I’ll no doubt be publishing regularly when my current projects come to fruition. But, until then, it takes the random odd occasion to post. And today’s morsel of a monograph is about a quote that has quickly become one of my all-time favourites.

I’m currently reading The Gargoyle, by Canadian author Andrew Davidson. Like many books I read, I found this nestled in a charity shop, noticed the cover and title was to my liking, and made the purchase without a second thought. Charity shops are my targets when I’m out and about as a proper thriftier, and the book section is my haven.

Out of curiosity, The Gargoyle cut the queue of the “to read” section of my wonderful mahogany bookcase. I recently started ploughing away at it on the latter half of the first holiday abroad I’ve managed to take since 2019, owing the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m about halfway through the novel. It’s nothing like what I’d expected based on the blurb (in a good way, it’s brilliant thus far), and it’s certainly a page-turner and frequently has me laughing out loud. To get to the point, I recently read this line which absolutely struck me to the extent that I’m now posting a short article on my website about it:

“only a man unable to handle the actual world would create another one in which to hide.”

Honestly. This single sentence sums up one of the core reasons why I bury myself in my writing so much. Like many creatives out there (apologies for the stereotype), my mind can be a myriad of mayhem, my emotional IQ off the charts. Writing is an outlet for a brain fraught with the inability to comprehend and easily understand this world we live in, so Davidson’s line was a clean shot to the heart.

I guess all I can say is this: well done on a great line and hitting the nail firmly on the head. And if the first half of this novel is anything to go by, get yourself a copy and give it a read. I recommend it. That’s if you’re able to afford it given that the UK’s economy is currently teetering on the edge of a windy cliff, with local communities facing devastation as businesses collapse under the pressure of the profiteering energy corporations and inflation spiralling out of control.  Whilst I’ll apologise for the creative stereotypes, I won’t apologise for sliding that in. It doesn’t take my degree in economics to tell you that this government is wilfully allowing this situation to develop as it is.

Do take care of yourselves in these hard times, and I wish you all the best in not only enduring them but also in fighting back against greed and corruption. Because that’s what’s at the core of this frightening situation the UK finds itself in. Don't let them get away with it.

JM

It has been quite some time since my last article.

My career keeps me very busy, with daily articles being pushed out in the two industries that I write for. This is all whilst working on my various manuscripts.


But today, as many people are, I am feeling quite sad. I cannot begin to imagine the feelings of those who are suffering in Ukraine right now. My feelings of sorrow and hurt pale in comparison. But my poetic tendencies often react to sorrow. And so, I wrote this poem for the people of Ukraine.

There's not much I can do. I have no idea if this will help. But what I can do is just to let them know. A simple message: from me to Ukraine.

JM 

Where is it, and in what kind of scenario, do you find yourself 'riffing' the best?
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This is the part where I should probably explain what ‘riffing’ actually is. For me, it is the process of creating ideas; either as part of my current WIP, or in general for ideas for future novels and works. Annoyingly, it most commonly occurs when I am in the shower with no easy access to something to write down the ideas on. But this is not such a bad thing, as I will explain below.

A little advice here for anyone lost. This comes from a published writer in nonfiction for over ten years of articles, marketing material and web copy.

In terms of writing fiction, it comes from over six years of experience with several draft manuscripts, one of which is going through a potential publishing opportunity.
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​This is not always a linear affair, and different writers work in different ways. Let me tell you about what I do and, if that helps, I am glad. If it does not help you, keep searching for whatever it is you need, and best of luck in your hunt for answers!

I keep my cards close to my chest, and this site is the preliminary base of it all when it comes to the manuscripts I'm working on and the works I'm producing.

One thing for sure is this: it’s hard writing fantasy. It can be hard to write it well, and it can be incredibly hard to get it out there.


There’s an overabundance of fantasy authors, and many books will go through the self-published and online roads because big publishers are simply not that interested in new voices in this increasingly competitive and overcrowded market.

​It begs the question: is it all worth it?

I’m English, I have Monday off work, so I’m staying up for the final episode. Now, about King’s Landing…

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS GAME OF THRONES SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Every now and then, I write a personal blog as opposed to the daily articles I write in my career. As I walked past my new hip flask an hour ago (pictured), I was reminded that we’re about to witness the conclusion to one of the greatest stories ever told, and with that in mind, here’s a quick scribble about the show.

​I love to analyse other stories as a writer, and Game of Thrones has been fantastic to watch unfold, and I have all the books. Perhaps an unpopular opinion here, but the penultimate episode of the final season that has drawn criticism far and wide is exactly what we needed to see in my view. From a writer’s perspective, the tyrannical destruction of Kings Landing, and the assumed deaths of thousands of ‘innocent’ people, was precisely in keeping with the show’s design.

​And we shouldn’t have been surprised to have seen it either.

How to create without writing; and fall asleep faster!

Imagination is everything for a writer. Finding the time to sit down and write amongst the noise of an assiduous career and a family (both of which are prosperous and enjoyable for me) isn’t easy.  I work on my stories when I can, but there’s much a writer can do when they’re not writing to also create.

It’s the power of the imagination that can be used when you’re not writing.
When there’s never an abundance of time for a writer to be able to write, the ability to hone your skills and use the imagination as the key to the next story you wish to write can be everything. Doing it is simple; it’s simply a matter of timing.

I have a brief update on the novel I've been slowly working on in recent years, as well as my previously completed novel that I'm looking to self-publish. As a result of some significant life changes, and my career in the legal industry becoming incredibly more intense as a result of a big case the firm is involved in, much of my creative writing has taken a necessary backseat over the course of the last 18 months.

As this gloriously unusual English summer draws to a close - a summer of an American work conference; a few days away in the Cotswolds; a city break to Paris last week; and a relaxing R+R holiday in the Canary Islands next week - I will hopefully be afforded more time to focus on my current novel soon. That being said, the start of the 2018/19  rugby season is fast approaching, and I have yet another week away in America in October for work to look forward to. Despite the many reasons I've been unable to focus more on my writing, I have some provisionally positive news.

And ramblings of a writing man…

The internet is rife with a wonderful array of writers; a colourful consort of creatives; a plentiful palette of poets; a beautiful bunch of bloggers.

I am amongst them. I have dreams, like others do. Mine are simple dreams, but they are my own. I write because I love to write. I read because I love to read. If one soul in this world reads what I write and loves my work the way I do, I have achieved all that I need to.
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Anyway, melodious introduction to this blog aside, I believe I ought to “get to the point” about the website (finally) being fully functional, and the changes to come…