Over the last few years, ever since the rise in popularity of creative writing degrees, there has been a lot of debate over how much they actually benefit the writer. It’s rare for a writer to emerge from their course, perfectly polished, with a manuscript ready to be snapped up by a big name publishing house. Sure, it does happen,… Read More
Last Saturday saw the annual Talk About Local Unconference, or #tal13, arrive in Middlesbrough. The event was created as a place for hyperlocal bloggers and journalists from around the country to meet up and discuss their plans, problems and interests. This year, the event had an arts and culture theme. As a culture blogger from Middlesbrough, I was excited to… Read More
Review: Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent In 1829, the last ever public execution was carried out in Iceland. Agnes Magnusdottir was put to death for her part in the murder of two men on a remote farm in the north of the country. Based on actual events, Burial Rites follows Agnes in the last months of her life as she… Read More
This moving photo project captures rape survivors using their attackers’ words against them. Ever thought that Shakespeare would be so much more entertaining if the actors were drunk? Turns out, it is! New York photographer Jordan Matter captured both athletes performing their sports in everyday situations and ballet dancers living life to the full. 30 excellent bookstore windows from around… Read More
As an introvert, I’ve spent a lot of time over the years justifying myself and my communication skills to people who believe that being ‘quiet’ is a failing. I’ve come to hate the word as a description of personality, because it implies a lot but actually reveals very little. There are many kinds of quiet people, but being quiet doesn’t… Read More
An interview with Xandra from Fashionably Light The sweet and sparkly Xandra runs the blog Fashionably Light, which is all about living a minimalist life. She’s also a huge book lover and recently wrote a great article on her visit to a literary doctor. You can visit her blog or follow her on Twitter @missxandrabee. You’ve just graduated from Oxford… Read More
Testudineous Adj. Characteristic of a tortoise, or the shell of a tortoise As slow as a tortoise Source: Wiktionary
At the weekend we made the most of an unexpectedly sunny Saturday by heading up the coast to visit Holy Island. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a unique place that can be found just off the Northumberland coast, between the towns of Alnwick and Berwick, not too far from the Scottish border. It’s a tidal island, which means that… Read More