In a bun dance

If I'm going to get something, I usually get it in spades - luck (both kinds), children, clutter, dirty laundry, bright ideas, daft ideas...

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Copywriters – the new superheroes

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How copywriters and editors can foil the scammers Wouldn’t it be marvellous if there was a stealthy punctuation expert zipping around removing unnecessary apostrophes and commas? Wherever someone got a their, they’re or there confused, Grammar Guy/Girl (delete as applicable) (GG for short) would leap into action. Oh, my. It would be wonderful. GG would […]

The Dust That Falls From Dreams by Louis de Bernieres and other books to make you cry.

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A very long time ago, about two days before Boy One was born, I finished a book by Louis de Bernieres. It was called Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and it made me cry. Not just a slight dampness, but proper snotters and heaves. A pile of soggy tissues balanced on my belly bawling. Normally, I’m not […]

Things I learned from seeing Caitlin Moran

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On the eve of the publication of her second novel, How To Be Famous, Caitlin Moran was in Edinburgh talking about sex. She also talked about lots of other things, but it was mostly sex – good sex, bad sex and solo sex (which doesn’t, I believe, have a bad version). Here’s what I learned […]

Lusting for Poldark and other examples of sexism

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“We’re man and wife,” he said. It was my husband speaking about something I can’t remember. Certainly nothing important. Another one of those domestic conversations, half attended to and disregarded before long. Earlier than most if it was of the ‘it’s your turn’ variety. “Hang on a minute,” I said. “That’s sexist, isn’t it?” “No,” […]

More things I learned: birthday edition

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Writer’s blockage would be nearer the mark. It’s what I feel when there’s so much going on in my head that I don’t know where to begin, where the loose end is to start the unravelling. More in common with road-trip constipation (you know what I mean) than a wistful gaze at a pristine page.  […]