Category Archives: Learning

Make Work. Bring something into existence.

It turns out I am writing a novel. The first such attempt in maybe 13 years. I had forgotten – hiding in my scripts and what they demand of me – that this process plays a different instrument inside. I hear a different music. Another thing, quieter and much, much stronger, is happening. And IContinue reading “Make Work. Bring something into existence.”

Writing without, you know, “writing”

I used to catch ideas (which are so like butterflies, it almost seems cruel) by leaving myself answerphone messages on the home landline. The light would flicker at me when I got back in the warm at the end of the day: “hello,” glowed the message from a past me of oo, hours ago; “rememberContinue reading “Writing without, you know, “writing””

The Pitlochry Play #1: the sound of water

I’m here in Pitlochry, land of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and much, much more. Today’s day 3 of my playwrighting residency at the theatre and I’m rolling around like a pig in poo at the luxury of all this writing space and thinking time. I’m not here to share anything about my “process” with you, but I can’tContinue reading “The Pitlochry Play #1: the sound of water”

Glittered Knickers…

I love it when a plan you never knew you had comes together. An old friend up at Bath Uni decided we needed an International Women’s Day entertainment night in Widcombe. It’s over 20 years since I did one of these, back at the students’ union, so when she said, “Want to do something forContinue reading “Glittered Knickers…”

A Song & Dance for your details…

A much-loved but unproduced theatre script,  A Bit of a Song & Dance, made the BBC Drama Script Room long-list! They had a record number of entries, and a phenomenal amount to read, so I’m especially pleased – and grateful! As all writers out there know, there’s subjectivity in all of this, too, so I’mContinue reading “A Song & Dance for your details…”

The Stuff I Do (yippee)

Wonderful week last week, with lots of goodies coming at once. On Tuesday, I reviewed Michael Boyd (former RSC Artistic Director)’s new show, The Open House, for Bristol 24/7. You can read the review here. Then I popped on a train, feeling all intercontinentally high-flyin’, wrote my review on the tracks & when I wokeContinue reading “The Stuff I Do (yippee)”

No new stories? Then you’re never alone!

Way, way back, many moons ago, I spent a disproportionate amount of my degree studying fairy tale, folk lore, myth and language. A very lucky soul, I was. I ended up examining  the evolution of one character in particular – Morgan le Fay, King Arthur’s half-sister. A powerful woman in every version of the tale,Continue reading “No new stories? Then you’re never alone!”

Tales From The Midden

I’m doing The Artist’s Way all over again, straight after completing the 1st go-round. And now, just reading The Artist’s Way for Parents, I’ve had an inspiration. JK Rowling said she only got Harry Potter writ because she did no housework. One of the many reasons she has my huge respect. My inner police-people areContinue reading “Tales From The Midden”