
Two Poems in Different Keys
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker who is now considered to be a key figure...


The Secrets of Creativity
I have been approached repeatedly about the so-called ‘secrets’ of creativity for as long as I can remember. The subject of creativity is...

'War and Peace': A Few Comments about the Novel
I imagine that if a British author were to sit down today and write a comprehensive epic novel about Britain’s battle against fascism in...


The Inner Consistency of Reality
Famous fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth is unquestionably one of the most fully imagined worlds in all of literature, and...


C. S. Lewis’s ‘Voyage to Venus’ Opening Chapter -A Case Study
Voyage to Venus or Perelandra as it was originally called, provides in its opening chapter a perfect example of an author progressing...


Effective Fiction
Effective fiction depends upon a) using words and symbols in a language the reader can understand in a way which he or she can grasp,...


Bigger Inside Than Out: The Attraction -and the Peril- of 'Doctor Who'
(NOTE: Since writing this over a decade ago, things have gotten much worse, in my opinion. But it's an opinion - feel free to have your...


More Comfort for Rejected Writers
Just thought you’d like more examples of famous works which had to go through the Wall of Rejection first: From a rejection slip for...


Three Tips for Coping with Rejection as a Writer
​1. Read the list below of works that met with rejection long enough to kill them, except that they persisted.​ 2. Always have...