Archives

Yes, yes, you’ve heard this before. Be observant. Listen to interactions in the world, to the way people speak. That goes without saying. But your listening practice should go deeper. Listen to [...]

How do you generate story? There seems an obvious answer to that: you imagine a series of events involving and challenging a character whose responses will then constitute your narrative. Well, [...]

This August through September, we’re offering various courses, workshops, and free webinars for writers of every stripe. Watch the video above or scroll through the option below to find [...]

We all know the old writing truism: never tell when you can show. But I’ve recently come to realise that many people misunderstand what it means to “show”. I’ve come across those who believe that [...]

Story is woven through the fabric of human society, through our history, our customs, our institutions. It is the vector of communication and persuasion. It supports relationships. It generates [...]

What can we do to brighten your August? All About Writing was born of passion, rather than a business proposal – which is why we remain committed to giving you as much free help and advice as we [...]

Here’s a very short reflection on an absolutely essential attitude to writing. It can be encapsulated in a single, short dictum: The only question to worry about in your writing is, does it work? [...]

Most writers start off as readers, and lovers, of good books. In his recent Monday Motivation blog posts, Richard has been sharing the lessons he has drawn from a reread of Tolstoy’s Anna [...]

Are there secrets to good writing? You know all the platitudes as well as I do, the ones that insist that it’s mostly a matter of sweat, and very little of inspiration. The idea that persistence [...]

I am not qualified in any sense to make the following statement: Mathematical models in the field of physics and cosmology bear a truly remarkable resemblance to the reality they purport to [...]

We’re tempted to write characters who have a single, focused goal: they want to triumph over their enemies; they want revenge, they want X, or Y, or Z to the exclusion of all else. They are, in a [...]

Explore the mysteries and the craft of creating story in that most charming of Cotswold market towns, Stow-on-the-Wold. Join a group of like-minded souls for the weekend of 7 to 9 June. Far from [...]