The Republic of Heaven

Interesting article by Philip Pullman in todays Grauniad...

yeah, nick just sent me that... it's a neat article, I like the fishing analogy

Yes! Finally there's someone else who agrees that those time-constrained write-what's-happening-in-the-picture questions are a waste of time!

Finally, someone realizes that English is not supposed to be a "How to BS" course. And it happened to be Pullman, too!

... we don't have the picture things, just "writing prompts". Same awful idea though Complete wastes of time.....

Yes, it's about time somebody pointed out to the wider world that writing often involves a lot of chewing pencils, making cups of coffee and generally finding pressing things to do

I thought it was a really good insight into how writing works. And yes, it is a lonely business much of the time.

Then of course you tend to get the old blank page, blank mind problem.

Then of course you tend to get the old blank page, blank mind problem.

My pages aren't usually blank, they are stained with blood-streaked tears!

Oooh. Conjunctivitis can get nasty, you should get treated .


No really, I know what you meant.

nothing better then an author who bashes the english program!

Totally. I remember doing the stoy part of the segment for my practise SAT. I started writing this long, rambling this with all these weird characters, all about unicorns. It was darn imaginiative. But it was completely worthles, of coure, because I hadn't done the beginning-middle-end thing. Well, I agree with PP: more important to get children in love with reading and writing, then teach them how to do it well.