Searching for the Right Word? Tip #1

On 08/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

In this series of posts, I’m looking at how certain words can influence readers. Do you want to inspire with joy, encourage fear, romance with love, or does your story now need the reader to sink into despair along with your protagonist? This set of posts will look at ways of influencing mood by selecting …

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A Shackled Inheritance, by Madeleine McDonald, Reviewed.

On 08/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

Romance in the days of slavery, set in the West Indies, is here given a treatment that’s both thoughtful and inspirational. This is a tale of love against the odds. Two young people thrown together by circumstance are trying to deal with differences in outlook based on their individual ignorance and prejudices. And the threat …

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Seems I’m One of Goodreads’ Top 1% of Reviewers!

On 06/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review16 Comments

I feel I should share this piece of good news with you all. I hope you'll find it interesting. It's a copy of an email I received today: Hello Stuart, In our community of readers, you stand out in a notable way: You're one of the top 1% of reviewers on Goodreads! With every rave and …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 50.

On 05/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice2 Comments

This series, concentrating on ways to trim writing, whilst providing examples aimed at stimulating imagination, has come to its natural end with this post. Next, I’ll be looking at expanding effective vocabulary by using the right words to convey the idea, mood, or meaning. Lift up: It’s pretty difficult to lift in any other direction, …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 49.

On 31/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice4 Comments

In this series, I've aimed at trimming our writing. I’ve tried to include examples that might seed ideas for your writing. Our readers will appreciate the absence of common redundancies and flabby expressions. This post, however, is the penultimate offering on the topic. Next, I’m going to be looking at expanding effective vocabulary by employing …

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Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong, Reviewed.

On 30/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review4 Comments

This book needs no more reviews; but I’m a compulsive reviewer, so here goes. I’m of the generation the author writes about in this modern classic and found so many points on which I was able to connect that it was like making a visit to my early home. However, my enjoyment of the period …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 48.

On 29/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice2 Comments

Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve our craft. This series aims at trim writing, using examples intended to stimulate the imagination. Readers will appreciate the absence of common redundancies and flabby expressions. Penetrate into: Is it possible to penetrate out of? No, I didn’t think so. e.g. At that exquisite moment of union, the man …

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Synthesis, Published by Fantastic Books Publishing, Reviewed.

On 26/03/201627/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review6 Comments

This anthology of science fiction stories by many different authors is a fantastic collection of disparate views of the future presented by creative talents. I must, however, before I expand on that summary, confess to my vested interest: I’m one of the authors. But, as a single voice among 27 stories, I feel justified in …

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The Ubiquity of Sacred Curses.

On 26/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, question, Word Choice10 Comments

Are you ever stuck for a suitable expletive to place in the mouths of your characters? I’m currently writing a science fiction novel set in the near future on Mars. I’ve imagined a new world where, amongst other things, the society is effectively agnostic. In devising dialogue, I suddenly became aware of just how pervasive …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 47.

On 24/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

We writers share ideas to improve our craft. This series aims to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate the absence of these common redundancies and flabby expressions. Joint collaboration: Let’s dispense with the ‘joint’, unless you feel the need for a fix, of course. All collaboration is a joint affair, after all. e.g. Joint collaboration …

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Is it Time to Re-evaluate our Attitude to Religious Freedoms?

On 23/03/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, opinion, question24 Comments

From time to time, I feel compelled to express an opinion about some matter or other. As a writer, with my own blog, I consider this the most appropriate place for such things. Please join the discussion. And, if you’re easily offended, please avoid these topics. # It has happened again: a terrorist attack on …

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Collins Complete Guide to British Birds, by Paul Sterry, Reviewed.

On 23/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review2 Comments

Regular visitors to the blog will know I usually review works of fiction. But I also do this for nonfiction, when I think it'll be useful for readers. My recent move to the Forest of Dean has meant I've discovered species of bird unknown to me, so I bought this book to help my wife …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 46.

On 22/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

We writers share ideas to improve our craft. This series aims to trim our writing. Readers will appreciate the absence of these common redundancies and flabby expressions. Meet with each other: If you’re getting together, you’re meeting. You don’t need ‘with each other’. e.g. They met with each other to discuss her offer. Try: They …

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The Influence of Place on Content.

On 20/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer1 Comment

We’ve just returned from a visit to another county where we were engaged in family research. Essex is a place I lived for 18 years, when employment took me there. I haven’t been back for 30 years, but we have ancestors in the area. Time to visit the county records office in Chelmsford, to dig …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 45.

On 17/03/201612/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

Have a great St. Patrick's Day! Writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve their craft. Here are some tricks to trim your writing. Readers will appreciate the absence of these common redundancies and flabby expressions. Eradicate completely: When something is eradicated, it is completely removed, so we don’t need ‘completely’. e.g. We must eradicate completely all …

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