What was your inspiration to begin writing, and what keeps you going at it?

I wrote funny stories at school (when I was in early double figures) and read them out to the class. They were probably pretty childish (but were very handy as a popularity tool) and I outgrew them, although I tried to start again from time to time for the next ten years. Meanwhile, I was now into horror and had found my natural genre. British short horror fiction had a golden age in the late 1980s and I met a quite famous writer, Joel Lane, at a convention (that's a story in itself) and told him a couple of my ideas. He said I should just write them and see what happened. I did . My first story was "The Sixth Bullet" - about werewolves - which I'm unlikely to let anyone else see. I wrote about ten stories plus a lot of fragments then ran out of ideas and didn't write a word for five years. When I found the writers' workshop site I dragged my least bad story ("Ice Crystals") out of storage and submitted it. It got a (to me at least) surprisingly good reception, had an idea - about werewolves again - and started writing it. What keeps me going is simply the huge rush I get from it.

When do you find that you are at your most creative?

Unfortunately, 12-6am and only when I've found something to write. With me it's all or nothing at all. Then I often get ideas while I'm writing something else. Once I stop I tend to stay stopped.

"Americanism" is the only thing I've written since May but before now I've gone from initial idea to first draft in thirty minutes then started on something else. (But they have taken over my life for days or weeks and I often go back to unfinished ones).

Have you had any of your work published? If not, will you try to have any of your work published?

The only stories I've released into the wild have been on the Phoenix. I'd kinda sort of like to have a go at publishing but at the moment I write for my own amusement. If I made money out of it and got deadlines and all the hassle I might stop enjoying it. Plus, I'm terrified of rejection. The truth is I wouldn't even know where the start.

What do you look for in a writer's group?

I find getting reviews very exciting, good or bad. Self-confidence isn't my strong point but as criticisms are intended to be genuinely helpful it's quite supportive. I like to return the favour.

"Ice Crystals" is a fairly generic supernatural mood piece and if I wrote it now it would be completely different as I've developed what I like to think is a style of my own. So it does work. (Mind you, there was a story someone submitted a while ago, The Universe, which we gave a good collective kicking. I feel quite guilty about that.)

To date, what is your favourite piece of writing that you have authored, and why?

The story I ENJOYED writing the most was "1138" It started off as something completely different but just took on a life of its own. I found I kept getting ideas and it was really, really easy to write. I also enjoyed writing "Original Lies" because I loved the characters. I'd like to write a sequel. There was a lot of personal stuff in "Usk's First Christmas" and as it's a lot longer than usual it's a genuine story rather than a set piece. It was NOT easy to write and was a pivotal piece for me. (See below) I'm quite proud of the result.

Who are the authors that have influenced your work and how have they done so?

Oddly enough, I don't read horror at all these days. I'm more inspired by films and I think the Pulp Fiction (lots of dialogue) influence is obvious. We all seem to pick Stephen King as a hero and the first adult books I read were Salem's Lot and The Shining. "Night Shift" is the perfect horror collection. I was reading his book "On Writing" and it contains lots of practical advice ("The road to Hell is paved with adverbs"). I was so excited by the idea of such simple tips and found myself applying them to "Usk's First Christmas" at three in the morning. I deleted the whole first page, all the adverbs and most of the he-said-she-said's and was amazed at the result. It was so much smoother and tighter.

How do you come up with new ideas for stories?

Literally anywhere. "The Werewolves Next Door" started as the title. Some from news stories. Two unrelated things connecting in my head. Recently, I've been trying to force things a little by picking a specific subject from real life experience, like a trip to the beach or starting a new job.

What elements of a story do you find the most difficult to develop?

The initial idea is the hardest thing by far. After that I work out what the last line will be. I ALWAYS know before I start and NEVER change it. I'm comfortable with beginnings, endings and dialogue but I HATE describing anything. (When I had to write ONE LINE to describe mutant seagulls flying over a beach at sunset it took me a week) The thing I have most trouble with is literally losing the plot. I have to get from Once Upon a Time to They Didn't Live Happily Ever After and if I get bogged down I lose confidence and file it away under incomplete. Once I've got that initial skeleton to hang the meat on I'm okay. And I tend, to spray, commas, around ran, domly,. Strangely, I quite like editing. Oh, and all those < p>'s drive me insane.

When reading something by another author, what sort of things really irritate you or turn you off to their writing?

Everyone keeps on about dodgy grammar but it's like tripping over a loose paving stone. (I FURIOUS with myself when I do it am.) A story will have a natural pace and rhythm and trying to showboat (or show how good your thesaurus is) only slows it down. Also, twist endings are not compulsory (even in horror stories).

What is your ultimate idea of success as a writer?

I'd love to be good enough to make a living out of it.

Do you find that there are any differences writing for a worldwide audience versus a local audience?

I've only ever written for the WWW so I don't really know but I have toned down some of my Brit-culture references.

Is there anything else that u would like to share with our writers?

Where have all the stories gone? You can't have a writers' workshop without writers, can you? I'd advise anyone who stumbles into the site by accident to get going. It is helpful and what have you got to lose?