Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 10/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

The end of the week, and I’ve ended up with 87,150 words at the end of this 2nd rewrite. I’ve spent a fair amount of the time available in moulding passages originally created for the pov’s of 4 antagonists so that each is consistent. It’s difficult to get into the mind-set of evil people, so …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #27

On 08/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice6 Comments

This series is aimed at helping writers use the right words to express their meaning. All thoughts and comments are welcome. As a writer, you want to inspire readers with joy, stoke their terrors, romance them with love, overwhelm them with horror. This set of posts examines ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ …

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July is eBook Bargain Month on Smashwords

On 05/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction2 Comments

Smashwords, for those readers who don’t know, is a publishing platform for all formats of eBooks. I have several books with them. And the great news is that July is their promotional month, when those of us who wish to participate offer discounts on our books. This gives readers the opportunity to buy our books …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #26

On 05/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

This series is aimed at helping writers use the right words to express their meaning. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. As a writer, you want to inspire readers with joy, stoke their terrors, romance them with love, overwhelm them with horror. This set of posts examines ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ …

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #26

Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 03/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This week I’ve reached 83,803 words in the second rewrite, so another 18,231 words processed this week, and 12,049 new words added to the original story. I was hoping to start on the next phase at the end of this week, but I felt the story needed some additional povs, so I’ve included some passages …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #25

On 01/07/201601/07/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

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Future Gone, by Alexandar Tomov Jnr, Reviewed.

On 30/06/201630/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Literature, Review

Translated from Bulgarian by Margarita Dogramadzyan. This collection of short stories is bizarre, dreamlike, surreal. The stories themselves hold both intelligent insight and moral lessons. Unfortunately, either the translation or the original writing lack proper editing. They read like first drafts. The thoughts are put down but there’s no sign of revision and they therefore …

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The Summer That Melted Everything, by Tiffany McDaniel, Reviewed.

On 29/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review4 Comments

I was invited to read and review this book by the author, and did so via the services of NetGalley. Reading: what is it? A way of vicariously living? A route into the lives of others? A key to the insight of the wise and experienced? It’s these and so much more. Over the past …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #24

On 28/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

Continue reading Searching for the Right Words? Tip #24

Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 26/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

This week I’ve moved up to 65,572 words in the second rewrite, so another 32,290 words forced through the processor. With luck, and application, I should start on the next phase at the end of the coming week. That’s the part where I make sure exactly the right words are in place and check that …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #23

On 24/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice4 Comments

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #22

On 21/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

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Making Friends with the Crocodile, by Mick Canning, Reviewed.

On 20/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review2 Comments

Some writers have obviously occupied the place they’re writing about. Mick Canning is one such. The immersive depth of settings in this book is so great that the reader feels like a resident. But this book is primarily about injustice and casual cruelty to women in India. That this is a traditional aspect of life …

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Progress on the WIP: Sci-Fi in the Making.

On 19/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

This week’s progress report reveals I’m now 33282 words into the second rewrite, so only 13,483 words pushed through the mincer this week. It’s been a bit busy on other fronts, but I’m getting there. Some interesting twists and turns occurring in the story, making it tighter and more tense. Looking forward to finishing this …

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Searching for the Right Words? Tip #21

On 17/06/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Word Choice

This series is aimed at helping writers find the right words to express their meaning. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. You want to inspire readers with joy, stoke their terrors, romance them with love, overwhelm them with horror. This set of posts examines ways of influencing mood by selecting the ‘right’ words for the …

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