Guy Portman's Blog, page 27

23 More Quotes about Writing

Here are 23 more quotes about writing, none of which have featured in my previous quote-dedicated blog posts. I hope these will amuse and inspire my fellow authors and readers.

It takes an awful lot of time to not write a book. — Douglas Adams

I wrote a few children’s books. Not on purpose. — Steven Wright

Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke. — F. Scott Fitzgerald

You can fix anything but a blank page. — Nora Roberts

Better to write fo...

23 Quotes about Writing

Here are 23 amusing and/or pertinent quotes about writing which might be of interest to my fellow authors and readers.

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. — W. Somerset Maugham

Write what you know. That should leave you with a lot of free time. — Howard Nemerov

I hate writing, I love having written. — Dorothy Parker

The scariest moment is always just before you start. — Stephen King

The first draft of anything is shit. — Ernest Hemingway

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I lo...

My Favourite Authors: their best and worst

I have my favourite authors, but that is not to say that I like all of their books. This week’s post is dedicated to what in my humble opinion is the following 4 authors’ best and worst books. Click on the links to read my reviews:

Vladimir Nabokov (April 22nd, 1899 – July 2nd, 1977)

Admittedly I have only read a couple of books penned by the Russian-American author and entomologist.

My favourite: Lolita

The protagonist, Humbert Humbert, is an intellectual with an all-consuming craving for yo...

2017’s Most Anticipated Books

My first blog post of the New Year is dedicated to some of the most anticipated books of 2017. I hope this will be of interest to my fellow authors and readers. Here are 9 of 2017’s most anticipated books (fiction only). Click on the book titles to find out more.

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

Award-winning author and feminist Gay’s latest offering is a short story collection exploring American women’s experiences. It was released on January 3rd.

Genre: Feminism

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter...

The Books I Read in 2016

As is my custom at year end, I am dedicating this post to the books I read this year. In 2016 I read 19 books. One reason for my less than prodigious reading output is that I wasbusy with my own writing efforts (3 novels to date). I will be revealing more about my works in progress in due course.

Here are the 19 books that I read in 2016. They are presented in the order in which I read them. Click on the links to read my reviews.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877) —Though slow moving and po...

The Books of 2016

As another year draws to a close let us look back at the books that made waves in 2016, and at those predicted to be popular this festive period.

Amazon’s Best-Selling Book of 2016 — Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2, Special Rehearsal Edition Scriptby J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany

This, the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, is the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play premiered in London’s West End in July.

Best-Selling Memoir o...

7 Books for 7 Moods (Part 3)

This week sees the third instalment in my series of posts devoted to books for different moods. Here are more 7 books for 7 more moods/states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.

Feel like a break from the traditional novel format?

Rant by Chuck Palahniuk

Rantis the oral history of Buster ‘Rant’ Casey, recounted by an array of people, including his relations, friends, enemies and lovers. Itadroitly challenges our own traditions by demonstrating how we contort our recollection of...

Bizarre Books VI

This week sees the sixth and final instalment of my bizarre books series. As with previous instalments I have added pithy/fictitious comments below each.

If you haven’t done so already sign up to my newsletter to claim your FREE copy of my satirical black comedy, Necropolis. Further details at bottom of post.

And now for the 11 bizarre books:

Dancing with Cats

A sure way to attract the attention of the men in white coats.

Hog Manure Management

If you like hogs and manure this is the book...

My 5 Favourite Satires

As followers of this blog know I am an avid fan of satire. My second novel,Necropolis, is a satirical black comedy about a psychopath who works for the burials and cemeteries department in his local council. If you haven’t done so already sign up to my newsletter to claim your FREE copy.In addition to my writing efforts, I have read numerous books that could be described assatirical. This week’s post is dedicated to my 5 favourites to date. Some of these books also fit into other genres.

Sati...

Bizarre Books V

Here is Part 5 of my bizarre books series. As with previous instalments, I have added pithy/fictitious comments below each.

It’s Not Going To Get Any Better When You Grow Up

Truer words were never spoken.

Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?

Mommy: ‘Since daddy left I have been feeling very lonely, and…’

Reusing Old Graves

Step One: Turf out the occupier…

Mommy, Is It A Sin To Be Fat?

Kid: ‘Mommy, is it a sin to be fat?’

Mommy: ‘It depends how fat.’

Outwitting Squirrels

Strate...