Writing Hour Roundup: 12 July 2022


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“The People’s Friend” Writing Hour is held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. on Twitter and it’s always a brilliant time! It’s a time when we can get together with writers for a chat.

Every week we summarise everything that went on for those who missed out.

How is everyone today? Are you enjoying the sunshine, or do you prefer to stay in the shade?

Most people answered that they’d rather stay in the shade. We’re so surprised!

We haven’t had much sun up here so far this year, so we’re grabbing any opportunity to soak up some vitamin D.

As long as we’ve got sun lotion, water and a good book to hand, we’re quite happy to sit out in the sun.

What books and songs remind you of summer?

Here’s something a bit different – a summer hits mix list as chosen by our writers!

Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks

In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry

Theme from A Summer Place – Percy Faith

Summertime – Porgy & Bess

Summer Breeze – Isley Brothers

Grazin’ in the Grass – The Friends Of Distinction

Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful

A Place in the Sun – Stevie Wonder

Long Hot Summer – The Style Council

Do you write even when you’re away somewhere on holiday?

For some of you, a holiday is your time to get away from everything – including writing.

For others, you’ll still carry a notebook and jot down ideas if they come.

And some of you are really inspired by new settings and write loads!

It’s whatever works best for you!

What’s the strangest thing anyone has ever said to you about one of your stories?

Some of the answers to this question are comedy gold. Here are just a couple:

The BBC and Sky both have programmes about books. Do you watch them? Do you think books should get more coverage in the media?

Quite a few of you do tune in, or else listen to segments about books on the radio.

And we’d all be happy to see books talked about more in the media. As many of you pointed it out, it would be nice to see more about genre fiction and celebrate authors who don’t get as much coverage.

A number of celebrities now have fiction books published. Do you think it’s unfair as they have an advantage? Do you think they actually write them?

This was a great discussion.

A lot of you feel that, if a celebrity does use a ghost writer, that there should be more transparency around it. Pun unintended!


We’ll see you at our next Writing Hour on Twitter — 11 a.m. on Tuesday 19 July, 2022.

Or click here to see our previous roundups.

Abigail Phillips

Abbie is the newest member of the fiction team at the "Friend." She loves how varied the role is - every day is different and there is always a new story to read. She is keen to work closely with established writers and discover new writers, too.