In part two of my review of how the approach to writing my three novels differs, I will be looking at plotting and planning. Plotting and Planning I approached the writing of Leg It in the same way a drunk approaches a kebab shop. I ended up with the equivalent of a Bolognese Pizza, a … More Plotting to be a planner.
In all the excitement of writing novels, short stories, blogs and setting up a website, I’ve neglected to write anything new about the writing process itself. With my latest novel, Counterbalance, ready to be submitted to agents, it’s time to look back at the process I have gone through and see if there is anything … More The ideal idea. How to get started writing a novel.
My friend Lisa told me that all female cyclists have to have hairy fannies. I’m not sure if it is true, I’m not 100% sure why she told me but I am sure that she knew how to get me interested in the Olympics. As the sun sets over the Copacabana and the GB athletes … More Teletext, The Mail and Hairy Fandangos. My review of the Olympics.
When I embarked on my first Premier League review last week, I hadn’t anticipated how much work it was to report on every match so this week I’m not going to bother. I’m only going to discuss things that have caught my eye in the past seven days and ignore those that don’t interest me. … More Pulis in the bedroom, Pardew’s moves and a wet haddock. My Premier League review (Week two)
The Olympics are coming to a close and I hope my guides have held your hand throughout and allowed you to speak with authority on all things Olympian. It’s time for a final guide and whilst I may have led you to believe that cycling had the monopoly on mad variations on sport, the crazies … More A simpleton’s guide to the Olympics (Part eight)
It’s been a few days since I last did an Olympics blog. Here’s my guide to the sports you may have watched and not had the faintest idea what was happening. Trampolining Trampolining is the one sport we all watch and think ‘I could do that.’ Anyone who bounced on their bed as a child … More A simpleton’s guide to the Olympics (Part seven)
Bored of the Olympics? Bored of my blogs about the Olympics? For a change in scenery, here is the first in a sporadic series of blogs about the Premier League season. As always, the first weekend of the Premier League season brings a lot of anticipation, excitement, optimism, cliches and unanswered questions. Will Zlatan score … More Premier League review (Week one)
On the day that the proper football starts again in the Premier League, it appears that the proper sports are starting in the Olympics. Running and jumping and stuff rather than the novelty events that have been added to attract people who don’t like sports. I’ll get to the proper sports in a bit but … More A simpleton’s guide to the Olympics (Part six)
Just a short one today because I have been finishing my third novel and I am off to the pub to celebrate. Today I’ve decided to pick two sports not normally associated with the Olympics and in my mind, not really associated with sport in any form. Golf and Tennis. Golf To call golf a … More A simpleton’s guide to the Olympics (Part five)
Know nothing about shooting , fencing or canoeing? Keep on reading and you will soon be an expert. Shooting You would naturally assume that the Americans would clean up in the shooting competitions with their predilection for taking a pot shot at almost anything that moves. That assumption does not take into consideration the trigger … More A simpleton’s guide to the Olympics (Part four)
Alan Parkinson 