) was born of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for fifteen years,… Continue reading Interview With Joanne Harris
Geoff King 