Things that have faces #2
There are actually two faces here. Can you see them? Note: maybe I’d make more progress on new writing if I didn’t continually look for faces around the house
What sort of freak ‘smells’ books?
This freak. It’s a habit I’ve had since I started writing books. Looking and feeling isn’t enough; one has to smell the pages. I read recently about a new cologne on the market that produces the very smell I’m talking about. Though …
Surely the best thing about travel writing
It was 2003 and I set off on a journey which would become the book ‘In Search of Swingers.’ The point? To play golf with whoever happened to feature on the front page of the newspaper where ever I happened to …
Stephen King used to be a liar but only to…
…get reporters off his case. In his brilliant book, On Writing, King describes how he writes every day. He once told a reporter he skipped his birthday, Christmas, and Fourth of July, because he thought it would sound more reasonable. In truth, …
Bruce Springsteen on creativity
Yesterday I posted a talk by John Cleese. Then I remembered one by the The Boss at SXSW. It’s not short (nearly an hour) but is worth every minute if you, like me, are fascinated by the creative process and …
John Cleese on creativity
Who could ignore John Cleese’s genius? A Fish Called Wanda. Fawlty Towers. The Ministry of Silly Walks. But what makes the man tick – and how did he arrive at such lunacy? Firstly, he has rules – particularly if you’re …
You can handle being a freelancer if…
You can handle being a seagull. Knowing some days you’ll get the crayfish and others you’ll get the plastic bag. Make the most of the first and don’t stress about the second.
Why Bieber needn’t be worried – Part II
Not long now till the fat bloke comes down the chimney. Hope you’re ready to have a few laughs with your family, eat, drink and fall over on the couch. Last year I wrote a Kiwi Xmas carol which I’ve …
Proof everything stinks till it’s finished
Dr Seuss was onto something when he said this. Here’s proof: In 1964, Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ was published by Allen and Unwin in the UK. It took over two years to write and underwent multiple transformations. …
Why my kids are smarter than me
There’s a line in the song ‘What a Wonderful World’ that says ‘They’ll know much more than we’ll ever know.’ This weekend I discovered first-hand what Louis Armstrong meant when I showed my kids – aged 7 and 9 – the …