A Brief Experiment

Procrastination is probably the writer’s greatest hidden enemy. Most of us unconsciously employ strategies designed to stop us putting pen to paper and getting on with the job. This is so even if we actively enjoy the process of writing. Something in us is almost self-destructive in its desire to stop us expressing ourselves in …

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The #Write #Word? Post 54

Word cloud designed via wordart.com When writing, do you find it hard to discover the ‘right’ word? I do, sometimes. In trying to improve my own work, perhaps I can help others. Today’s words: Unhinged/Sane, Uselessly, Until such time as, Uniform. Antonyms: words that express the opposite of other words can be hard to find, because …

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Capturing the Creative Craving

Children at the edge of the North Sea, Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England. This year I'm determined to concentrate on my creative needs. I write and I take photographs. I also love making pictures with pencil, pen, and paint, though those skills I've yet to hone. So, these Wednesday posts will display my efforts in this …

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Game Changers of the Apocalypse, by Mark Kirkbride: #BookReview.

Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic Horror 299 pages As far as I can recall, I’ve never read a book in the post-apocalypse genre before, so it’s probable there are recognisable conventions of which I’m unaware. That said, any book should generally be accessible to all readers if possible. This one took some getting into for me. Once I …

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The #Write #Word? Post 53

Word cloud via wordart.com Find it hard to discover the ‘right’ word when writing? So do I, sometimes. In working to improve my own writing, maybe I can help other writers. Today’s words: Taboo, Time period, Temper tantrum, Tory. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. …

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2 Steps to Greater Exposure.

Share buttons In common with many writers, I support other authors. But some websites and blogs make this very difficult. Or, at least, do nothing to make it easy. We’re all busy people; time is our most precious resource. It’s sensible to make sharing your output as simple as possible. When Jo visits your site …

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Generation Mars: Video Trailer.

This brilliant trailer was produced by Ramon Marrett for Adiq, via my fabulous publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing. Enjoy. BLOOD RED DUST: As Earth plunges into total climate chaos, will new bases on Mars rescue humanity from extinction when religious extremists threaten to destroy them? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909163635/?tag=stuartaken-21 WAR OVER DUST: Who will win on Mars when violence …

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The #Write #Word? Post 52

Word cloud created via wordart.com Find it hard to discover the ‘right’ word when writing? So do I, sometimes. In working to improve my own writing, maybe I can help other writers. Today’s words: Shriek/Whisper, Spliced together, Stubborn as a mule, Science. Antonyms: words that express the opposite of other words can be hard to …

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2018 is Done; Hello 2019

https://www.picfair.com/pics/05398192-vapour-trails Is it a good habit to review your past? Maybe looking back like this can help the observer see actions that might help in moving forward. Regardless, I love the New Year because, arbitrary as it is, it marks a point of renewal, a chance to start again. So, here are some facts about …

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The Darkness Abides, by L. Harcroft: #BookReview.

Fantasy serial It’s difficult to know whether this book is experimental or just badly written. The sentence structure sometimes seems borrowed from the 19th century and there are many errors that should have been spotted in editing. The opening is a strange mix of intriguing detail and oddly expressed action. We’re given no clues as …

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Where Did the Hills Go?, by Lali Gupta Chatterjee : #BookReview.

109 pages Science Fiction When science fiction is written by an established physicist the reader can expect the science at least to be plausible. That’s the case here, even though we’re in the world of quantum physics, which is an area full of speculation and dispute, and much misunderstood by so many. The story here …

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The #Write #Word? Post 51

Word cloud created through wordart.com Find it hard to discover the ‘right’ word when writing? So do I, sometimes. In working to improve my own writing, maybe I can help you.              Today’s words: Repeatedly, Regalia/Regal, Relative to, Review. Adverbs: words used to strengthen a weak verb, added to a verb in order to give it …

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Water Entanglement, by Claudiu Murgan: #BookReview.

Science fiction is a broad genre, as is fantasy. Sometimes the two are mixed, as in this piece of imaginative narrative. The book deals with a scenario only too likely should we continue to abuse nature and the environment in the ways we have for the past couple of centuries. However, I have some concerns …

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Season’s Greetings

And to all those who celebrate other seasonal events at this time, Season's Greetings! I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all my readers, visitors, partners in word-wrangling, and friends for your continuing support. To those who have 'liked' my posts, I want to say many thanks. To those who have 'shared' my posts …

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The #Write #Word? Post 50

Word cloud created via wordart.com Do you find it hard to discover the ‘right’ word when writing? So do I, sometimes. In trying to improve my own writing, maybe I can help you.      Today’s words:  QED, Question Mark, Quick as a wink, Queen. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what …

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