IN WHICH I TRY TO ANSWER REALLY TRICKY QUESTIONS

So, very kindly, or maybe not so kindly, both VP and Ryan have tagged me in their writing meme....

Which words do you use too much in your writing?

Oh god, no idea, probably 'oh god'. 

Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read?

I literally cannot stand people using the word literally. Unless they actually mean literally. No actually I think I am pretty tolerant. I am the total opposite of Lynne Truss. I have just realise the word I overuse is 'actually'.

What’s your favourite piece of writing by you?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha I so do not sit around thinking about what is my favourite piece of writing by myself. Honestly what kind of wanger would you have to be to do that?? [wanders off chuckling to make tea]

What blog post do you wish you’d written?

All of Arabella Sock. 

Regrets, do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn’t written?

Like what? Like what? What are you saying?

How has your writing made a difference?

Another completely absurd and pompous question which reveals this quiz was definitely made up by an American. :-)

Name three favourite words

 cannot take seriously

…And three words you’re not so keen on

Leonardo di Caprio

Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration?

I think there are so many amazing garden writers that we don't get to read enough of. I bought a second hand copy of Anna Pavord's columns last year - she is just so funny, so knowledgeable. Ursula Buchan I love, whatever Matthew 'evil thoughts' Appleby thinks. Elspeth Thompson I revere. I love Sarah Raven for her bossiness, I love Beverley Nichols for his naughtiness, I love Vita Sackville-West for being so Vita-ish. You could spend your life reading about nothing but gardening and a) not run out of material and b) always be reading utterly stylish stuff. 


What’s your writing ambition?

I just like to be able to describe things for people who aren't there. I love that challenge. Describing something is a really weird process on a neurological level. Think about this - your brain is finding a way of putting an image, a physical, possibly smellable, touchable, evocative image, into someone else's brain. It does this merely by words, it doesn't show the other person pictures, it doesn't let them smell the smell. Just words. If you think about it long enough, you begin to realise that writing is a form of weird mind control. You can make other people angry, sad, turned on... See! It's so weird! You can make water come out their eyes! (if you are really good at it)

I'm telling you, it's weird. 

VP and Ryan I love both your blogs, don't go changing. xxx