My Writing Life
My first proper poem was inspired by Pagan aspirations and the misunderstanding of spirituality. Oh, I’d written acrostics based on my family’s names before, but this was something different. After a trudge through...
Read MoreTag: Heart of Glass magazine
Why Do We Still Say ‘Strong Female’?
When asked in an interview why he writes strong female characters, fan favourite and feminist Joss...
Read More5 Reasons Being a Female Writer Sucks Sometimes
Unbalanced (just like me), and often very accurate, the ‘five things’ list is a classic formula. Though there are lots of good and bad points about being a writer in general, often the fact that you’re female...
Read MoreHow Writers Have Changed the World
When people think of writers, they’ll most likely think of J.K.Rowling, Stephenie Meyers, and maybe Terry Pratchett. If they’re into the classics, they’ll mention the Jane Austen, F.Scott Fitzgerald, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle....
Read MoreShould You Write for Free?
A couple of years ago I went down to London to visit an editor of an online magazine. I was running Heart of Glass at the time, but I was in desperate need of money and trying to boost my profile as a writer. After a lot of...
Read MoreThe Best of The Writer’s Cookbook 2014
It’s that time of year when we get all reflective and look back at what’s happened in 2014. 2014 was the year that The Writer’s Cookbook started, and I really appreciate all the support I’ve received so far. I hope that in 2015 the site will continue to grow and you’ll all continue to show your support for it 🙂
As part of that reflectiveness, here’s a list of The Writer’s Cookbook’s best of 2014.
Read MoreAn Alternative to Mr Grey: My Top 5 Love Stories
Before we begin it should be noted that this list does not contain a single mention of Romeo and Juliet — a self-described tragedy — or indeed 50 Shades of Grey — a different kind of tragedy altogether. The former is a terrible relationship model and the latter doesn’t even count as a model; it’s an abusive mess that you should most certainly be running from, preferably at high speeds. This list will contain books with a bit of oomph, and some will not be for the faint-hearted, but they do not idolise abuse or dubious consent. Because, and I’m letting you in on a well-kept secret here: that’s not love.
Read MoreWhy is Good Grammar No Longer in Our Good Graces?
When it comes to the world of good grammar, there are three types of people: a) the ones that don’t know the rules of grammar and don’t care, b) the ones that know but don’t care if they or someone else makes a mistake, and c)...
Read MoreFeminist Writers You Need to Know
Whether you’re an active supporter of Women’s Rights or are just up for a dabble in a new genre, feminist literature is something that everyone can enjoy. Defined as literature supporting ‘feminist goals of defining,...
Read MoreHarry Potter vs the Dementors: A Metaphor for Depression
It’s a well-documented fact that J.K.Rowling suffers from depression. When she first began to write the Harry Potter books, she’d moved back from Portugal to Scotland, had separated from her partner, was unemployed and had a...
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(Un)likeable characters
Do your characters have to be likeable? Or are other traits more important?
Discover how to write (un)likeable characters in my new guide!
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