Authors Electric

Over the last 18 months I've been studying poetry. I've learnt a lot of 'stuff' including that sonnets and I really don't get on. I've also discovered I love counting syllables. I think this is because for the last 20 years or so I've worked to tight word counts. When writing for magazines you're given a word count to work with. Some magazines even provide a word count for different sections of the feature. So, I'm used to counting and aiming for a set goal. Now although I like poems which rhyme I don't always like trying to come up with rhyming words. So I've been experimenting with Haiku and Tanka and mixing them with my photography. This is one of my first attempts: During my studies I rediscovered found poetry and have been exploring black out poetry. Now because I have this 'thing' about destroying books I was delighted when I found an app that lets me create this form of poem without harming a single book. Here's o...

What's your favourite?  When I write non-fiction, I tend to type straight onto my laptop, as the ideas come to me. Sometimes I use full sentences, even creating an entire paragraph. When I’m working on my short stories, I tend to use pen and paper to create a list of bullet points of action. These I then flesh out as I type up the story.  Now, for the last 18 months I’ve been plodding my way through a poetry course. Whilst exploring poetry I’ve found myself returning to writing everything down. This has allowed my ideas to flow. I’ve scribbled my half-baked ideas and half composed lines into one of my many, many note pads. (A writer can never have too note pads, especially if they are really lovely). It’s not until the poem is almost ‘there’ that I go to my laptop and type them up, ready for editing.   During the process of writing in long hand I’ve discovered I don’t like writing with a biro. Even if it’s the left handed ergonomic one that cost me an ...