Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 08.

On 24/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Choice3 Comments

We writers enjoy sharing ideas to improve our craft. So, let's chop the fat from our writing. Make it lean and trim. Readers will thank us. In this series, I'll look at some common redundancies. But, reading this post and nodding wisely in agreement won't cut it. We have to stay alert to those extraneous …

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Question for the Week. Democracy: Do We Know What It Is?

On 21/09/201521/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, question12 Comments

In this series of posts, which may go on for ever, I'm posing questions to elicit that most elusive of human activities: thought! Oh no: surely I'm not expecting people to use their most hungry organ and engage in a process unique to the species? I'm afraid so. These posts won't always necessarily represent my …

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Naked Truths About Getting Book Reviews, by Gisela Hausmann, Reviewed.

On 19/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review6 Comments

One of my writing friends blogged about this book, inspiring me to obtain a copy. I'm glad I did. This is a straightforward manual designed to explain all that writers, and reviewers, need to know about Amazon reviews. The author is one of the top Amazon reviewers, so she understands the needs and concerns of …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 07.

On 18/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Most of us who write seem to enjoy sharing ideas to improve our craft. So, let's chop the fat from our writing. Make it lean and trim. Readers will thank us. In this series, I'll look at some common redundancies. But, reading this post and nodding wisely in agreement won't work. We need to stay …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 07.

Running for ME/CFS no. 56: The End

On 17/09/201511/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running1 Comment

So, how went the event? In case you didn't know, I completed the course in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 50 seconds. That simple fact is for those without the time to read a longer account, but I'd encourage you to drop to the foot of this post for some other information. For everyone else, …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 55

On 15/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running5 Comments

A very brief update. I did it! I'll fill you in on the details over the next couple of days. For the moment, let me simply tell you that I completed the race in 2 hours, 47 minutes an 50 seconds. I'll provide the gory details in the next post. If you’re so minded, now …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 06.

On 15/09/201511/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Most writers seem to enjoy sharing ideas to improve our craft. So, let's chop the fat from our writing. Make it lean and trim. Readers will thank us. In this series, I'll look at some common redundancies. But, reading this post and nodding wisely in agreement won't work. We need to stay alert to those …

Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 06.

Question for the Week: Have We Literally Gone Too Far?

On 14/09/201511/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice11 Comments

In this new series of posts, which may go on for eternity, I intend to pose questions that might elicit that most unusual of human activities: thought! Oh no: surely I'm not expecting people to employ their most hungry organ and engage in the one process unique to the species? I'm afraid so. These posts …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 05.

On 12/09/201511/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Word Choice

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The King of Fools, by M.R. Mathias, Reviewed.

On 11/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Review2 Comments

Fantasy embraces many styles, subjects and themes. This short is a great example of what can be done when a writer has imagination. It's a piece with charm. Amusing, insightful, and caustic, it pokes fun at the idea of leaders. There's some repetition, and one or two small editing faults, but these are easily forgiven …

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Running for #ME/CFS no. 54

On 11/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running2 Comments

This is the penultimate post on the run. I've completed the programmed exercise for this week. Tuesday (my usual Wednesday session was programmed for Tuesday this week) required a 30-minute easy walk. So, Valerie and I took a lengthy walk amongst the hills of the forest. Lovely to watch the squirrels, songbirds and buzzards. Today …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 04.

On 09/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice

Many writers enjoy sharing ideas that might improve our craft. So, let's chop the fat from our writing. Make it lean and trim. Readers will thank us. In this series, I'll look at some common redundancies. But, reading this and nodding wisely in agreement won't do. We need to stay alert to those extraneous words …

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Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 03.

On 07/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Word Choice5 Comments

Many writers welcome the sharing of ideas that might improve our craft. So, let's chop the fat from our writing. Make it lean and trim. Readers will thank us. In this series, I'll look at some common redundancies and other questionable writing devices. But, reading this and nodding wisely in agreement won't do. We need …

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Running for ME/CFS no. 53

On 06/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Running2 Comments

One week today at this time I'll be recovering, hopefully with a local pint and some tasty food, after running the 13.1 miles of the Great North Run along the roads from Newcastle Upon Tyne to the seafront at South Shields. I've done all the training. Run a good many miles along local roads and …

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Nine, by Drew Wagar, Reviewed.

On 06/09/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Review

This is a science fiction short based on the Oolite space trading game. No, I'd never heard of it, either. But you don't need to be familiar with this created Ooniverse to understand and enjoy this clever tale. It's a multi-layered piece, with many themes, in spite of its brevity. But it can also be …

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