Clik here to view.
Editing and Paper
I had a question today from a lovely lady in Japan asking whether I usually edit my books on paper. I had put up a photo of my morning desk This is what a 580 page novel at the edit stage looks like!...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A New Week
It was just as I finished my last video, which was all about Conway Stewart’s demise, that I had a contact from a wonderful couple of guys who have set up a new company. This firm, called Bespoke...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Morris – an Introduction
Tinners’ Morris at the ready! There are some elements of any culture that cause embarrassment or difficulties when trying to translate them to people from other countries. I daresay some Scots find...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Holiday Blues
Writing is hard enough without the interruptions. I have, this week, to write a significant chunk of one novel, complete a short story, write the synopsis and outline for another, and gather ideas for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sorting the Good from the Bad
I once read that the real problem that the allies had during the second Gulf War was information overload. They had satellites, men on the ground, aircraft, communications intelligence – so much data...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Getting back into the Rhythm
This year has been particularly hard so far. We’ve already lost one lovely lady, Shelagh Palmer, and last week we helped celebrate the life of Roger Paul. Both great friends, and both will be hugely...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Time. It’s only time.
I have some bright, intelligent men as brothers. And they may read this, so I won’t go into their foibles here. Well, not all of them. I am the youngest of four brothers. And I am inordinately lucky...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Author incomes – when does the money come in?
This is a quick post to answer the question I have been asked several times recently, which is: how soon are authors paid for their work? Oh, boy, I remember the day Marion Donaldson called me to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Big Data!
I was reading in a magazine an article by the excellent Simon Brett earlier today. It was an obituary for Phyllis James and mentioned that some time ago, while talking about writing, they discussed the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Technology
Welcome to another Jecks wittering. There are times when I sit at my desk and type and think about all kinds of happy things. There are times when I happily wallow in blood and guts in my mind – which...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Distractions All the Way
One of the hardest aspects of writing is the fact that there are so many damnably attractive alternatives. You sit at the desk and try to focus on the day ahead. That involves thinking about the coming...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Trials and Irritations!
This is one of those blogs where I have a brief rant. And why not? I’m sitting here before a computer that is gleaming and lovely, when outside the birds are singing, the sun is shining and … yes, I’m...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Getting the Ideas Right
This is one of those little posts where I discuss the way that I get things done. Not that my methods will work with everyone. They certainly won’t! However, if you are trying to write up a report for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Last Week of Work
Sorry to have been quiet last week, but I was working on the latest book. I still am, which is why this is likely to be a short blog too. However, it occurred to me that I ought to share the results of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Harrogate and more
Beryl Joan Jecks, 1929-2015 I have been booked for most of this year to go to the Harrogate History Festival, and I was really looking forward to it, but I’ve had to cancel. My event was to be on the...
View Article
