Libre Paley's Blog: Libre Paley - Thoughts on Literary Erotica, page 13
March 30, 2019
Stripping back
Don’t know about you, but I am not a great one for being guided by metaphor in life—not consciously, at any rate. However, a recent minor event that has provoked some thinking about its useful symbolism, for writing and perhaps for life. A wall in my house (yes, as mundane as that) has been a … Continue reading Stripping back
March 23, 2019
No undiscovered countries
The room is stifled by shut blinds and low lamplight, a puffball of used tissues bellies out from a waste basket, and silver casings that held white pellets of Brufen lie spent on a side table. Have I set the scene? Yes, some sort of virus struck a few days ago, leaving me feeling I’d … Continue reading No undiscovered countries
March 15, 2019
Your abilities and beyond: overcoming failure
What keeps us going through failure and rejection? Not the cheeriest of starts to a post, but I am working my way to a better place. We’ve just had a restructure at work. They’re never much fun. This one was a marathon that ended in those already well positioned get a promotion, and those of … Continue reading Your abilities and beyond: overcoming failure
March 4, 2019
A literary character for the day
World Book Day, which is coming up this Thursday 7 March, was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is observed in over one hundred countries globally. Which is all very commendable but… It can feel like a mixed blessing for parents. I don’t know about other countries, but … Continue reading A literary character for the day
February 27, 2019
An overcoming-the-monster day
It’s a famous concept in fiction writing that there are 7 story plot types or archetypes. In his 2004 book The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, journalist and author Christopher Booker outlines each of these plot types, provides evidence of their endurance and ubiquity through the centuries, and elaborates on them in later … Continue reading An overcoming-the-monster day
February 24, 2019
Turn my world upside-down
Except of course the map below is not ‘upside-down’, just a different representation from the one most of us (I am guessing) are accustomed to seeing. I have spent extra work time this weekend prepping for a seminar presentation, and have looked out a number of graphics in support of the words, wanting these to … Continue reading Turn my world upside-down
February 17, 2019
Double juggle
Apart from being successful authors, what else do all these – very different – writers have in common?: PG Wodehouse, David Baldacci, Stephen King, John Irving. Well, they are all prolific (King over 100 books and novellas published; Baldacci around 34; Irving about 20 novels plus multiple screenplays; and Wodehouse over 90 books in his … Continue reading Double juggle
February 10, 2019
Light a fire
There is a day coming up this Thursday 14 February that gives us the chance to show others how much we care. Yes, it’s International Book Giving Day. Set up with the worthy objectives to support children’s literacy, instil a lifelong love of reading, and to provide all children with access to books, there seems … Continue reading Light a fire
February 7, 2019
The excruciating art of selling yourself
I have just completed a job application alongside an updated CV (résumé), wincing and gurning the whole way through writing and editing them. I followed all the usual advice, noted all the ‘power words’ and ‘action words’ I should be using… Although heavens above, I don’t think I can put ‘spearhead’ when a simple ‘lead’ … Continue reading The excruciating art of selling yourself
February 1, 2019
Imagine a world where…
He is usually someone I manage to blank out my awareness. Every country will have a ‘media personality’ like former-journalist and TV presenter Piers Morgan, self-appointed spokesperson of the ‘rational person’ and self-publicist, coming out with a knee-jerk response to every liberal and progressive development in society, politics, the arts… But this time he is harder to … Continue reading Imagine a world where…
