The #Write #Word? Post 41

Do you struggle to find the ‘right’ word when you’re writing? Sometimes, I do, too. Maybe, in working to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Habitat, Heavily, Has a requirement for, Hollow tube, Honour. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Habitat: …

Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 41

Invitation to Poetry, by Mihai Brinas: #BookReview.

Poetry is such a subjective literary genre that it’s often difficult to reach a conclusion about whether a collection is very good, difficult, obscure, or any of a mixture of reactions. This assortment is by a poet whose first language is Romanian: whether English is his second language is unclear, but the standard of its …

Continue reading Invitation to Poetry, by Mihai Brinas: #BookReview.

Another 5 Star, Well, 5 Shrimp, Review!

It's always great to receive a positive review. This one is quite short, but says the things an author loves to hear. You can find the original here. # Ten Tales for Tomorrow Stuart Aken Rating: 5 Shrimps! Stuart Aken’s short story compendium Ten Tales for Tomorrow explores several possible futures.  Speculative fiction often has …

Continue reading Another 5 Star, Well, 5 Shrimp, Review!

The #Write #Word? Post 39

Struggling to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Me, too. Maybe, in working to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Fantastic/Ordinary, Free gift, Forego/Forgo, Fashion, Antonyms: words that express the opposite of other words can be hard to find, because thesauruses usually give no examples. When lost for such opposites, …

Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 39

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad: #BookReview.

136 pages Literature/Classics (I read the Penguin Classics version, which includes a chronology, introductions, notes, a map of the region, the author's Congo Diary, an author's note and a glossary of nautical terms.) Written in 1899, some nine years after the author’s visit to the Congo, this novel is clearly inspired by and based on …

Continue reading Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad: #BookReview.

Futurology or Science Fiction?

Is my fiction futurolgy or science fiction? Judge for yourself with a click here.

Progress, or a Pause?

A break from the relentless imperative of the internet is calling. It refreshes the spirit and reclaims sanity. I’ve produced posts to fill the gaps while I’m away: scheduling is such a useful device! So, before I go I’m indulging in some unapologetic promotion of my books. The best people to comment on books are …

Continue reading Progress, or a Pause?

Entangled Earth, by David Lea: #BookReview.

183 pps Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic Many readers make it a point of pride to express their dislike of science fiction. These same people probably proudly state their love of historical, romantic, thriller, literary, sensual, spy, legal, or indeed any other type of fiction. So, why the dislike of a genre that offers so much? I …

Continue reading Entangled Earth, by David Lea: #BookReview.

The #Write #Word? Post 34

Struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Sometimes, so do I. Maybe, in trying to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Ardent/Apathetic, Afford an opportunity, Ahem, Adronitis, Author Antonyms: words that express the opposite of other words can be hard to find, because thesauruses usually give no examples. When …

Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 34

The #Write #Word? Post 33

Struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? So do I, sometimes. Maybe, in trying to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Zenith, Zestfully, Zap, Zealot Synonyms are alternative words that might say exactly what you’re trying to convey. Zenith: Roget lists the following alternatives as headings: superiority, serial place, …

Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 33

The #Writing’s Done. What Now?

I’ve spent the better part of three years on a project, writing a novel each year, and found the void at the end of that process strangely debilitating. So, what do I do know? Fantastic Books Publishing launched Blood Red Dust, book 1 of the Generation Mars series, on 18th October 2016. War Over Dust, …

Continue reading The #Writing’s Done. What Now?

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

It’s done! It’s out! It’s available to buy (and review)! Right now! Okay, so an overindulgence in apostrophes. I’m excited. Delighted. Eager. The book is no longer a Work In Progress, so this is the last post in this series. There’ll be more on the book, of course: I’d like everyone to read it, after …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Time for your monthly reminder that the writing contest table has been updated. It lives on the ‘Resources’ page. Some contests are free to enter and offer prizes as high as £20,000 (novel), £500 (poem), £2000 (review), $3000 (essay). The table currently offers contests with entry dates from August 2018 through to 28th February 2019. …

Continue reading Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

As there's still nothing new to report re the WIP, and therefore no true progress on the book, I thought I’d continue along the lines of last week’s post. This time, I’m looking at the content; in particular, the inclusion of sex and nudity in my work. So, if you’re at all prudish, narrowminded, easily …

Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

Befriended, by Ruth O’Neill: #BookReview.

Contemporary Fiction 310 pages Subtitled, ‘Be Careful Who You Trust’, this piece of modern fiction is not the usual material I read. I dislike labels, but I do wonder if this is intended more for the ‘Women’s Fiction’ market. The story is well presented and the characters particularly well developed. I did have some difficulty …

Continue reading Befriended, by Ruth O’Neill: #BookReview.