From books and writing workshops to podcasts and reflective techniques, this is where I’ll share all the stuff I’ve found useful or interesting.
I’ll keep adding to it so check back to see what’s new. I’d also love to include your suggestions, so drop me a note with anything you’ve read/listened to/watched that you think other people might find useful.
Thank you
What I’m reading
I read quickly. I inhale books but tend to forget what I’ve read almost as soon as I’ve finished the last page. So I thought I’d start writing the odd book review to capture both what I’ve read and how it made me feel. You can check out my latest book reviews over on the blog.
Three December reads: The Lido, Standard Deviation & The trick to time
Book Review: The Lincoln Highway & Songbirds
Writing for fun and therapy
From writing on your own to writing with others here are just a few of the writing events and workshops I’ve joined over the past few years.
Writer’s Hour with London Writer’s Salon: a brilliant Covid invention and one of my favourite ways to start the day. An online space for people to sit and write. Alone but together, plus monthly goal setting workshops and author talks. You can write whatever you want, it’s about knowing that you aren’t alone.
Writing for fun and sanity: hosted by journalist Marianne Power, these Saturday afternoon sessions are a gentle space where you can write, following Marianne’s prompts, as a way of emptying the thoughts from your head to the page.
Antonia Taylor’s goal setting hour: not goal setting in that old-school business-y sense.A very human, empathetic look at how we can work out, using paper and pen, some of the things we’d like to do or not do.
Future Dreams, post-cancer writing retreat: A supportive, gentle space where you can explore your diagnosis, treatment and recovery using the written word.
Writing about life
All the reading! I started seriously thinking about memoir writing after listening to Huma Qureshi talk about how she wrote ‘How we met’ at a London Writer’s Salon talk. It opened my mind to the power of writing your own story and I started exploring in earnest.
These are just a few of the books I’ve turned to for ideas and guidance. Each one has helped me to view life differently and giving me the nudge to start writing my own words.
I hope you find something you like here too and let me know if you’ve come across any memoir/life writing books I should include.
The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron
Write it all down, Cathy Rentzenbrink
Listen
I love a Podcast, but find I store them up for long car journeys. I think because I spend all day everyday thinking about and writing words, listening to people speaking while I’m doing any of that can be really confusing, especially if it’s something I really want to listen to. So I download loads before I hit the road.
How to fail with Elizabeth Day (I especially loved the Stanley Tucci, Brene Brown and Gloria Steinem episodes)
Grounded with Louis Theroux One from lockdown I haven’t listened to recently, but loved listening to Helena Bonham-Carter and Lenny Henry.
Desert Island Discs (ok, not strictly a podcast but the big daddy of human stories, and with music. And music is my other big love )
Proudly Powered by WordPress