This series of (sometimes) relatively short posts, illustrated with photographs, details our recent holiday in Italy. Having thoroughly enjoyed it, we wanted to share our experience. You’ll get the full (well, nearly) story of our travels, activities, and experiences; warts and all, in instalments. You can read Part 1 by clicking here, and Part 2 …
Continue reading Italy: Trip of a Lifetime. Part 3
Do you struggle to find the ‘right’ word when you’re writing? Sometimes, I do, too. Maybe, in working to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Habitat, Heavily, Has a requirement for, Hollow tube, Honour. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Habitat: …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 41
This series of (mostly) relatively short posts, illustrated with photographs, details our holiday in Italy. We’d been saving to visit our daughter in Australia, but she’ll be home this December, so we robbed the fund for this rather extravagant holiday. Having thoroughly enjoyed it, we’d like to share our experience. You’ll get the full (well, …
Continue reading Italy: Trip of a Lifetime. Part 2
It's always great to receive a positive review. This one is quite short, but says the things an author loves to hear. You can find the original here. # Ten Tales for Tomorrow Stuart Aken Rating: 5 Shrimps! Stuart Aken’s short story compendium Ten Tales for Tomorrow explores several possible futures. Speculative fiction often has …
Continue reading Another 5 Star, Well, 5 Shrimp, Review!
Do you struggle to find the ‘right’ word when you’re writing? Sometimes, I do, too. Maybe, in working to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Gaffer, Grow in size, Green-eyed monster, Genre, Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Gaffer: Roget lists …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 40
Struggling to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Me, too. Maybe, in working to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Fantastic/Ordinary, Free gift, Forego/Forgo, Fashion, Antonyms: words that express the opposite of other words can be hard to find, because thesauruses usually give no examples. When lost for such opposites, …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 39
136 pages Literature/Classics (I read the Penguin Classics version, which includes a chronology, introductions, notes, a map of the region, the author's Congo Diary, an author's note and a glossary of nautical terms.) Written in 1899, some nine years after the author’s visit to the Congo, this novel is clearly inspired by and based on …
Continue reading Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad: #BookReview.
Is my fiction futurolgy or science fiction? Judge for yourself with a click here.
304 pages Literary/Action & Adventure. How to describe a book that is unique? This is an absurdist fantasy, delightfully written and so enjoyable to read. The author cleverly engages us with his empathetic description of Beatrix’s life (the Bee of the title) in the circus, and her pragmatic acceptance of a life so unjust and …
Continue reading The Colonel and the Bee, by Patrick Canning: #BookReview.
Struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Occasionally, so do I. Perhaps, in trying to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Enlightenment, Entomb, Eek, Esprit d’escalier, Engineer. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Enlightenment: Roget lists the following sub-headings; …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 38
Okay, I shouldn’t have done it. I know. But, sometimes, my passion for an issue overcomes my internal common-sense policeman and I get involved. A short while ago, I posted a Tweet relating to Climate Change, an issue dear to my heart long before I joined Greenpeace in the 1980s. It reached some deniers on …
Continue reading Perils of Social Media Engagement
Struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Occasionally, so do I. Perhaps, in trying to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Dabble, Disappear from sight, Due to the fact that, Dadirri, Doctor. Synonyms are alternative words that have the power to convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Dabble: …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 37
A break from the relentless imperative of the internet is calling. This brief note is to let you know I’ll be absent from the internet, away from the keyboard and screen, for an unspecified period not likely to be longer than a couple of weeks, or so! I need time away from the chaos, insanity, …
Continue reading An Extended Pause.
Struggle to find the ‘right’ word for your writing? Occasionally, so do I. Perhaps, in trying to improve my own work, I can help you. Today’s words: Cant, Continual/Continuous, Calm before the storm, Chrysalism, Church. Synonyms are alternative words that might convey exactly what you’re trying to say. Cant: Not to be confused with ‘can’t’, …
Continue reading The #Write #Word? Post 36
A break from the relentless imperative of the internet is calling. It refreshes the spirit and reclaims sanity. I’ve produced posts to fill the gaps while I’m away: scheduling is such a useful device! So, before I go I’m indulging in some unapologetic promotion of my books. The best people to comment on books are …
Continue reading Progress, or a Pause?
Short stories, novel extracts and musings from an emerging author
SHORTS, NOVELS, AND OTHER THINGS
Books, writing, reading, words and images. I love them; do you?
An Independent Nondiscriminatory Platform With No Religious, Political, Financial, or Social Affiliations - FOUNDED 2014
Life Lessons, Books, and Pretty Things!
Writing Magic, Myth and Mystery
A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams
Book Reviews ∙ Bookish Tags ∙ Book Discussions
Retired and travelling - it doesn't get better than this!
writing circles & poetry to keep your light on
Personal Writings on life, love and beauty
Peace. Tranquility. Insanity.
A writer inspired by nature and human nature
We Survived and Arrived - Now as Warriors We Thrive
Sometimes, life is like that.
Book lover and reviewer.
Musings and Ramblings of a Disorganised Blogger
Speculative Fiction Author, & Reviews.
British Crime Writer April Taylor
Fiction, Poetry, Photography
Where The Eagles Fly . . . . Art Science Poetry Music & Ideas
Registered Charity 308286. Your local venues, Lydbrook Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground, are here to benefit our community.
Books and Shrimp!
Ù…Øمد القربي
Discover the "Inside Story" with Sassy Brit & Her Gang!
A daily selection of the best content published on WordPress, collected for you by humans who love to read.
There's First Love... and there's Writer Love
Stuart Aken 