Category: Creative Writer

WIP First Draft Complete!

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress14 Comments

On 28th February I announced the start of a new novel and revealed I’d completed the first chapter at 1,725 words. It was on 26th March I updated progress with words reaching a total of 48,079. And on 4th April I let you know I’d completed 70,169 words but had run into a constructional problem …

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#ScenicSaturday 22nd April 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography3 Comments

I’m sharing these pictures to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction humans are causing to nature.This short series was taken during April last year on a hot air balloon flight celebrating my wife’s 70th birthday. You can find a full account …

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#ScenicSaturday 15th April 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography7 Comments

I’m sharing these pictures to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction humans are causing to nature.This short series was taken during April last year on a hot air balloon flight celebrating my wife’s 70th birthday. You can find a full account …

Continue reading #ScenicSaturday 15th April 2023

#ScenicSaturday 8th April 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography9 Comments

I’m sharing these pictures to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction humans are causing to nature.These were taken in April last year on a hot air balloon flight we took to celebrate my wife’s 70th birthday. You can find a full …

Continue reading #ScenicSaturday 8th April 2023

More Words and A Problem

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress2 Comments

The WIP continues apace. Or, at least, it was, reaching 70,169 words yesterday, and completing what I like to call the ‘first phase’. Of course, this isn’t just any old book. It’s a work of fiction, but written in a novel way (pun intended) that requires some specific presentation elements. (sounds rather more grand than …

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#ScenicSaturday 1st April 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography7 Comments

I share these pictures to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction we humans are causing to nature.These were taken during April last year on a hot air balloon flight we took to celebrate my wife’s 70th birthday. You can find a …

Continue reading #ScenicSaturday 1st April 2023

The Words Continue to Flow

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress4 Comments

On 28th February I posted a piece about the start of a new novel. I’ve now reached, and even passed, a sort of landmark on the road to completion of the story. I’m up to page 125, 48,079 words in total, which is probably a halfway mark for the book. Of course, there’ll be changes …

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#ScenicSaturday 25th March 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography4 Comments

I share these pictures, taken during March, not this year, to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction we humans are causing to nature.This one is from the Forest of Dean in 2020 and shows a lady fern highlighted by afternoon sunshine …

Continue reading #ScenicSaturday 25th March 2023

#ScenicSaturday 18th March 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, opinion, Photography11 Comments

I share these pictures, taken during March, not this year, to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction we humans are causing to nature.This one was taken on a walk in East Yorkshire in 2012. The lake is situated in the grounds …

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Makers of Rome: by Plutarch. Translated and Introduced by Ian Scott-Kilvert #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, opinion, Reading, Review9 Comments

I’ve had this book on my shelves for so long I’d forgotten it resided there. Curiosity made me pick up this ‘classic’ to discover what I could. There is much to learn here, if you have an interest in European history. However, it becomes clear that Plutarch was not a particularly reliable historian. His interest …

Continue reading Makers of Rome: by Plutarch. Translated and Introduced by Ian Scott-Kilvert #BookReview.

#ScenicSaturday 11th March 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography3 Comments

I share these pictures, taken during March, not this year, to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction we humans are causing to nature.This one was taken in southern Wales, in 2019 as the sun went down on a cold winter day. …

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#ScenicSaturday 4th March 2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, opinion, Photography3 Comments

A Footpath in East Yorkshire. I share these pictures, taken during March, not this year, to show the beauty of our world, hoping viewers may be inspired to take action to save it from the destruction we humans are causing to nature.This one was taken way back in 2012 and pictures a footpath near Pocklington …

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The Words Have Escaped!

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Literature, Progress8 Comments

I decided last year to spend time away from creating fiction. Why? Like all human faculties, although the creative function benefits from use, it also sometimes needs rest to be refreshed.So, what did I do? I wrote a few posts for a platform called Medium. You can find those here, if you’re curious. I also …

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#ScenicSaturday 25/Feb/2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography2 Comments

I share these pictures, from February (though not this year), to show #ourworldiswonderful. This shot, from 28th February 2021, depicts a steep climb up a path that dissects the slope of a narrow valley carrying a small stream. Most of the trees here are larches, and buzzards have nests near the tops of a couple. …

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#ScenicSaturday 18/Feb/2023

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography2 Comments

I share these pictures, from February (though not this year), to show #ourworldiswonderful. This shot, from 2021, depicts a view from one of the surfaced roads that follow old tramways and railway lines through the Forest of Dean. It’s many years since that industrial work ceased, although there remain a tiny number of free mines. …

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