Ian Nettleton
@iannettleton.bsky.social
Winner Bath Novel Award 2023. 2nd place Bath & Bridport Novel Award 2014. Flash in short & longlists (Bridport, Edinburgh, Lett Review, Scratch A4). I also teach writing. I live in the Tory-free UK. Photo: Martin Figura.
I taught some lovely people yesterday, every one of them refugees - educated, creative, thoughtful, humorous. My experience of people seeking a new life in England has always been positive.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”
– Mark Twain
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”
– Mark Twain
August 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I taught some lovely people yesterday, every one of them refugees - educated, creative, thoughtful, humorous. My experience of people seeking a new life in England has always been positive.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”
– Mark Twain
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”
– Mark Twain
I'm reading this superb anthology at the moment. Every short story is followed by an interview with the writer, looking at how the story was formed. And the stories are excellent. It's a brilliant insight into the writing process.
April 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I'm reading this superb anthology at the moment. Every short story is followed by an interview with the writer, looking at how the story was formed. And the stories are excellent. It's a brilliant insight into the writing process.
Well I never felt more like singin' the blues,
'Cus I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your lovin'.
Why'd you do me this way?
'Cus I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your lovin'.
Why'd you do me this way?
March 15, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Well I never felt more like singin' the blues,
'Cus I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your lovin'.
Why'd you do me this way?
'Cus I never thought that I'd ever lose
Your lovin'.
Why'd you do me this way?
This is for anyone who is struggling with world events. My youngest draw this a year or so ago, when she was ten. Just like her older sister, she puts a pen on the page and magic happens. This is what I'll focus on this morning. The ability to create beautiful things.
March 4, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This is for anyone who is struggling with world events. My youngest draw this a year or so ago, when she was ten. Just like her older sister, she puts a pen on the page and magic happens. This is what I'll focus on this morning. The ability to create beautiful things.
It surprises me that Andrew Tate - charged with sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and rape and a big Trump supporter - has been allowed to fly to the US after 'an official in the new Trump administration' expressed interest in their case. In other news, birds of a feather have been seen...
February 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
It surprises me that Andrew Tate - charged with sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and rape and a big Trump supporter - has been allowed to fly to the US after 'an official in the new Trump administration' expressed interest in their case. In other news, birds of a feather have been seen...
Two nights teaching at the National Centre for Writing. It's been a while and it's been good to get back in front of a class and talk writing. Then a cycle home by the cathedral which is all lit up.
February 25, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Two nights teaching at the National Centre for Writing. It's been a while and it's been good to get back in front of a class and talk writing. Then a cycle home by the cathedral which is all lit up.
This only takes a few minutes.
February 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This only takes a few minutes.
Another attempt at this, but this time my fourteen-year-old daughter took the lead. She's a better designer than I'll ever be. The flyer for my novel.
February 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Another attempt at this, but this time my fourteen-year-old daughter took the lead. She's a better designer than I'll ever be. The flyer for my novel.
Grand. It's a good feeling. I saw how a section I was writing last night is going to lead to a section I wrote a month ago and this novel is suddenly gaining a shape. Can't help thinking of mangroves creating land.
February 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Grand. It's a good feeling. I saw how a section I was writing last night is going to lead to a section I wrote a month ago and this novel is suddenly gaining a shape. Can't help thinking of mangroves creating land.
Power. That's what it is. A person has power and no matter how much of a narcissist they are, no matter how morally corrupt and infantile, people will bend over to please them. I'm in the UK and this is Google Maps.
February 11, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Power. That's what it is. A person has power and no matter how much of a narcissist they are, no matter how morally corrupt and infantile, people will bend over to please them. I'm in the UK and this is Google Maps.
Well, that dragon is wonderful. It looks like it'll fill in a lot of space. At the Kuniyoshi exhibition I read that one of his prints would cost the same as a bowl of rice. He wanted anyone to be able to own one. I love that idea. They now cost thousands, sadly.
January 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Well, that dragon is wonderful. It looks like it'll fill in a lot of space. At the Kuniyoshi exhibition I read that one of his prints would cost the same as a bowl of rice. He wanted anyone to be able to own one. I love that idea. They now cost thousands, sadly.
Wow. I love it. I don't have any tattoos, but a student of mine had the one below on his arm and this would be an option for me. I love line illustrations.
January 30, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Wow. I love it. I don't have any tattoos, but a student of mine had the one below on his arm and this would be an option for me. I love line illustrations.
Comic book versions of British thrillers, painted twenty years ago. Holly Martins walking in the cold, waiting for Anna - The Third Man
January 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Comic book versions of British thrillers, painted twenty years ago. Holly Martins walking in the cold, waiting for Anna - The Third Man
Comic book versions of British thrillers painted twenty years ago. Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much.
January 28, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Comic book versions of British thrillers painted twenty years ago. Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much.
My 14-year-old daughter drew this yesterday. I won the art prize at school when I was her age and she is waaaaay better than I ever was.
January 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
My 14-year-old daughter drew this yesterday. I won the art prize at school when I was her age and she is waaaaay better than I ever was.
Frankie, drawn for my pal last year. 'It was just one of those things...' Can anyone guess the film?
January 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Frankie, drawn for my pal last year. 'It was just one of those things...' Can anyone guess the film?
He's Alive - an episode of The Twilight Zone that come to mind today, for reasons that escape me. Deep breath, everyone.
January 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
He's Alive - an episode of The Twilight Zone that come to mind today, for reasons that escape me. Deep breath, everyone.
And here is another version of the flyer. It's based on film posters which are usually full of quotes.
January 14, 2025 at 9:41 PM
And here is another version of the flyer. It's based on film posters which are usually full of quotes.
I created this flyer for my unpublished novel in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep and there was a 'wolf moon' in the sky and it made sense to use the time. It isn't really finished but here it is anyway. There's more to say about what's been happening but this'll do for now...
January 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I created this flyer for my unpublished novel in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep and there was a 'wolf moon' in the sky and it made sense to use the time. It isn't really finished but here it is anyway. There's more to say about what's been happening but this'll do for now...
Me and my gram and sister on Bramwell Street, Sheffield, c. 1973.
January 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Me and my gram and sister on Bramwell Street, Sheffield, c. 1973.
Happy New Year! In the UK, at least, 2024 ended better than it started. Here's to a creative 2025! xx
January 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Happy New Year! In the UK, at least, 2024 ended better than it started. Here's to a creative 2025! xx
Who says Santa doesn't exist?
December 18, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Who says Santa doesn't exist?
Another thriller painting, in a comic book style. Anyone recognise the film it's based on? A clue: 'I never knew the old Vienna...'
December 14, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Another thriller painting, in a comic book style. Anyone recognise the film it's based on? A clue: 'I never knew the old Vienna...'
I did some paintings twenty years ago, based on British thrillers. This is from The Man Who Knew Too Much.
December 14, 2024 at 2:08 PM
I did some paintings twenty years ago, based on British thrillers. This is from The Man Who Knew Too Much.