Thoughts and words

Inspirational people from the past: Elly Beinhorn and Bernd Rosemeyer

The lives of Elly Beinhorn and Bernd Rosemeyer are inspirational because they both dared to be different and both tried to live their dreams. One of them died trying to live that dream. Elly and Bernd were the celebrity couple of their day (1936/37). He was the brave racing driver... Read more →

Inspirational people: Beate Uhse

Extraordinary or eccentric men and women have always inspired me to create and to carry on even in difficult times when the negative inner voice was telling me I was just not good enough. Perhaps it is because people like Cora Pearl, Mata Hari and even Cecil Roberts put up... Read more →

US Novelist, Paul Auster, reveals his inspiration

US novelist, Paul Auster, talks about a childhood experience that has haunted his life and inspired his writing. http://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-39262307/paul-auster-on-his-single-most-important-moment via www.thoughtsandwords.eu Have you ever asked yourself how your life would be different had you taken this plane or that opportunity? But, of course, you did not take that plane or... Read more →

Outrageous and interesting people: Cecil Roberts

Cecil Roberts (1892-1976) was an English novelist, poet and dramatist. He was a prolific writer and although his novels were very popular in his lifetime, he is now almost forgotten. His books include A Terrace in the Sun and the Pilgrim Cottage trilogy. During my teens, I read and enjoyed... Read more →

Inspiration from the past: interesting people.

Mata Hari was a professional dancer and mistress who became a spy for France during World War I. Suspected of being a double agent, she was executed in 1917. However, mystery continues to surround Mata Hari's life, her alleged German connections and her betrayal of France. In many ways she... Read more →

Inspiration from the past: outrageous people

I am often asked where I get ideas from. "You must be very imaginative," people say. Well, not really. Most of my ideas come from real life, that is - real situations, real conversations (often overheard conversations) and real people - past or present. For example, meet Cora Pearl (nee... Read more →

The importance of theme.

The theme of a novel is the heart of the story and will have a universal human appeal. Your theme must not only appeal to the reader, it should animate and inspire you if you are to spend so much time working with it. Examples of themes in my own... Read more →

Be inspired! Crush the inner critic that tells you you are not good enough!

Do you often hear a voice in your ear telling you that writing for you is a waste of time? Do you tell yourself you are a fraud, that your writing ambitions are futile? After all, look at all those rejection slips you have received from agents. Surely these slips... Read more →