[Literary passages] In the presence of the King

These three excerpts convey beautifully the magnetism that authentic kingship has for those people who have not succumbed to the "special disease of democracy", that "stunted and envious sort of mind which hates all superiority". From The Adventures of Sinuhe, an ancient Egyptian text:I found His Majesty on the great throne, on a podium of … Continue lendo [Literary passages] In the presence of the King

[Opinion] Should we write for love — or for money?

“I no longer write the articles I love writing”, a screenwriter acquaintance confided to me last week. “There’s no money in them.” But is “no money” a good reason to stop writing what we love? This depends of course on how much time and energy we have left after we complete those jobs that do … Continue lendo [Opinion] Should we write for love — or for money?

[Writing tips] Choosing verbs and creating humour

Writers must make a constant effort to find the best verbs to convey action. It's what Anthony Buckeridge does in the Jennings books. When reading the passages below, notice how vivid the verbs are, how easy it is to visualize the action. Setup: alone in the boarding school classroom, the boys Jennings and Darbishire decide … Continue lendo [Writing tips] Choosing verbs and creating humour

[Andersen’s lesser-known tales] In the Uttermost Parts of the Sea

To many of us, the name of H. C. Andersen evokes world-famous tales like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Wild Swans, The Little Match-Seller. But Andersen wrote a wealth of lesser-known stories that are just as full of beauty and meaning as his more celebrated tales. This is one … Continue lendo [Andersen’s lesser-known tales] In the Uttermost Parts of the Sea