The teaching is the point

When you’re in the throes of the school term it’s easy to think about the next holiday. To look forward with excitement to that dreamlike last ringing of the bell signalling the time to pack up and go home. Of course, that’s normal. Teaching is a hard job. It’s relentless and frustrating. It’s easy to …

Inspire your students with a creative writing workshop

My favourite part of teaching English has always been creative writing. I suppose that's no surprise considering I am a writer myself.   Last week (November 2019) I was asked to deliver a creative writing workshop for a school in Kent. It's something I'd thought about doing for a while, so when they asked, I …

My summer holiday reading recommendations

Picture the scene, you're packing for your holiday. Clothes adorn every surface of the bedroom in various piles - what if I go somewhere that requires shoes? Will they have an iron there? (I never iron anything anyway, so why I'd worry this I'm not sure.) Then, as you finally slide the zip on the …

An introduction to me and my writing

One of the best things about publishing my novel in the last few months has been talking to people about it. As an independent author, I don't want that to stop there, I want to get to know you and what you like about my stories. In this short video, I start by introducing myself. …

Three books that inspired me to write a novel

I'm feeling very fortunate at the moment. A year ago I was working full time, counting down the days until the next school holiday and writing in every other moment available. Right now I'm on the plane on the way to Budapest for a few days, my first book is out and selling some copies …

The road from reluctant writer to publishing my first novel

On December the 3rd 2017 I wrote this in my journal:  I’m excited to start writing something – but I have no clue where and how to actually start writing! I'm going to get some big bits of paper and do some planning so that I have a general direction, then pick bits I like …

Five things being a teacher has taught me

As teachers, we always talk about the progress of our students. We watch them arrive (if you're a secondary school teacher like me) bright-eyed in year 7, and grow almost unrecognizably through to year 11 and sometimes even on to the sixth form. It's one of my favourite parts of the job, which I always …

Six ways to make time to read when you’re busy

As an English teacher and a writer, I'm obviously all for reading. It won't surprise you to know that when parents of my students ask me what they can be doing to help their children, 90% of the time reading is the answer. That's because of the transformative effect it has... but I think you …

Creative writing mini scheme of work

I love teaching creative writing and young people can be so good at it. They have such great ideas which, when harnessed, creates some great pieces of work. I've already shared the Creative Writing Structure Strips which are incorporated into this short scheme of work.   I've used this a number of times, often when …

“I haven’t got time for that” re-thinking time scarcity

  "I haven't got time for that." "There just aren't enough hours in the day?" How often have you used one of the above phrases? I would guess, knowing the pressures of modern life, especially those for us involved in education, it's fairly frequent. It seems to be a symptom of our modern age that we're …