Archive - This Itch of Writing with Emma Darwin

November 2024

Ten Reasons (Not) To Tell People You're Writing A Book

Or rather, five reasons to tell them, and five reasons not to tell them

Nov 29 •

Showing and Telling

How each works, how to make them co-operate, and why anyone who believes "show don't tell" is making a big mistake.

Nov 22 •

On The Power Of The Appointment To Write

Is your writing self a bit stuck, a bit bored, a bit lost, a bit under the cosh of a deadline or others’ expectations?

Nov 15 •

Read a fancy-pantsy, poncy, pleased-with-its-uber-literary-self book?

Try thinking about it as a good book.

Nov 8 •

"... Jack said" vs "... said Jack"

Which way round should your speech tags go, and does it matter anyway?

Nov 1 •

October 2024

Itchy Bitesized 33: How Writers Make A Living

What works (sort of) and what doesn't.

Oct 25 •

"The more specific you are, the more general it’ll be."

What do grit, oysters and oath-swearing show (and tell) us about writing?

Oct 21 •

Itchy Bitesized 32: Taming Your Draft

Get to grips with all your material and versions, so you can tackle the next stage

Oct 11 •

Jerusha Cowless, agony aunt: the archive

All the problems which Jerusha managed to answer before she vanished up a melting glacier.

Oct 4 •

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