Shakespeare and Company: Why Paris’s most famous bookshop still feels like a pilgrimage

A century after it first opened, Shakespeare and Company remains more than a bookshop; it’s a living testament to the power of words, memory, and belonging. 
There are bookshops that sell books, and then there’s Shakespeare and Company. Each time I visit, as I did again recently, I’m

reminded that this isn’t merely a shop. It’s a symbol. It’s about history, the writers, and the romance of Paris.

The quiet power of slow books

Some novels refuse to be hurried. They ask for patience, not because they’re difficult, but because they move differently. You don’t tear through them. You live in them.

I was thinking about this as I slowly make my way through Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry. It’s that kind of book. There are, of course, plenty of others.

Why Hemingway still matters

This year will be sixty-three years since Ernest Hemingway took his own life. He was 61 and a towering presence in literature. His life was marked by enormous creativity, public myth, and private suffering. Six decades later, his literary legacy remains undiminished. Hemingway wasn’t just one of the great American novelists of the 20th century. He changed the way fiction was written.

His influence on modern writing is unparalleled. He revolutionised the short story, made dialogue sharper and more lifelike, and proved that what you leave out is just as important as what you put in.

That’s why, if you are not already, you should be reading him. If you’re unsure where to begin or have questions, continue reading.

Crafting the perfect opening lines of a novel

Do you need a killer opening line for your novel? Or is there an alternative way to draw readers in right from the start? 

I'm slightly obsessed by the opening lines of novels, and for me, the opening line isn’t merely about crafting a flashy hook; it’s about setting the tone, sparking curiosity, and providing readers with a reason to keep turning the pages. A brilliant first sentence generates intrigue and anticipation, drawing the audience into your story before they even realise it.

A guide to reading Joan Didion

I’m a big fan of Joan Didion. I’ve read most of her published works, with her novel Play It As It Lays, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, and The Year of Magical Thinking among my favourites. What I’ve always appreciated about her writing is the precision and emotional depth she brings to her words. Few others come close. She possessed an unmatched ability to distil complex emotions and cultural shifts into sentences that feel both effortless and weighty.

Joan Didion's writing is a masterclass in precision and insight. Her distinctive style, marked by pared-down, rigorous prose, captured the nuances of American life and personal introspection. As a leading figure in the New Journalism movement of the 1960s, Didion's work blended literary flair with journalistic integrity, offering readers a profound lens through which to view the world.

How to write a novel when you have no time

One of the biggest challenges for most writers is finding the time. In my 20s and early 30s, I could sit for hours and devote entire weekends to writing without distractions. But life changes. Responsibilities pile up, free time disappears, and you have to adapt.

For a while, I thought I needed long, uninterrupted stretches before I could write. Otherwise, what was the point? I told myself that anything less than 90 minutes was pointless—but in reality, I was just putting blockers in the way.

I’ve since learned that writing a novel doesn’t require marathon sessions. It can be done in snatches, even 20 minutes here, a paragraph or two there.

If you feel like you don’t have time to write, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t finish a book. I’ve spent ages thinking about this and collected some strategies and wisdom from authors on how to write a novel when your schedule is packed.

Dialogue that does double duty: How to advance plot and reveal character

Dialogue isn’t just there to make characters sound like they’re speaking. It’s one of the most powerful

tools in a novelist’s kit. The right line of dialogue can move the story forward, deepen a character’s personality, and sometimes even hint at future conflicts. 

When your dialogue serves multiple purposes, it pulls more weight, making your prose more efficient and engaging. Here are four well-known literary examples of how you can achieve this.

Writing your novel: How to find your unique style

Every novelist has a unique fingerprint, a way of telling stories that sets them apart. This is your writing style, your voice. 

It's what connects you to your readers and makes your novels memorable. But how do you find it? These tips that look at finding your voice and consistency are key to getting there.

I've always loved this Ernest Hemingway, quote from On Writing:

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way."

A reminder that great writing doesn’t have to be overcomplicated. Clarity, truth, and emotional impact often come from simplicity—not from forcing complexity.

Whether you're writing fiction, essays, or anything in between, focus on saying what matters in the best and simplest way.