Searching for the Right Words? Tip #11

On 13/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction

Hoping to inspire readers with joy, arouse their fear, romance them with love? Or, maybe your story needs the reader to sink into despair along with your protagonist? This set of posts looks at ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ words for the job.Example: “I held Leigh’s hand and looked at him. He …

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #11

Searching for the Right Words? Tip #10

On 10/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction2 Comments

Hoping to inspire readers with joy, arouse their fear, romance them with love? Or, maybe your story needs the reader to sink into despair along with your protagonist? This set of posts looks at ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ words for the job. Example: “I had wine for the first time. People …

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #10

Searching for the Right Words? Tip #9

On 06/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction5 Comments

Hoping to inspire readers with joy, arouse their fear, romance them with love? Or, perhaps your story needs the reader to sink into despair along with your protagonist? This set of posts looks at ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ words for the job. Example: “We went to the second hand bookshop in …

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #9

Searching for the Right Words? Tip #8

On 03/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction2 Comments

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #8

Research Done: Re-Writing Begun!

On 02/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress2 Comments

Following on from my post on research a couple of days ago, I thought I’d quickly update you with progress so far. I started what is effectively a re-write, rather than an edit, on Saturday. It was late in the day when I began, but I was determined to get something down, something started as …

Continue reading Research Done: Re-Writing Begun!

How to Win the Lottery (And Other Stories), by Iain Parke, Reviewed.

On 02/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

An unusual and intriguing anthology, this. The author introduces each piece of fiction with an account of his route to the story and some of his writing methods. It makes for an interesting read for both readers and writers. The collection is varied in both topics and style, but each tale is well structured and …

Continue reading How to Win the Lottery (And Other Stories), by Iain Parke, Reviewed.

Research or Write? That is the Question.

On 30/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress11 Comments

How much research should a novelist undertake before setting out on the creative journey? How much should be done before editing to produce the final work? These are questions that probably occur to most of us at some time during the writing process. I was inspired to visit these questions this week when I finally …

Continue reading Research or Write? That is the Question.

Searching for the Right Words? Tip #7

On 29/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction5 Comments

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #7

Publisher’s Trailer for The Methuselah Strain

On 28/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction2 Comments

My publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing, has just released this great little video to promote my SciFi novella, The Methuselah Strain. Please take a look, 'Like' it and, if you're looking for some exciting reading, buy a copy. It's available in both ebook and hardback versions by clicking those links. You can also find a synopsis …

Continue reading Publisher’s Trailer for The Methuselah Strain

Synthesis, Fantastic SciFi Anthology Now in Print.

On 27/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review

The science fiction anthology from Fantastic Books Publishing is now available in print form. I’ve already reviewed this when it first appeared as an ebook. You’ll find the review by clicking this link. I have a story in this excellent collection of imagination and future speculation mixed with fantasy scifi. Great stories, now available for …

Continue reading Synthesis, Fantastic SciFi Anthology Now in Print.

Fear of Dying, by Erica Jong, Reviewed.

On 20/04/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Review

I was introduced to Fear of Dying by a friend after I’d read and reviewed Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying. Inevitably, there’s a temptation to compare, which I’ll attempt to resist. I’m of the same generation as the author, though a few years younger, so I’ve lived through the years she’s experienced and understand many …

Continue reading Fear of Dying, by Erica Jong, Reviewed.

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 …

Continue reading A Shackled Inheritance, by Madeleine McDonald, Reviewed.

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 …

Continue reading Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong, Reviewed.

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 …

Continue reading Synthesis, Published by Fantastic Books Publishing, Reviewed.

The Ubiquity of Sacred Curses.

On 26/03/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, question10 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 …

Continue reading The Ubiquity of Sacred Curses.