If young Mr Irving’s The World According to Garp were discussed in a present-day writing workshop, they would tell him to cut the coincidences, tighten the plot, remove the digressions, start the story later, and ffs, learn to show, not tell.
Good thing he ignored the advice before it was given.

I was fifty when I first set foot on a rugby pitch.
School PE had convinced me that sport wasn’t for people like me. Rugby proved that
wrong.
In this essay, I write about body image, changing rooms, self-doubt, and the unexpected
joy of finding a place to play.
open.substack.com/pub/joergenb...

I’ve posted my first article on Substack: a essay about why I feel more at home writing in English than in Dutch, my native language.
Follow me if you’re interested masculinity, desire, grief, and the things men never say, seen through the eyes of a Dutch gay man.
open.substack.com/pub/joergenb...

Touch, Pause, Engage is the novel I’m writing.
It is a story about living authentically, grappling with lost love and the ache of missed opportunities. And yes, there’s a bit of rugby in there too. #QueerLit #gayauthor #gayliterature

I'm a writer and scientist working on my debut novel. My stories are influenced by always feeling a bit out of place. I’ll be sharing updates on my writing journey, glimpses into my characters’ worlds, and books that inspire me.