nothing in the rulebook

A collective of creatives bound by a single motto: There's nothing in the rulebook that says a giraffe can't play football!

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Tag: writing

  • 10 writing tips from a creative writing lecturer

    In a series of posts, we here at Nothing In The Rulebook have been asking writers to share their top tips and advice on writing. Today, it is our pleasure to introduce the esteemed Julia Bell – a creative writing lecturer and novelist with her book The Dark Light out now. Julia Bell is one of the UK’s foremost…

  • Getting on the Write-Track

    “There is nothing to writing – all you have to do is sit at a typewriter and bleed.” – Ernest Hemingway. Ernest makes it sound simple enough there, and possibly fun, for those into that kind of thing. But of course the reality of writing is that it is difficult; Hemingway also suggested, remember, that…

  • The importance of boredom in writing

    When was the last time you were bored – or even just waiting alone by yourself for a spare moment – and didn’t instantly spring to bridge that feeling of boredom or fill that moment of waiting by checking Facebook or Twitter or Instagram (or even LinkedIn if the boredom were really acute)? And how…

  • Literature festival venues announced

    The venues for the Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival have been announced. Twelve venues will host over 30 live events over the course of the festival, which includes music, readings, comedy, children’s shows, interviews and talks. The main festival venue will be Rochdale Central Library at Number One Riverside. The library and first floor Hollingworth…

  • Why do some authors write in secret?

    Writers often hide behind a pen name or keep the very act of writing a secret from colleagues, friends or family. But what is it about writing that makes writers want to hide from view? Chris Smith investigates… Pick up the pen (name) It wasn’t until the publication of his first novel Call for the…

  • Writing tips from writers

    So. You want to be a writer. You’ve looked in detail at the alternatives – the refined meals in the company of elegant people; socialising with high society; going places; doing things; paying bills; eating food not made in a tin can – and you’ve decided it just ain’t for you. You’re the next Carver,…

  • The hard truth: it’s time to finish writing that novel you’ve been working on

    Ah yes. The summer. The evenings are long, sultry and glorious; workloads are diminishing (at least in Europe, anyway); and the possibilities are endless. Now is the perfect time to finish writing that novel you’ve been working on. Definitely. Right now. This evening. Maybe this weekend. Maybe on vacation. Definitely soon, though. Very definitely almost…

  • An Alphabet Anthology

    26 Acrostic Poems P is for Prologue Articulate buffoons can deduce even fantastical grammar. However, I just keep lying; muttering nonsensical obscene poetic quotations, rhetorical stammers, talking utter verbal wittering. Xeroxing yawping zanyisms! A is for Abortion Although babies can, do embryos feel? Genes haven’t inherited judgement, knowledge, love, mind, nurture, or pain. Questionable reasoning,…

  • Experience: Working with a writing mentor

    I don’t have an infectious disease but if I did, I imagine telling people you have one garners much the same reaction as telling people you’ve written a short comedy film. There’s normally some initial interest – even enthusiasm – but then a yawning chasm of social awkwardness opens as people think I might expect…

  • Professor Wu’s writing tips

    Maya Angelou once said there was no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. If you have such a story, doubtless you’ll understand such pain. Of course, to overcome it means to write out and finally tell said untold story. Which, inevitably, is easier said than done. So, when setting up to write…