Looking for the Best Word? Tip #07

On 07/10/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine similar, and sometimes dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

On 01/10/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer

Here’s the monthly reminder to let you know I’ve updated the writing contest table. Make sure you get your entries submitted in plenty of time, there are some really spectacular prizes to be had. And think of the kudos! The table updates each time I save it, which is frequently, so whenever you visit the …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #06

On 30/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice1 Comment

For a short introduction to this series, please click here. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #05

On 23/09/201620/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts look at similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true …

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Denying Digital Demands

On 20/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Procrastination, Progress5 Comments

Regular readers will know I’m a little ambivalent about the digital world that enfolds and sometimes threatens to overwhelm us. Social media has a lot going for it, but it also absorbs much of our time and attention. There are times when a simpler, less demanding lifestyle calls. A period of spiritual refreshment is needed. …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 18/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress2 Comments

At the start of this week, my publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing, sent the edit notes for the MS of the novel set on Mars. A particularly perspicacious editor had spotted a few inconsistencies and had queries on a small number of issues. She was pleased to note the MS was unusually free of typos, …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #04

On 16/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. These posts examine some similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate or effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all those suggestions are …

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Don’t, by Bob Selden, Reviewed.

On 14/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Grammar, Review, Word Choice

This book has a couple of informative subtitles: ‘Unlock the do in don’t…’ and ‘How using the right words will change your life’ I could add, ‘How using the right words will change the lives of those around you’, too. So, what’s it about? Essentially, it’s a manual for using the right language to make …

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What’s it Like to Run the Great North Run?

On 11/09/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, opinion, Running

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 …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #03

On 09/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Grammar, Word Choice

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The War of the First Day, by Thomas Fleet, Reviewed.

On 04/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review3 Comments

Fantasy with a difference, this novel, set in a world of witchcraft, is remarkable for its language and surprising use of logic. The story is told through the first person point of view of an aspirant witch caught up in a civil war among her sisters. There is the usual fantasy ingredient, essential to my …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 04/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Progress4 Comments

The finished MS stands at 82,982 words, which includes the front and back matter. My publisher’s deadline was the end of August. I made it! Fantastic Books Publishing, run by the inimitable Dan and Gabi Grubb, are going to publish this science fiction novel. Yay! Cover design is already under way and the gang …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #02

On 02/09/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Grammar, Word Choice2 Comments

For a short introduction to this series, please click this link. In these posts, I’m looking at some similar, and dissimilar, words in an effort to suggest ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate or effective. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all …

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Progress on the WIP: SciFi in the Making.

On 28/08/201630/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Progress4 Comments

Close to the end! I spent a little over two days on the read aloud edit. That’s a demanding task both physically and mentally, but it’s the only way to detect certain mistakes and find those passages that fail to read well. Correcting the errors I found has taken another couple of days. The …

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Looking for the Best Word? Tip #01

On 25/08/201625/08/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Grammar, Word Choice3 Comments

English is a startling language, as those who use it know. Amongst many claims about language, most of which are difficult to prove, English is recognised as one of the top 3 most widely spoken languages. It’s also a second language in many countries. Whilst ‘Chinese’ is spoken by more people, this gives a …

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