Sunday 14 June 2009

Stuart Neville, The Twelve

Tell Me a Story - technology.


I’ve always advised new writers to keep a notebook handy – ideas are ephemeral; they develop a nasty habit of slipping from us if we don’t jot them down immediately.

However, technology changes things. As much as I dislike change for the sake of change, I admit to tentatively embracing it. I don’t want to get left behind. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with an Olympus digital voice recorder to record those little ideas that seem to jump into my head at inconvenient moments.

It seems I’m not the only one to embrace technology. Author, Stuart Neville, has discovered his own way of taking notes.


The Twelve, by Armagh writer, Stuart Neville, first saw light of day life on the screen of his mobile phone, before ending up with approval from none other than novelist James Ellroy.

Ellroy, author of LA Confidential and American Tabloid, said that Stuart Neville's thriller was, "The best first novel I have read in years".

"The book started life on my mobile phone," Stuart Neville explained. "I literally got up out of bed with this idea in my head for a novel and the first thing I put my hand on was my PDA phone. I started writing it digitally there and then on the mobile screen because it was handy, and then later copied it onto my computer."

So there you are. I always knew mobile phones were useful for something…. most people are welded to them for no good reason…. but as a notebook…. great!




*** Stuart Neville, Stuart Neville, Stuart Neville ***
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Writing tips – manuscript submissions guidelines 15 vital checks
Overcoming writer’s block
Ideas for saving money
How to deal with anxiety

End of post - Stuart Neville, The Twelve

1 comment:

Lori A. May said...

That's a cool story! I never use my cell phone. I hate them. I have one in case of emergencies... but now maybe I'll consider using it as a notebook on the go. Thanks for sharing this!