FAQs
I was going to write this as an About page, but then I realised: I'm not very good at writing about myself. In the end, I decided a page for frequently asked questions would be a better idea: short, concise, and easier to amend at a later date!
If I haven't answered your question here then please feel free to send me a message, either via the Contact page on this site or through one of the various social media sites linked at the bar above.
Do you take requests for reviews?
Yes! That's both video and written reviews. I'm always keen to discover new films, books, and plays, and if you have a creation of your own you'd like me to check out, or somebody else's artwork you think I simply must explore, please do get in touch!
Why do you write?
To echo the words of my favourite person Lord Byron, "If I don't write to empty my mind I go mad." I'm sure most fellow writers will agree with me that the need to write is less a choice and more a necessity to avoid internal combustion. Having said that, I'd probably choose to do it anyway!
Which authors inspire you most?
There are a few authors whose works I tend to read on a frequent basis, namely Virginia Woolf, Daphne Du Maurier, Stuart MacBride, and Ian Rankin. However, there are so many amazing writers out there that it would be hard to narrow down which have had the biggest impact on my own writing. I tend to find something inspirational in most novels, as the act of completing a story in itself is a great motivator.
You review films on YouTube. What films do you like?
My greatest adoration in the film industry is Tim Burton. There is nobody greater. I love how creative his approach is to directing and storytelling. I also like anything dark and disturbing; I'm always in the mood for psychological horrors and thrillers. I'll also watch anything that features Helena Bonham Carter, and my favourite films are Sweeney Todd (2007) and Dead Poets Society (1989). Also, if the cast includes Emma Thompson, Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Robin Williams, Sandra Bullock, or Johnny Depp, I'm there!
What advice would you give to somebody wanting to get into writing?
Write! I know it's such a cliche answer, but it's the only genuinely effective one. Just put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) and write whatever comes into your head. Remember that a first draft will always be rubbish, and that it's better to have any words written down than no words at all (it's almost impossible to edit something you've not yet written...). Most importantly though, don't give up. Before I wrote my first novel Walk On, I'd begun writing a few bits and pieces in a completely different genre. It turns out that that genre just wasn't for me, but it took me a while to realise that. There will be hurdles, and you will encounter stumbling blocks, but don't give up. Just keep writing!
What do I do if you haven't answered my question?
As mentioned above, if I haven't answered your question here then do feel free to send me a message, either via the Contact page on this site or through one of the various social media sites linked at the bar above. (Yes, I have basically just regurgitated the text from the top of the page, almost word for word. And I call myself a writer!)