The Writing Lab

Whenever I go to a charity shop, I look out for old penny photos. I love being able to peer into another’s life and create a story about them. When I find the right one, I begin imagining who they were, the life they lead, the good and bad

An index of websites relevant to writers practice, development and enjoyment. This curated list was a labour of love, originating from a Reddit post in which the community bounced back many a suggestion. From this, I have pit together a list of websites that are incredibly valuable and important for

I came across Sakinah Hofler in her Ted Talk, ‘How to Use Creative Writing to Bear Witness’. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iU7LIge1fE] I was taken by her authenticity and view that creative writing is an opportunity to take control of our experiences. I was intrigued how Sakinah started

One of the hardest things about flash fiction is the restricted word count and the skill of condensing so much into so little. I enjoy writing in short form (sometimes) because of the process of editing, replacing and shrinking- you are forced to be as powerful with your words as

Starting out is hard. You may have always written but do not really know other writers and have connections. You may not have an MA to lean on and the benefits that come with that. You may have transitioned careers and are in the stage of learning. You may have

We all hit points where our writing feels like it’s starting to stale. The piece of writing we are working on is beginning to stutter. The brilliance that was pouring from us is starting to trickle. Time to switch gears. Here are 20 ways in which you can combat

Where does inspiration come from? I recently watched a TED Ed video about inspiration, because I felt stuck and my inspiration, lacklustre. 30 odd minutes later, my view on inspiration was enriched. The very fact that I was looking for inspiration also made me think about how we seek the

We all find ourselves short on inspiration and our writing can suffer for it. This article explores two modes in how we can approach creativity and ensure we are treating it in the best way possible. Thought: How can you think about creativity? - Your imagination- Despite your mind tricking

What is the role of poetry and what does it have to do with society? What is the role of poetry and what does it have to do with society? Poetry has great societal value because in times of need, whether that be commiseration, celebration, an obituary, to mark a

These six writing exercises encourage you to think more creatively and are easily adaptable and repeatable. These writing exercises have been adapted from writing workshops I have attended, others from my days as an English teacher and exercises I have tried and tested myself. 1.   Timer on Choose how you

As part of a writing exercise series (poetry and prose), I am sharing my own experimentation with these exercises. Some are from literary events I have worked out, my former teaching years and others that I have created. Rules: * Setting- 2 mins, Character- 3 mins, Conflict- 4 mins * This exercise