Short Stories; Do You Read Them?

On 03/12/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Literature, Reading27 Comments

I suppose we should first decide what constitutes a short story. Roughly, because these things tend to be a matter of opinion rather than fact, a short story is a work of fiction with a word count somewhere between 1,000 and 10,000. So, do you read them? It’s clear lots of readers do. I belong …

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An Excess of…Loyalty

On 16/11/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, opinion, politics, question2 Comments

Loyalty, such a ubiquitous word. But what does it mean? To whom or to what are we loyal? We all, hopefully, understand the value and positivity involved in loyalty to our partner; that’s an essentially personal quality. And, equally hopefully, we recognise the worth of loyalty to a supportive family. But beyond these familial allegiances …

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‘An Excess Of…’ Launched Today!

On 25/10/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Progress, Reading9 Comments

An Excess Of... Last year, I spent most of lockdown researching and writing a new novel. ‘An Excess Of…’ is now available in paperback and digital form, published by Fantastic Books Publishing. Synopsis: Six random strangers escape drowning when their ship is wrecked, only to be dumped on a desert island, hundreds of miles from …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 24/Sept/21

On 24/09/202109/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography2 Comments

Pictures to entertain, bring joy, and, if you wish, inspire you to create with words or images. Whether that’s a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is up to you. Please don’t feel obliged: you can just enjoy the pictures. My image is untitled to avoid directing anyone. If …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 22/Sept/21

On 22/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography19 Comments

Pictures to entertain, bring joy, and, if you like, inspire you to create with words or images. Whether that’s a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is up to you. Please don’t feel obliged: you can just enjoy the pictures. The image is untitled to avoid directing anyone. If …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 21/Sept/21

On 20/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography10 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 19/Sept/21

On 19/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography, Poetry10 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 18/Sept/21

On 18/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography3 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 17/Sept/21

On 17/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography9 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 16/Sept/21

On 16/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography9 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 15/Sept/21

On 15/09/202108/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography7 Comments

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 07/Sept/21

On 07/09/202107/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography15 Comments

These pictures are here to entertain, bring joy, and, if you wish, inspire you to create something with words or images. Whether that is a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is entirely up to you. But don’t feel obliged: you can simply enjoy the pictures. I’ve deliberately left …

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Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 06/Sept/21

On 06/09/202101/09/2021 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography11 Comments

These pictures are here to entertainment, bring joy, and, if you wish, inspire you to create something with words or images. Whether that is a poem, story, play, novel, memory, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, or another photograph is entirely up to you. But don’t feel obliged: you can simply enjoy the pictures. I’ve deliberately left …

Continue reading Today’s #PictureOfTheDay and #writingprompt: 06/Sept/21