Tag Archives: thoughts

1. Put aside some time. A short story is not a novel, it should be read in one sitting.
2. Turn off the TV and the radio. Rid yourself of any distractions.
3. The writing in a short story is usually more concentrated: expect to spend a little more time on the page than you would for a novel.
4. Remember that a short story is like a glass of beer. The first one of the day is always the best.

I’ve only just resisted the temptation to write a theme for this blog. I’ve looked at the documentation, I’ve downloaded a couple of themes and had a look around inside, but I’ve managed to summon the self control to say "no".

It was difficult. I hand coded the first websites I published, I dabbled in Dreamweaver, I wrote my own WordPress themes… I’m really tempted to get under the bonnet of Ghost, but over the years I’ve come to realise that whatever I do will never be as good as something done by a proper designer – by which I mean someone with a flair for design. I’m a writer first and foremost. I like Ghost because it allows me to concentrate on what I’m good at. It’s the mark of the amateur to think they can do everything. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect: the less you know, the more you think you know.

So, I’m sticking to writing for the moment, and I’m keeping this blog on the basic Casper theme. No comments, no menus – nothing but blogging and a real sense of freedom. I’ll wait for someone else to make it look good.

Nearly every book I’ve read over the past two years has been read on my Kindle. It constantly surprises me that there are people who still prefer paper books. Still, each to their own. Here, as far as I can see, are the arguments for eBooks v Paper Books

eBook

• Lighter and more convenient than a hardback
• More convenient than most paperbacks
• Carry all your books with you, never stuck for something to read on holiday
• Switch between books whilst you’re reading (I always have three books on the go, Fiction, Non Fiction and Short Story Collection)
• Read in the dark without disturbing others
• Look up words using the dictionary
• Buy and begin reading new books straight away
• Saves cutting down trees

Real Books

• There’s something about holding a real book in your hand.
• The smell. Oh yes, the smell.
• Ah, you just don’t understand