Using Editing Software?

Word cloud created through wordart.com How do you organise your own editing of your creative writing? You’ll find an account of my latest WIP journey here to show how I go about it. The MS stood at 79,079 words at the end of the edit referred to in that post. I then began the penultimate …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

For the past few years, on the 1st of each month, I’ve been reminding followers here that the creative writing contest table has been updated. I update it several times each month, adding details, but this reminder is posted just once a month. Sadly, support for this effort has been poor; no feedback, little sharing, …

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Let’s Get Digital, by David Gaughran: #BookReview.

220 pages Writing Reference. This is the 4th Edition. This manual guides writers through the process of publishing a book in digital form. But it’s so much more than that. David Gaughran has been writing about writing and publishing for some years. He bases his advice on personal experience combined with much research. He knows …

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Perils of the Pantster.

My desk during editing. If you write by the seat of your pants, you’re a pantster, as opposed to those who write a story from a structured plan; they’re plotters. Both methods have upsides and downsides, and both have devotees, some of whom can be unnecessarily scathing of those in the opposite camp. I’ve been …

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The Fisherman and His Soul, by Oscar Wilde: #BookReview.

I read this short story by the famous playwright in the hope it would prove a better read than his ‘The Birthday of the Infanta’. My hope was based on ‘The Sphinx Without a Secret’ and ‘The Selfish Giant’, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this moral tale is similar to the ‘Infanta’, in …

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Finding the Write #Words? Last in the Series.

Some of the books on the list. Each week since October 2019 I’ve been posting ‘reviews’ of books on my shelves that deal with the English language, its use, and the opportunities to find and employ different words to express yourself in speech and/or writing. The complete list of books is listed below with link …

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The Birthday of the Infanta, by Oscar Wilde: #BookReview.

Very definitely a story of its time. It’s intended for children, but I seriously doubt many modern kids would read this. There are moral lessons buried here, but they are largely lost in the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of the riches of the royal family featured. Some of these are effectively lists of luxury items and …

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Finding the Write #Words? No. 38: Usage and Abusage

Completing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 38: Usage and Abusage Paperback, 380 pages. Published in 1947 by Hamish Hamilton and reprinted many times. I own the 1978 Penguin edition, which I bought for the princely sum of £1.10. There’s a …

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The Upside-Down History of Down Under, by Alison Lloyd and Terry Denton: #BookReview.

304 Pages Children’s Books (8-12) This book came to me as a ‘jokey’ present from my daughter, who lives in Australia. Whilst it’s clearly a book written for children, I suspect a lot of adults will find it informative, illuminating, and entertaining, as I did. I’d love to see it used by both UK and …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

On the 1st of the month I remind followers here that the creative writing contest table has been updated. (I update it several times each month and I’ll be adding more details in the next few days, but this reminder is posted just once!) If you’d like to be reminded by email, please click the …

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Finding the Write #Words? No. 37: The Synonym Finder

Continuing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 37: The Synonym Finder Hardback, 1355 pages. Published in 1979 by Rodale Press, which is the edition I own. I don’t recall what I paid for it, as it was part of a collection …

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Finding the Write #Words? No. 36: The Slang Thesaurus

Continuing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 36: The Slang Thesaurus Hardback, 280 pages. Published in 1986 by Elm Tree Books/Hamish Hamilton Ltd, which is the edition I own. I can’t now recall what it cost me. The 1985 edition is …

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The Writer’s Body Lexicon, by Kathy Steinemann: #BookReview.

629 pages Editing Reference/Writing Reference. Subtitled ‘Body Parts, Actions, and Expressions’ this book was written by the author in response to requests from followers of her blog, where she features articles about language use and its improvement of the skillsets available to writers. Under the introductive ‘Read This First’ section, she explains how chapters are …

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Today’s Pictures: 14 June 20

Sunshine streams through gaps in the canopy in this stand of pine trees. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another day when grey skies greeted the morning and the forecasters predicted rain in the afternoon, so we ventured out early for our walk. It turns out they …

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Today’s Pictures: 13 June 20

In one of our favourite parts of the local forest. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another day of cloud and sunny periods, with a threat of thunderstorms this evening. We set out to check the lilies on the fishing pond and found only a few have …

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