Mind Your Gap…
Welcome to
THE WRITER'S LAIR
Come in. Bring your own apostrophe, check your adverbs at the door, and don’t forget to Mind your Gap.
GARY N. LINES
Writer
My hope is to engage and inspire you with insight into my writing. Obviously, my ultimate objective is to inspire you to buy my books, post your reviews, and hear your feedback (preferably encouraging, clever at least).
You will find more stories, essays, banter & nonsense in the WRITER'S CORNER, and hopefully be lured deeper into my writing and thinking world in Writing: Beyond the Pages where I discuss the philosophical ideas, themes and absurdity of the human condition that inspire my writing. The Monthly Column will be an experience not to be missed.
Best of all, the READERS LOUNGE offers you the opportunity to show off your wit, intelligence and lies, and engage directly with me on any topic of interest (mine that is). You will meet my Social Media Genie, get updates on my comings & goings, browse my Library and hear about Book Club and Readers Competition.
Have fun, and btw please buy a book (see my Library for details).
Fuck it, buy both. Buy one for a friend. Buy one for anyone...you get the idea.
The Writer’s Corner
CURRENT MONTH
Issue 12: January 2026
by Gary N. Lines
‘WHY I WRITE LITERARY FICTION’
Recently, Sophie from Monte Carlo asked me a question. As I felt it was too good a question to just give a flippant response in the ‘Ask the Writer’ section on my website, I have decided to feature it as my first monthly column for the year.
dear readers
This is where I get to hear from you, and if it is interesting and relevant to my writing and/or thinking, I will respond with enthusiasm.
So ask your question, make a comment, or give your review.
The ‘best of’ will be published monthly on this page, and automatically entered into the Readers Competition, where ‘The Best of the year’ will be published (on this site) and promoted on my social media – by my social media Genie. The winner of the Readers Competition will get to conduct a written interview with me. You’ll get ten questions—make ‘em count. Ask whatever you like— warts, dangling modifiers, split infinitives, the lot. It will be published. Neither you, nor I, will be spared.
Just so you know, I don’t tweet, Instagram or Facebook. In short, I don’t do social media. I do post-it notes. And emails. But don’t let that deter you—my Social Media Genie will engage with you on social media and pass your words on to me. Make contact, contribute, amuse or just have your say (keep it short). Use any platform you like.
Readers Space: ask the writer
Ask Your Question. Make your comment. Enter the Readers Competition. And I may answer, so long as you heed the following:
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If you have something intriguing to say, say it. If you don’t, don’t. (Praise and adulation are never out of place.)
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Keep it short, pithy, amusing, intriguing - but most of all, short.
READERS COMPETITION
Q. ‘I adore how you write. Having said that, one of the enjoyments of your writing is the slight whiff of arrogance, or is it irritation, that you get away with? I think it evokes the pain/pleasure paradox. We discussed this in our book club. We discussed at length, the ‘how’. We mused over technique, method, voice and so on. But my question is more to do with the ‘why’, as in why do you write, or more broadly why do artists think that their work is of sufficient value that it should be inflicted, presented, offered to others? What’s your take on this?’
Jan from Washington DC has kicked off the year with an intriguing question:
This month'S WINNERS - THE BEST OF 'ASK THE WRITER'
‘The Best of’ winners are arbitrarily selected by Gary N. Lines (criteria unknown) & enter the Readers Competition for the chance to win bragging rights for ‘BEST OF THE YEAR’. The final decision rests entirely with the whims of The Writer, immune to dispute or challenge—logic, rational thought, philosophical astuteness and fairness will not play any part most likely.
The full identity of each contributor is withheld from public viewing to protect privacy and possible embarrassment, but the writer applauds your bravery and appreciates your questions & comments (mostly).
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meet gary’s social media genie
Hello I’m Steph!
I'm Gary's social media manager (aka the Social Media Genie) and I'm here to keep Gary's online world running smoothly. Whether you're sharing thoughts about Gary's latest work or asking those burning questions (like what he's really like to work with!), I'm the person who makes sure Gary stays in the loop. And yes, it may involve translating your message into post-it notes for his attention!
Message me on
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OR
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Your Review Counts
Putting away my flippancy for a moment, I need your inspiring reviews of both books so if you had some fun, had a small laugh, thought about life and your bit in it, then please don’t keep it to yourself. Tell the world. Tell your friends of course, insist they buy their own copy, make them engage with it but also, if you get the time, compose a review for any of the book selling platforms, book stores or book blogs and send it in or post it, whatever the words are these days.
I will very much appreciate it. If you remember send a copy of what you said to me, I’d love to read it.
Thank you
Gary N. Lines
