Category Archives: Writing & Publishing

According to the Guardian, a new YouGov poll suggests that writer is the most wanted job in the UK, closely followed by among other things, event organiser. Meaning I kind of have the two most wanted jobs in the UK. I’m not sure how event organiser got on there. Its hard work, incredibly stressful andContinue reading “Writer or Rockstar?”

When it comes to reading, kids are way ahead of adults in telling a good book from a bad one. Yes or no? SF Signal posts some extracts from a recent Stephen King article defending the latest H.Potter from her critics. My favourite quote is: …reading was never dead with the kids. Au contraire, rightContinue reading “Kids Know Best”

An interesting post from Julian Gough that nails the problem afflicting not just literary fiction but many other genres as well, the ghetto mentality. This strikes me as something that needs defining: Gough’s Ghetto – the act of a devotee of one literary genre assuming assuming that no literature exists beyond their limited viewpoint. Hmm…thatContinue reading “Gough’s Ghetto”

Charlie Stross has yet more interesting things to say about E-Books. I’m very interested in Mr Stross at the moment having really, really enjoyed The Atrocity Archives, and he had already managed to win me aroind from my very negative stance on E-Books with his earlier article on the subject. I bought my first E-BookContinue reading “I Want My E-Book Now!”

And with good reason. Just take a look at the judges. These people look like the judging committee of a village fete. Can anybody say ‘White upper middle class conspiracy theory’. The rumour is that the Booker Prize rewards the best literary fiction. What utter arse. If it did I would still loathe it, butContinue reading “I Hate the Booker Prize”

An great interview with George R R Martin over on the Weird Tales site. I’m in continual awe of GRRM’s skills as a writer, so I’m something of a hound for anything he says about his approach to crafting stories. “The real differences, to my mind, is between romantic fiction, which all these genres areContinue reading “Romance vs. Realism”

Or…please let me back into the ghetto! There is a growing idea in the SFF world that the mainstream is the place to be. This excellent article by Robert J Sawyer explains why so I won’t bother repeating. This seems like a good move to me, although I think more ‘fantastic’ work, epic fantasy forContinue reading “Mainstream-o-phobia”

I’d really like to enter the SFX Magazine Pulp Idol contest but as my £300 lifetime earnings from fiction sales disqualify me from entering I’ll have to resist. I’ve got the perfect story as well.  *sigh*

Iain M Banks reading an exclusive extract from his as yet unpublished new novel in the Culture series at Alt.Fiction 2007 in Derby, UK.

Alt.Fiction 2007 gets off to a rousing start with talks from Mark Chadbourne, james Barcla, Stan Nichols and a bundle of other writers. There is a fantastic selection of book stalls that I’m yet to even get near – I’ve stepped out for a bit to eat lunch and let the brain cool down afterContinue reading “Alt.Fiction Bulletin 1”

I wish I could have latched onto any of the more intelligent concepts in this gnarly, supremely accurate and well overdue article by Julian Gough, but the concept of Wangst has had me chorling with venemous glee all morning. I’m going to go a step further than my pal Julian and declare Wangst the new born genre of commercial fictionContinue reading “Wangst”

Today is good day in the world because George R R Martin is writing ‘A Dance with Dragons’. The next volume of of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ is probably the most eagerly awaited book in the world. If you don’t believe me then pick up volume one, ‘A Game of Thrones’ and start reading.Continue reading “Dragon Smack”