I finished the first draft of the current novel on 19 January, with 63269 words written. For reasons I’m unclear about, I neglected to write one of these posts on the following Wednesday, my regular day for this. I probably forgot in the joy of getting the story on the page! So, my apologies for …
Month: Jan 2018
Getting to Know the #Author
I have recently been interviewed on a website to which I contribute a short monthly column. You can find the interview by clicking this link. And the picture above? Well, it's drab January here in UK, so I thought I'd warm us up with a picture of summer in the Greek Islands. And there's a …
My Route to a Publisher
Below you'll find a link to a short post from the blog run by the writing group I belong to. It shows, in very few words, how I came to be published instead of only self-published. And it offers the chance of a similar route to other writers. http://www.hornseawriters.com/2018/01/local-publisher-takes-shine-to-hornsea.html
The Write Word? Post 4
Do you sometimes struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? I know I do. Maybe, in helping myself, I can help other writers. Today’s words: Chronic/Acute, Completely Annihilate, Synaesthesia Words often misused: Chronic is often confused with ‘acute’, but, medically, they’re opposites. Chronic means long-lasting and includes such conditions as Type 1 diabetes, …
The Rift, by Tess Burnside: #BookReview.
A touching story of love, betrayal, loss and redemption. Tess Burnside’s tale is told in simple form, perhaps a little too simple in terms of language. I found the repetitive use of ‘she’ to start multiple sentences a little wearing and would have preferred more variety of sentence structure to avoid this. But the characters …
Promote Your Blog in 2018
So far, there are 629 responses to this post. So, if you're seeking information on different blogs, this could be a good starting point. Have fun! Please note that you need to go to the foot of my post and click the link under 'Dr Perry' that says, 'View original post' and then enter your …
Mo, by S Pearce: #BookReview.
An unusual novel, this. The protagonist is a young Muslim boy facing a future he finds unattractive for many reasons. At first, I wondered if this book was meant for children, but that opinion was quickly squashed by the complex language and general tone of the story. The book is aimed, I imagine, at parents, …
The Write Word? Post 3
Sometimes struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? I do. Maybe, in helping myself, I can help other writers. I posted pieces titled ‘Looking for the Best Word?’ until the end of 2017, when I reached post 70. I thought a slightly different approach could help remotivate me and be of more use …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
Last week’s total was 51,050 words. Today, I reached 61,225, so an increase of 10,175 over this week. Working now on the denouement; the action’s building, the tension ramping up. Still really enjoying creating this story, which I’m hoping you’ll all read. So, approaching the end now. If that turns out to be the case, …
The Little Blue Book for Authors: 101 Clues to Get More Out of Facebook, by: Gisela Hausmann #BookReview.
This little book, like all of this author’s output, is direct, straightforward, and full of common sense corralled by her personal research and experience. Gisela Hausmann is thorough in her search for useful advice for the users of social media, especially those who write for a living. This book is no exception. Eager to pass …
The Write Word? Post 2
Do you sometimes struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? I do. Maybe, in helping myself, I can help other writers. I’ve been posting pieces titled ‘Looking for the Best Word?’ until I reached post 70, at the end of 2017, and decided a different approach could help remotivate me and might be …
Author Interview – Stuart Aken
A great, amusing, and unusual interview.
When it comes to mapping out futuristic worlds far beyond the imagination of most people, there are few who apply themselves to the task more creatively than English sci-fi author Stuart Aken. Hard at work on book three of his acclaimed Generation Marsseries and with a website boasting in excess of 23 000 loyal followers, Stuart has indeed been kicking some serious intergalactic goals in the world of science fiction publishing across the last few years.
He agreed to speak to me from his secluded bugalow hidden amongst ancient woodlands somewhere near the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England on the condition I not reveal its exact location. Stuart, your secret is safe with me.
I read recently a well known author say the reason they became a writer was so they’d never have to feel alone again. Can you relate in any way to that thought?
Being…
View original post 693 more words
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
Last week I’d was up to 40481 words in the new book. Today, I’ve reached 51,050, so an increase of 10,569 over the week. Along the way, I’ve invented some new names for locations, introduced a few new characters to take part in the action, and hit on a very slightly different ending, which I …
The Write Word? Post 1
Do you sometimes struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? I do. Maybe, in helping myself, I can help other writers. For over a year, I’ve been posting pieces titled ‘Looking for the Best Word?’. I reached post 70 at the end of 2017 and decided a different approach could help remotivate me …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
Last week I’d reached a total of 35694 words. Today, I’m up to 40481, which is just a tad over my target of 40000 for a busy week, with a couple of days out for festivities. I’m a lover of the New Year: see it as a ‘fresh start’ and prefer it to Christmas, so …
Stuart Aken 