Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

On 01/10/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer

Here’s the monthly reminder to let you know I’ve updated the writing contest table. Make sure you get your entries submitted in plenty of time, there are some really spectacular prizes to be had. And think of the kudos! The table updates each time I save it, which is frequently, so whenever you visit the …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #06

On 30/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice1 Comment

For a short introduction to this series, please click here. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #05

On 23/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 18/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

At the start of this week, my publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing, sent the edit notes for the MS of the novel set on Mars. A particularly perspicacious editor had spotted a few inconsistencies and had queries on a small number of issues. She was pleased to note the MS was unusually free of typos, …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #03

On 09/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine some similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate or effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all those suggestions are …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #01

On 25/08/201625/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice3 Comments

English is a startling language, as those who use it know. Amongst many claims about language, most of which are difficult to prove, English is recognised as one of the top 3 most widely spoken languages. It’s also a second language in many countries. Whilst ‘Chinese’ is spoken by more people, this gives a …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #40

On 23/08/201623/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

This is the final post in the series aimed at helping authors express the full meaning and emotional content of their fiction. However, I intend to start a new series, again about word choice. I’ll begin that on Thursday with the next post. Keep an eye out for it. It’ll be titled, ‘Looking for …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 21/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

Almost there! The end of another intense week. The MS now stands at 86,671 words, which is a reduction of 5,316 on last week’s total. All that has now been edited. I’m awaiting the verdict from the beta read, which I should have in final form in the next couple of days. Then, after …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #39

On 19/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Romance, Word Choice

This is the penultimate post in the series that aims to help authors express the full meaning and emotional content of their fiction. However, I intend to start a new series, again to do with word choice, and will begin that after the last post in this series. Keep an eye out for it. …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #38

On 16/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

This series, now reaching its natural close, aims to help authors express the full meaning and emotional content of their fiction. As writers, we seek to inspire readers with joy, stoke their terrors, romance them with love, overwhelm them with horror, inflame their passions. This set of posts examines how we can influence mood, …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #37

On 12/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

This series aims to help authors express the full meaning and emotional content of their fiction. As writers, we seek to inspire readers with joy, stoke their terrors, romance them with love, overwhelm them with horror, inflame their passions. This set of posts examines how we might influence mood, illustrating how word choice and …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #36

On 09/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice2 Comments

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 07/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

The end of the week and the MS stands at 96,327, which is an increase of 3,910 words. That’ll reduce as I get further into the editing, as I’m aware of certain passages I’ve repeated. I’ve already got 33,785 words edited for my beta reader and she’s started her examination. As usual, she’s found …

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