How to Know What to Write Next
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
Are you writing what you should be writing? I don’t know about you, but I’m always getting distracted by new and shiny projects. I remember days, weeks and even months when I’ve toiled away on various pieces of work that seemed great at the time. None of these helped me get to my long term writing goals. It’s difficult to know what to write next. Working on the wrong thing takes your hard-earned time and renders it pointless. I was fed up of falling into work that didn’t have any major benefit for me in the long run. I decided to try and think more strategically about opportunities — which is ..read more
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My creative lockdown
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
Before you read this – I am not complaining. Many people suffered more than me in the last few months. I come from a privileged background and have a stable job and home life, and this post is as much therapeutic for me as anything else. I’m not asking for sympathy, nor should I receive it. There are many better causes for your sympathy, rather than someone who was trying to have a creative lockdown. Lockdown guilt Lockdown really threw me creatively. More so than I thought it would, if I’m honest. Although my family have been unaffected, and are still healthy, there was something about being ..read more
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What does the pram in the hall mean for writers?
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
I was watching an episode of the excellent Inside Number 9 called The Riddle of the Sphinx (British licence fee payers can check out the episode here) and I was struck when one of the characters was asked why he hadn’t had children. “There is no more sombre enemy of good art,” he replied, “than the pram in the hall.” A promotional image from the episode. Image credit The Cyril Connolly quote wasn’t new to me, and I started to think about my new baby and her impact on my writing. I’m not the first to think about this – a quick search showed 2 Guardian articles and a TV show. Having a look at th ..read more
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Creative story planning
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
This month, I have an update on general life and personal writing, followed by a quick discussion on creative story planning, and why it’s blowing my mind. May 2019 It’s been a strange month in the Hurst household as we get to grips with becoming parents.. Late nights and disturbed sleep have impacted on my writing, although it’s been less than last month, and things are getting better as we figure out what we’re doing. I now have to buy clothes for a baby girl though, something that still confuses and terrifies me. An example of the decisions I now have to make. My life has definitely changed ..read more
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Introducing characters
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
This month I’m trialing a new format for blog posts. Inspired by podcasts (notably the Dead Robot’s Society) I’m going to start with a little update on my writing and then dive into more depth on a writing topic I’ve been thinking about. This month I explain why my writing is taking a back seat, and discuss introducing characters. April 2019 update From the end of March and all through April, my life is a totally different beast. My wife and I welcomed our first child at the end of March, and the month became a blur of nappy changes, sleep deprivation and housework. The impact on my writing is ..read more
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Essex Authors and you (and me)
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
On the 9th March, I found myself in Chelmsford, speaking at Essex Authors and You. I’d volunteered to lead a session way back in January, after visiting last year and being inspired by the speakers and the discussions. So this year I asked if I could speak about “World Building in Science Fiction and Fantasy.” I am writing up my notes from the talk over the next couple of weeks, but in this post I’m sharing my initial thoughts about the day, and what I learnt. I was lucky enough to have an official photographer (also known as a bored wife) so I’ve managed to get some pictures of the day throu ..read more
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February 2019
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
February is a hard month, where I find my feelings are too often dominated by the weather. When I open my curtains in the morning I honestly don’t know what to expect. Will I see lovely (if cold) sunshine, pouring rain or (and this the most likely) just a dull, grey sky that sucks the life from the world around it? In the UK, the possibility of snow is real in February, threatening to send the country into chaos with a meagre few centimetres of ground cover. There is hope, however. It’s about now that I notice the days start to get longer. On my morning commute sunshine takes the place of arti ..read more
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In defence of the content creator
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
Would you ever describe yourself as a content creator? I dabble in a number of different formats, and in a number of different mediums, creating content. But I would describe myself as a writer first, content creator second. I started wondering, was that right? Do I need to become more specific with how I describe my writing online? And is there anything wrong with being a content creator anyway? More more more content! Image from Pixabay on Pexels I’ve spent a bit of my recent time writing on Medium. And reading on Medium. It seems that there are a lot of people pushing content creation as a ..read more
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2019 on Write with Phil
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
Bring it, 2019 Christmas and New Year are a good time for reflection, and for planning the year ahead. You may have noticed – I’ve done enough of it on the site over the last few weeks. I know that some people are reluctant to put resolutions in place, but I’ve found them really useful in the past as a way of focusing my efforts in a year. So, in now particular order, my two priorities for 2019. Objective 1 – the blog Looking back over my posts of 2019, I’m really happy with the way that the blog has gone. I think I’ve put together some really good articles, and I hope I’ve helped a lot of wri ..read more
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Christmas 2018: The Empty Room
Write with Phil | Productivity and time management for writers
by phil@philhurstwriter.co.uk
2y ago
For the last few years, I’ve created a little video for Christmas. This year I’ve decided to mix it up a little bit, and post a short monologue/story that I created a few years ago. I believe that stories should get their time in the sun. The story isn’t Christmassy at all, so anyone not too keen on the festive period needn’t be put off. It’s embedded on a PDF, which I think looks the best, but I’ve copied it below it you’re reading on mobile or email. So, here it is… The Empty Room by Phil Hurst And here’s the actual text: Scene 1 A bedroom. McFell, early thirties, sits on the bed. Yesterday ..read more
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