Kirsten MacQuarrie
- Mar 27, 2018
- 4 min
When You Say Nothing At All ... Open Spaces on the Page and the Canvas
'You say it best when you say nothing at all' ... don't worry, this isn't a 90s nostalgia blog dedicated to Notting Hill! Rather, I've...
Kirsten MacQuarrie
- Feb 9, 2018
- 4 min
All that glitters: writing for a post-prize world
One month in, this year has so far been a strong one in terms of novel writing. I've managed to carve out space for a small writing...
Kirsten MacQuarrie
- Jan 25, 2018
- 3 min
Artist in Residence - a new year and a new blog!
Happy 2018 everyone! As many Glasgow Gallerina fans will know (come on, there must be a couple of you!) my Diary of a Novel blog is where...
Kirsten MacQuarrie
- Dec 24, 2017
- 10 min
Christmas Eve: A Short Story
The stolen coins in her pocket sit awkwardly against her hipbone. Kit feels their bulk at her side with every step she takes: their...
Kirsten
- Dec 10, 2017
- 3 min
It's beginning to look a lot like ... the last blog post of 2017!
A short and sweet post this time - perfect (I hope!) for the festive season! I'd like to start by saying a huge thank you to everyone who...
Kirsten (with guest blogger Sara McQueen)
- Nov 30, 2017
- 8 min
Feel the Fear and Write it Anyway: Addressing Anxiety in Fiction
Anxiety has been a feature of several periods throughout my life, and I’m not alone. Studies report that anxiety disorders (an umbrella...
Glasgow Gallerina
- Nov 6, 2017
- 4 min
Thinking Creatively about Creativity (with a little help from Hamilton!)
To quote Hamilton – a musical I have listened to on loop to such an extent that my collie Gypsy now barks along in tune! – ‘every...
Glasgow Gallerina
- Oct 20, 2017
- 4 min
Thimbles of Bravery: Art, Animals and the Act of Creating Character
One of my favourite modern works of fiction is The Goldfinch, a Pulitzer Prize winning novel written by Donna Tartt. With art and animals...