VIDEO: Restless Minds at Dagda Publishing’s Speak Your Mind #2
A few weeks’ ago now I performed at Dagda Publishing’s Speak Your Mind #2 event. Some of the poems that I read were recorded, and here they are.
Read MoreAuthor: Kristina Adams
The Best of The Writer’s Cookbook 2014
It’s that time of year when we get all reflective and look back at what’s happened in 2014. 2014 was the year that The Writer’s Cookbook started, and I really appreciate all the support I’ve received so far. I hope that in 2015 the site will continue to grow and you’ll all continue to show your support for it 🙂
As part of that reflectiveness, here’s a list of The Writer’s Cookbook’s best of 2014.
Read MoreFree Download: How to Get to Know Your Characters
It’s important for a writer to know everything about their characters. We’re not elephants, though, and we can’t remember everything no matter how much we love them. It helps to have a go-to list of everything...
Read MoreVIDEO: Restless Minds at Jazz & Poetry
To promote and sell copies of Restless Minds, myself and a couple of other poets performed at local event Jazz & Poetry in November. Here I read out my poem from Restless Minds ‘Portrait of my Nan as an Armchair’, as well as two of my other poems: ‘Hypoglycaemia’ and ‘Domestic Bliss’.
Read MoreCan Anyone Really Write a Book?
With the stream of celebrity book releases every Christmas and the bestselling book of 2014 (that’s set to outsell Harry Potter) written by a YouTube star, can anyone write a book? The writer in me wants to snobbishly declare...
Read MoreVIDEO: Restless Minds Anthology Launch Night
Back in October, I hosted the launch of Restless Minds, an anthology that I’ve worked with my fellow MA students on. I also read out my two pieces that are featured in the anthology: ‘Portrait of my Nan as an Armchair’ and ‘The Illusion of Parenting’. Click the link to check out the video of me reading at the launch.
Read MoreHas Banter Become a Euphemism for Bullying?
Television channel Dave refers to itself as ‘Home of witty banter’. Radio presenters often refer to discussions between presenters and producers as ‘banter’. But has it become a euphemism for bullying? A supply teacher was...
Read MoreThe Writer’s Christmas Gift Guide
So you’ve got a writer to buy for and don’t know how to show that you’re supportive? There’s only so many times you can ask ‘How’s that novel/poem/short story/screenplay coming along?’ (Please note that these kinds of questions are also incredibly annoying. If you’re going to ask, mention the name of a specific project—it shows you’re actually interested.)
This writers’ Christmas gift guide has suggestions for a variety of budgets and writers. Happy shopping!
Read MoreWhat’s the Best Way to Write? By Hand or Using Technology?
When I first started writing, I wrote (and drew!) by hand. Fairly soon after, I started writing using my mum’s computer and saving to a floppy disk (this was the late ‘90s). I found that typing was a) more legible, b) easier and...
Read MoreHow the Media Uses Language to Manipulate You
I grew up in a town where English was a subject that was looked down on. How could you possibly need to study English any more when you already know how to read and write? What’s the point in studying plays and poetry and language acquisition? The point is because the more you know about language, the more immune you become to its effects.
Language is an incredible tool and like any great power, can be used for good and evil. What’s important is how you use it. How you say something is often more important than what you actually mean.
Take the following clip from Russell Howard’s Good News. It shows the difference between Ebola coverage in the US and the UK.
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