Spoilers are a virtually unavoidable side-effect of being a fan on the internet these days. So how was the BBC able to keep the biggest secret of all in the latest episode of Doctor Who?

Don't read this post if you haven't seen The Stolen Earth episode of series 4.

This post looks at spoilers, how Doctor Who has dealt

Read More...

Following on from the recent post "A Lament for Children's Television", this post looks at the decline in British comics and why we should care. I grew up with British weekly comics in a number of different genres, and they shaped my reading and imagination. But these days, kids don't have these comics.

If you grew up in

Read More...

Grammar is such a hot topic among writers. When is it crucial and when can rules be broken? Which aspects of grammar are unchangeable and which are primarily a matter of stylistic choice?

A look at how grammar differs from genre to genre and why strict grammarians should maybe take a chill-pill and save their bile for the tr

Read More...

Ever found yourself in an argument in a chatroom. Ever found yourself returning over and over to the same bulletin board thread to rebuff the idiotic postings of an opponent? Of course you have.

So what are the rules of online debate? How can you chalk up a win and earn the respect of your online peers?

Seven easy tips to

Read More...

Ever wanted to become a super hero? Wondering what the best methods are to get those superpowers and a moral sense of responsibility?

Wonder no longer. Here is the guide to becoming a superhero.

Ten methods used in the most popular superhero origins allows you to pick and choose to create your own. Learn from the masters

Read More...

You may have seen the recent story on the 13 year old Texan boy who used his dad's credit card to pay for strippers that played his Xbox all night.

Well, it was a hoax.

The article was produced solely for the purpose of attracting links from around the world. That itr did - over 1500 of them.

But what about the ethics

Read More...

Continuing the successful series on The Professional Writer. This week we look at why a new write should not be precious about what writing they are able to get published.

Many amateurs believe it is normal to start a writing career with a first novel or great screenplay, whereas virtually all professional writers spent year

Read More...

Second in the series of articles detailing my struggles in writing a company value proposition. If you don;t know what a VP is, it is the cornerstone of a company's marketing plan. If you want to convert more customers, you need one. I fact, I would go so far as to say that if your business plan doesn;t include one of these, y

Read More...

Bill Bryson is definitely one of the most entertaining and informative writers on the planet. With his uncanny ability to make even the driest of subject highly readable, Bryson has built a huge and loyal following.

He is also highly prolific. This is a short profile of the man and his writings. If you've never experienced

Read More...

Part one of this series on the Professional writer was a hit, so here;s part two.

Looking at how a professional writer relates to customers, it can often separate the amateurs from those who know how to make it their trade. Writing for pleasure doesn't pay the bills. Writing for someone else's pleasure does. Here are some

Read More...

Do you blog for money or pleasure?

If you blog for both reasons, then you may stand a chance.

The wonderful CopyBlogger looks at the importance of enjoying what you write to ensure that passion comes across to the reader. With so many blogs simply out to make an easy dollar, there's no shortage of bad writing and cold mo

Read More...

I work in copywriting for business websites. Every day I see hundreds of websites that have absolutely no chance in selling whatever it is they think the customer wants.

This article looks at some of the ways you can make your business website more persuasive and convert more of your website traffic into customers.

Is yo

Read More...

The centre of any marketing campaign is the value proposition. It is the core message of the business that characterises public perception and drives everything forward.

And I recently had to write one.

To learn from my mistakes, or if you simply want to feel my pain, start here with the first part of a five article serie

Read More...

Life is full of deadlines., But how do you cope with them? With multiple deadlines crunching down, how do you cope with the stress and time management?

Many amateur writers bemoan writing to a time frame, claiming it stifles creativity. But is that true? I am a procrastinator - always waiting til the last minute before star

Read More...

The first in a new series, every Sunday, that seeks to profile a different writer each week.

Everyone from universally renowned heavyweights to jobbing writers deserving of more attention. The Sunday Scribbler seeks to highlight some of the best examples of what professional writing is about.

Paul Cornell is the Hugo Aw

Read More...