‘It’s important to remember not everything you find fascinating will be the same for a reader. The key is to consider whether a ‘fact’ will drive the narrative, deepen characterisation, add to the theme, advance a plot, or instil a sense of place.’
‘New ideas flow in a variety of ways but one great avenue comes from walking the streets! Observing people on trains. Looking out the window.’
‘There’s any number of reasons why someone gives up on a first draft but I think the most common is probably a loss of confidence in the project. To this I say: no one writes clean, publishable first drafts. Everyone’s first draft is terrible but the most important thing is persevering and getting it down on the page.’
‘Education writing is writing for children! It’s just that the sales channels are different, and the briefs more exacting.’
‘While the first objects that come to mind for writing might be precious items that have a clear significance through their artistic, heirloom, or monetary value, humble and everyday objects are no less interesting to write with. It’s the stories they connect to that make them profound.’
‘Playing with poetry allows us to take risks in our writing. And that often leads to quirky, original writing that embraces our innermost truths. In doing so, we also tap into universal truths. By letting loose and having fun, we remove the polite gloves of societally imposed civility.’
‘This is what a sense of disquietude can contribute to an author’s writing: your work can become a ghost in a reader’s mind long after they’ve turned the last page.’
‘What’s special about poetry is that because it’s such an unrestricted form, with so many permutations, every word and every line can be an opportunity for surprise.’
‘Creating podcast episodes – from preparing questions to designing the structure to editing – helps develop skills in structuring content and pacing a story.’
