Things have been quiet here of late, though I have been busy. I am very pleased in fact to have recently introduced two very good writers to two very good literary agents – let’s hope that those very good agents find very good publishers who believe in these wonderful writers as much as we do. It’s great when things work out.

I am now on a summer break from work and blogging (though who knows, I might sneak back here). Which might seem self-indulgent, but in the freelance life you rarely say no, and I realised I needed to for a short while in order to refresh myself.

I’ll be back at my desk in September, when I’m also appearing at the Writers’ Workshop Festival of Writing in York. There, I’ll be book doctoring and also leading workshops on showing vs telling (hint: both are needed) and my tarot-inspired approach to writing that I call the Four Elements of Creativity. I’m also running an afternoon-long mini-course called Tell Me A Story: The Art of Narrating, which will cover a pet passion that I’ve discussed elsewhere. Far too many books (I just finished a slog through one) have plenty of fantastic ingredients, but simply lack that magical quality of embracing a reader in their storytelling, and in this session we’ll use readings, discussion, and exercises to look at ways to locate and revive the dark arts of narrative pleasure. Come along! There are tons of great things arranged for that weekend in York. The good people of the Writers’ Workshop really are the best at organising such events (else I’d not be working with them): much to learn, much to take in, and sometimes very tangible successes to gain.

Meanwhile: priorities, which will include at the very least (and in no obvious order) dog, garden, food, and reading.

Enjoy your own summers!