Merle Nygate's Blog, page 2

Can Stephen King teach an old writing dog new writing tricks?

I recently read Mr Mercedes by Stephen King and I found it both brilliant and depressing. Brilliant because it’s a terrific book: strong characterisation, rich and rhythmic language, deft pacing, clarity and so on. And depressing because it’s a terrific book: strong characterisation, rich and rhythmic language – you get the picture.

Let me explain. Most of the time, whether it’s a book, film or TV show, I see the flaws, the joins, bits that were added as an afterthought and ways that the piece...

Feel The Fear and Write It Anyway

At the moment I’m developing a new project and as I do so, I’m conscious of the stages that I’m going through because no matter how many writing projects I develop, the fear process is always the same.

Step 1

This is before I actually begin. I have a germ of an idea that I think could work and I’ve been mulling it around at the back of my mind. But then I think: ‘Who am I kidding? I’m never, ever going to be able to turn it into a full narrative. What ever made me think that I could do this?’ I...

Bitten by Crime ��� Why it took so long for me to write my psychological crime novel

This post is not what you think. This isn���t a tale of writer���s block and the desperate struggle to fill empty pages. Through the years, I���ve written fairly steadily; comedy, children���s, fantasy, factual drama, but never stories that involve the police, police stations and crime. Until now.

I trace it back to a traumatising experience on the writing nursery slopes when I was being considered for The Bill, a UK TV programme, now sadly axed, that developed many new and terrific writers.

Be...

Bitten by Crime – Why it took so long for me to write my psychological crime novel

This post is not what you think. This isn’t a tale of writer’s block and the desperate struggle to fill empty pages. Through the years, I’ve written fairly steadily; comedy, children’s, fantasy, factual drama, but never stories that involve the police, police stations and crime. Until now.

I trace it back to a traumatising experience on the writing nursery slopes when I was being considered for The Bill, a UK TV programme, now sadly axed, that developed many new and terrific writers.

Before you...

Co-Writing – I Should Coco?

Recently I was flattered to be asked to co-write an interesting project. Besides my knee jerk, ‘You must be joking, I haven’t got time to do my own stuff,’ it set me thinking about the times I’ve attempted to co-write; when it’s worked and when it hasn’t. In no particularly order, and with no attempt at laying down the law, these are three elements I think you need to make co-writing work.

Similar Sensibility

By this I mean, similar value system. You can be from entirely different backgrounds,...

With a Little Help From…

With a Little Help From…

On October 10ththis year, my novel BE MY FRIEND is going to be published.

At the moment it is being edited by dear friend and esteemed writer Harriet Castor who besides having written many children’s books has had great success with her young adult novel VIII about Henry VIII.

The draft has also just been read by another good friend Isabelle Grey, a talented TV writer and novelist (Out of Sight, Bad Mother, Accusedamong a hefty list of projects). In addition, another res...

Latkes – Feel the Love

I recently had a party and by special request from my esteemed friend, Isabelle Grey made latkes.

The recipe I use and that I have amended is by the late, great Evelyn Rose and this particular batch was the best ever. Potato latkes are a complete pain to make, the house stinks of frying afterwards, they are obscenely unhealthy…but they freeze well and they are absolutely delicious.

Here’s the recipe with my additional notes.

Ingredients

3 large baking potatoes peeled (about 675g/1.5 lbs)

1 mediu...