Colin Wilson was a prolific author, philosopher and novelist, producing over 120 books on a dizzying range of subjects. This is remarkable in itself, since early in his career, his publisher advised him to quit. Thankfully he possessed an unshakable self-belief, writing on everything from serial killers and crime, to psychology, the paranormal, UFOs, and… Continue reading A Tribute to Colin Wilson: Dreaming To Some Purpose
Fearless Creating is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your work of art, written by psychotherapist and creativity coach Eric Maisel. The book is packed with inspiration and guidance on the creative process and the problems you’re likely to come across along the way. It breaks the process down into six stages and goes… Continue reading Review: Fearless Creating
Addled: Adventures of a Reluctant Mystic is my forthcoming novel about a modern mystic called Zoe Popper. It follows the ups and downs of awakening, and explores the difficulties of the spiritual path in a post-modern world. Addled is a love story for our cynical times, and includes everything from music and cookery to cleaning,… Continue reading Adventures of a Reluctant Mystic
Sometimes it seems everybody wants to be a writer. Mention to your friends that you’re writing a book and you’ll be greeted by a chorus of: oh, I wish I could do that, if only I had the time, I’ve got loads of great ideas. Either that or they want to know if you’re writing… Continue reading Characteristics of a Writer
After busting a few writing myths last week it got me thinking about why writers are often seen as crazy – by others and themselves. Is there something about writing that leads people to become unhinged? Or do you have to be crazy to be a writer in the first place? A Swedish study published in… Continue reading Why Writers Are Crazy
If you had the opportunity to give some advice to your 16 year old self, what would you say? Two years ago I was pondering this question after reading an article about a book filled with such advice, and I wrote the following post on my writing blog, Free Your Pen. I stumbled across the… Continue reading Note to Self
People have strange ideas about writing. Some of those people are writers. You can understand non-writers being baffled by the whole writing thing: the alchemy of transforming words into a world that transports the reader. From the outside it seems like magic. You open a book and begin to read: the ordinary world fades and into your… Continue reading Myths About Writing
Our heroine has reached the end of her journey and returns transformed. This stage is about the ascension of the new mother. The heroine is changed and so the world is changed. She can now start a new life, establish a new family or community. Jane Eyre Returns with the Elixir Jane returns to Thornfield… Continue reading The Heroine’s Journey: Return with the Elixir
Our heroine has taken the Road Back to the Ordinary World and must now be resurrected. This stage is about purification and the purging of the past, and it takes us to the climax which requires another death. This is where the heroine must demonstrate what she has learnt. In the heroine’s journey this stage… Continue reading The Heroine’s Journey: Resurrection
Our heroine has survived the Ordeal and received her Reward. Now she must return to the ordinary world with her new knowledge or skills and face the consequences of confronting the darkness of the Ordeal. This stage marks a shift in focus and may give rise to new goals. In the heroine’s journey this stage… Continue reading The Heroine’s Journey: The Road Back
Our heroine has lived through the worst in her Ordeal and will now be transformed. The confrontation with death brings about the change necessary for her to move forward on her journey and Seize the Sword. In other words, she finally takes possession of what she was really after all along – her true self.… Continue reading The Heroine’s Journey: Reward
Our heroine has journeyed to the underworld and is now ready to confront her greatest fear. All could be lost as she is pushed to the edge in a life or death moment. In the heroine’s journey this stage is the descent into darkness and atonement with the Great Mother: a quest for integration and… Continue reading The Heroine’s Journey: Ordeal
