Thoughts and words

inspiration from the peculiarities of memory

I'm pretty sure that several of my childhood memories are actually memories of seeing myself in photos. I am equally sure that I remember the events shown - especially since the memories in question are ones I have had since... well, since they happened, of course, at some point in... Read more →

Inspiration from the unexpected

Recently, I read that, in David Copperfield, Charles Dickens was exorcising childhood trauma. I also read that Isabel Allende's The House of Spirits began as a letter to her dying grandfather when she could not reach him in time. There is also no doubt in my mind that WW1 played... Read more →

Inspiration from style

Well written! What does that mean? Does it mean that the grammar is correct? And if it means that the grammar is correct, I will ask to which type of grammar the speaker is referring - prescriptive grammar or descriptive grammar. The first is grammar that tells us how we... Read more →

Inspiration through loneliness

Here is a picture of my writing room. As you can see, it is plain and white and uncluttered. I like it that way. People often say (they don't ask) that writing must be a very lonely task - sitting in a white and uncluttered room with only yourself for... Read more →