You’ll have heard the cry: ‘Work hard and you’ll succeed.’ Almost from infancy, we’re brought up to believe this mantra. It follows us through school, often reinforced by loving and caring parents, and is ingrained in our very personas through repetition and a form of example. The successful, in the terms of our current society, …
Continue reading ‘Work Hard And You’ll Succeed’: The Biggest Lie?
On Wednesday, I normally post a piece about progress on the current WIP. But we’re in a col there; War Over Dust is undergoing physical production to prepare for launch on 2nd September at the inimical Fantasticon 2017 in Hull, UK City of Culture. So, to fill the gap, I’m posting about my personal relationship …
Continue reading Why I’m Pretty Crap at Marketing.
This is the sixth in an intermittent series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the post. Enjoy! Recently, my wife’s laptop mouse decided to play up; the scroll wheel sent …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #6. Excess Packaging.
Writing is such an odd occupation, requiring peculiar minds combined with unusual personalities. All writers are weird; that’s a given. We know we’re strange, some of us peculiar to the point of near insanity, others merely eccentric. We’re definitely an odd bunch. But there’s a strange beauty, a wonderful schizophrenia about writing, especially when the …
Continue reading Perils and Pleasures of Penmanship.
This is the fifth in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the posts. Enjoy! Why Don’t Cyclists Use Bells Anymore? Okay, this is trivial. But what’s the …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #5 Cyclists
This is the fourth in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the posts. Enjoy! Why Do We Keep Appointing Leaders? We’re living in pretty tumultuous times, aren’t …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #4 Leaders
This is the third in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love for you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the post. Enjoy! Why Are We Required to Respect Religion? This question has been at …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #3 Religion
This is the second in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love for you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the post. Enjoy! Why Do They Keep Terminal Sufferers Alive? I’ve been involved with the …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #2 Dying
For some time, I’ve been tempted to run a series of questions here. I’ve serious issues I’d love to open for debate, silly matters that might cause amusement, trivial irritations that cause me grief, and fairly vital matters that demand answers. I’m opening the series with a minor peeve. It might result in some relief …
Continue reading I’d Like to Know: Why? #1
All of us who blog, or use a website to inform potential readers about our books, are aware of the struggle for exposure, the difficulty of getting our names out there. We indulge in online activity to add value to the lives of others (at least, I hope we do: those interested only in self-promotion …
Continue reading Liking is Lovely, but Sharing is Caring.
On 20th September, I wrote a short piece titled ‘Denying Digital Demands’. This is the follow-up. If possible, once a year, I attempt a break from the demands of online life. Usually, it coincides with a holiday away from home. Breaking free from both the everyday and the unending demands of constant connection can refresh …
Continue reading Returning to the Digital Drama
I'm reminded by this morning's BBC1 TV showing, that a year ago I ran the Great North Run. It struck me that others may be wondering what that's like for the ordinary person. I wrote an account after the race, and you can find that by following this link. I'm resurrecting this post for a couple …
Continue reading What’s it Like to Run the Great North Run?
From time to time, some topic fires me with enough passion to express a view. However, this website is really about readers and writers, so I've joined a website more appropriate for such outpourings. If you click on this link, it will take you to my first post on that website. It's a longish piece …
Continue reading The Democracy Delusion, UK.
This post is for UK and EU readers, so my apologies to the rest of the world. On 23rd June we’ll make a decision that will affect all our lives for a very long time. Can we leave it to those darling sociopaths that style themselves politicians? No, I agree; we most certainly can’t. But …
Continue reading In, Out; What’s It All About?
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 …
Continue reading Is it Time to Re-evaluate our Attitude to Religious Freedoms?
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Antidote to the Novel
Stuart Aken 