How did ghost stories become an unlikely tradition?
Telling ghost stories at Christmas time is a tradition originating in Victorian England. How did this come about?
22 December 2022 by
Laura Kelly
How to read more effectively as a writer
Reading can be very active if you make it so. Gather your post-it notes and let’s explore how we can read to become better writers.
21 October 2022 by Laura Kelly
Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month
September is Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month. Here are some reasons why writers and editors deserve appreciation.
9 September 2022 by Laura Kelly
Some of the greatest bestselling novels were initially rejected
You'd be surprised at the pitfalls some of the greatest works of our time faced. What bestselling novels initially got rejection letters?
30 August 2022 by Laura Kelly
The history of the paperback
Saturday 30th July is Paperback Book Day. Learn about the history of this medium.
29 July 2022 by Laura Kelly
The best UK spots for literary tourism
Literary tourism is a way for book lovers to travel. Here are some locations that inspired some of the greatest literary works.
15 June 2022 by Laura Kelly
A lesson from Nabokov: how to write for the senses
Metaphors are one of the most powerful devices. Nabokov was synaesthetic. What is synaesthesia and how can it help you craft interesting metaphors?
20 May 2022 by Laura Kelly
The greatest insults in Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was deft with wonderfully worded insults in his works. Here are some of our favourites.
22 April 2022 by Laura Kelly
Great podcasts to improve your writing skills
Looking for inspiration in an easy-to-consume format? Look no further than writing podcasts. We've rounded up a handful we particularly like.
18 March 2022 by Laura Kelly
Words of advice from the most successful authors
Some of the greatest authors are no longer with us, but their words live on. We’ve looked at some bestselling authors and are sharing their writing advice.
15 December 2021 by Laura Kelly
Imagism: a minimalist movement that changed poetry
In the early twentieth century, a poetry movement called Imagism revolutionised English literature. We’ll cover what it was, who practised it and what impact it’s had on modern poetry.
17 November 2021 by Laura Kelly
10 English words with surprising etymology
The practice of etymology is uncovering the truth by tracing the root of a word. Find out some surprising word origins.
20 October 2021 by Laura Kelly
