What Are You Thankful For?

[This is an older post that seemed appropriate to revisit today.  I finished my six-month rewrite of the manuscript yesterday and sent it back to my publisher in New York.  I think (and hope) that it is a much better book than it was six months ago.  I am certainly thankful for that.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.] Hallam made a card …

Writer’s Toy

This is my new writer’s toy.  I believe it’s called a “lapdesk”.  It’s a desk that sits on your lap. Hence, “lapdesk.” Stop me if I’m going too quickly for you. Look.  It even has its very own light.  All mod cons, you see. My wife bought this for me yesterday.  Now, rather than sitting at my desk all day, …

Polish, Schmolish

After a busy weekend, I’m just over half-way through my final polish of the manuscript before sending it back to my editor and publisher.  Things have been going smoothly enough, but occasionally I get a page like this one: That’s not a polish, that’s industrial cleaning.

Snip, Snip

No, this is not a post about books, or writing. This is a post (actually an edited re-post) about something entirely different.  And personal. Ahem.  You may want to look away now.  So, fair warning having been issued… … the nurse was awfully nice.  She asked me what I did, how long had I been in the States for, did …

Human Nature

It’s been a while since I’ve done a post about jazz treatment of pop songs.  I hope this will prove worth the wait – it’s possibly my favorite one yet. Vijay Iyer is one of the most exciting and accomplished jazz pianists to have come along in years.  His latest album, Solo, is already at the very top of my …

The Promise of an Empty Page

As I approach the end of the re-write for the Book With No Name, I find myself thinking more and more about my next effort. While the manuscript for the new novel was out in the real world, looking for a home, I had several months to flesh out my thoughts for the next one.  The original kernel of the …

A Place to Write

When it comes to writing, I am a creature of habit. I need my routine; equally important, for me anyway, is where I write.  I know people who can dash off stuff in trains, waiting rooms, and especially in coffee shops.  This always baffles me.  Perhaps I’m just too nosy, or feckless, but I am unable to concentrate on what I’m …

Reaching the End

As I approach the end of this epic rewrite, I am faced with mixed emotions. I will be relieved when the work is done, and I can turn my attention to other stories which have been waiting patiently for me.  But with that comes the knowledge that this particular effort is almost finished, and with that knowledge comes a degree of …

Is Writing Fun?

Interesting piece here from a while back in the Guardian.   Authors respond to the question Is writing fun? with varying degrees of pretentiousness. Most delightful, and surprising, was Will Self’s unabashed glee at writing novels – perhaps he’s being his usual brilliant, perverse self by taking a position so at odds with most of his long-suffering colleagues, for whom …