What we talk about when we talk about writing

The more I talk about writing with students, teachers, colleagues and other writers, the less I am sure that we … More

Interview with the book

‘Aren’t you going get the phone?’ I say. ‘It won’t be for me.’ With a little groan the book … More

Here is how it happens. The vision is, sub specie aeternitatis, a set of mental relationships, a coherent series of … More

‘What do you think?’ I say to the book. It has held on to my poem for a week, and … More

The adventures of the book have now clocked up fifty blog posts. Here is a list of all of them, … More

‘I don’t know if I can do this any more.’ ‘Do what?’ the book says. ‘This.’ ‘Sit around waiting for … More

‘Listening to the cricket again?’ says the book. ‘I think I’ll join you.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘again’?’ I say. … More

‘That thing you mentioned the other day,’ the book says. ‘Is it true?’ ‘What thing?’ I say. ‘About there being … More

‘How have you been?’ says the book. ‘Fine,’ I say. ‘You?’ ‘Tired,’ says the book. ‘I’m tired.’ ‘Me too,’ I … More

I think I am probably in love with silence, that other world. And that I write, in some way, to … More

I had begun the poem after work one day, on a pad of work-related notes. Get in, get out, I … More

I am returning to the pencil. The premise of which remark signifies consciousness that at some point I left the … More

In 1991 we moved to a house in Brixton, south London. Of all our welcomes, that of our neighbour, … More

I think I need the Other Writer much more than they need me. Off the top of my head I … More

Last week I gave up writing. For about a day. I had been given a book by one of my … More

I have been sorting. I have been chucking. It’s been the recurring theme over the last eighteen months. I cleared … More

At the start of each academic year, usually when I have known them for a week or so, I make … More

The book is sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by small scraps of paper. Some have whole sentences on them. … More