Books for Writers: "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukeman

A great number of books have been written on the art of writing. Most of these books are written by authors, poets - that is, writers in the main. Very few are written by agents.

Writing Exercise: Still Life

It is rare to encounter a writer who has mastered every aspect of the craft. Some wordsmith are great at telling a story, but fall down when it comes to plot. Others are great with character, but weak at dialogue. And some trip over description.

That's what this exercise is all about...

Writing Exercise: Story Game

Image of 'Children' from Wikipedia

If you wish to test the enduring power of story-telling just say the magical words 'once upon a time...' and see the effect it has on any child. Whether this truism is a social or genetic inheritance, I have no idea, but it is there.

For would-be writers the ability to spin a tale is essential. Some writers are natural born story-tellers and let's be honest, some of us aren't. Whether you think you are - or aren't - you can

Great Books: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

The Dark is Rising Sequence is one of the best children's fantasy series in the English language. Few people nowadays are familiar with the mystical prose of Susan Cooper, but I recommend a visit to her finely crafted fantasy which is composed of five different books.

Great Books: Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Lyra Belacqua shines brightly in this the diamond in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" Trilogy. Lyra is one of the most amazing and feisty female characters in children's fiction. "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass" are dimmed by its brilliance.

Great Writers: Guy de Maupassant

A short-story occasionally appears on the horizon that redefines the world and jars it into focus.  "Boule de Suif" is one of them.  For any writer seeking to master the short story there is no better beginning to the instruction of this most difficult of forms than this collection.

Great Books: Dune by Frank Herbert

I read Dune when I was twelve and I revisit it continually as its lessons remain as potent today.

Dune has a brooding quality that erodes limits and barriers and emphasises certain realities and hints at greater depths and mysteries.  There is a sense of timelessness to this classic eco-religio-political piece of science fiction that defies interpretation and continues to tantalise.