The Importance of Apprenticeship.
I have been thinking of the impact of AI on the jobs available to young people as they leave school and further education.
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The Jagged Lifestyle
Writing is, to borrow a turn of phrase from musician Tal Wilkenfeld, a ‘jagged lifestyle’. How can you continue creating work in the face of all the challenges?
Getting to the Centre of the Play: A Conversation with Katherine Mendelsohn
Katherine Mendelsohn, dramaturg and translator, joins me to talk about getting to the centre of the play. With experience at the Traverse, the RSC, and the Royal Court, Katherine shares insights into how plays are developed — ideas that changed how I think about writing.
The Joy of Blogging
A look at blogging platforms from micro-blogging to newsletter sites like Substack and Ghost. Also, the benefits of self-hosting and tools like Google Search Console.
Script Development in the UK & The Role of the Dramaturg
Exploring how scripts are developed for UK theatre, the role of the dramaturg, and how they support writers in shaping new plays.
Figuring out Writing Productivity
I was lucky enough to work with crime writer Peter May on a soap opera many years ago. He had, for some reason, a baseball bat in his office. I never saw him play baseball.
How I card a story.
Carding is a great technique to work out your story in miniature before writing scenes. As Hitchcock said 'First we write the screenplay, then we add the dialogue'.
Our touch on this world is light.
The scientist Richard Feynman said "The prize is the pleasure of finding the thing out, the kick in the discovery...". There are constant exhortations to do more, show more. But doing the work just for yourself is equally as valid.
The Third Wave - Radio 4 Short Story
A short story commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to mark the Anniversary of the Iolaire Disaster.
Writing about the Iolaire
Writing a short story about the Iolaire Disaster affected me in unexpected ways. Māori writer Tihini Grant, calls it ‘the deeply saddening burden’. The more you enter in stories like this, the more the burden grows.