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Sandra replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months agoGood stuff, Jane. I am a ‘surface reader, accept what I’m given and expect to be further enlightened as the tale goes on, but also need to be enticed in the first place. Although Dipsy doesn’t sound like someone I’d warm to/would actively avoid for her lack of off button, her situation and the narrator have my sympathy.
Describing what she was…[Read more]
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Sandra started the topic Popshot quarterly in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 6 years, 7 months ago
https://www.popshotpopshot.com/
I received a year’s subscription to this as a present, and am a bit ambivalent about the content for myself. That said, they claim to “showcase vivid writing by the literary new blood” – flash, short stories and poetry.
Just missed the deadline for the next issue (each offers a theme) but might be of interest for…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months agoHi @JaneShuff – two brilliant characters here. One bursting off the page, and the other grinding their teeth in the background.
I’ve concentrated on the distinguishing features, and these are the impressions I got as I read:
The initial description of Dipsy’s (great name) clothes – ‘capacious’ and big pleated skirts’, made me think of someone on…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months agoThanks WB. those writing exercises look like great fun.
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Woolleybeans started the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months agoWelcome to Class 3 of the DIY MA.
This time, we are going with a slightly longer stretch as it’s over the Christmas period. We will have closer to 6 weeks, with Class 4 starting on 6th January. This will give us all time to catch up, regroup, and deal with life over the festive season.
We once again begin with the class reading.
In your c…[Read more]
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Woolleybeans replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months agoSorry guys – depression took a massive swipe over the last week and held me up. Just about to get the thread set up for Class 3.
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Sandra posted an update 6 years, 7 months ago
On the subject of self-publishing, two to-be-proofed books uploaded to Blurb on Saturday afternoon were received before midday today. I did wait for a 30% discount offer; ordered six titles in all and p&p was £14.
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Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 7 months ago
“… confounded me with his disturbing narrative…”
To explain a little in case this wasn’t clear: Four Ling leaves 🙂
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 7 months ago
Thanks, Janette. I’ve taken the opportunity to post a possible opening of the as yet untitled Luke #5. 362 words.
Prologue?
Lucy Longland, who had only gone to check her hair, emerged from the Ladies in Leith’s Registry Office too prematurely for Dylan Richards to successfully make himself invisible. Her smile a blend of pleasure and warning, s…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well done, Jeanette – super piece. Great comp, John!
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Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Congratulations, Janette – nice work! And thanks John for the prompt.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well done, Janette, and thank you John for releasing words I’d not anticipated writing. Thanks also for some brilliantly enjoyable reads.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well, I’ve read your entries with great enjoyment. Jeanette gave a beautiful allegorical rendition of the passing seasons, Athers made me laugh with his tale of Norman, the folium-phobiac hoist by his own petard, Sandra found a silver lining and Barney completely confounded me with this disturbing narrative – I’m still asking myself, what the h…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 8 months ago
“The Book of my Enemy Has Been Remaindered”
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am pleased.
In vast quantities it has been remaindered
Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized
And sits in piles in a police warehouse,
My enemy’s much-prized effort sits in piles
In the kind of bookshop where remaindering…[Read more]-
RIP
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Now I know why.
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I met Clive James once. I had long been a fan of the least known – but which he once said was ‘the closest to my heart’ – of his many endeavours, the songs he wrote with Pete Atkin and which Atkin performed. When I first got internet access I discovered and started participating in a mailing list of like-minded souls called Midnight Voices, and…[Read more]
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Sandra posted an update 6 years, 8 months ago
Probably everyone knew this already, but I’ve just discovered George on my new laptop: he reads my novel aloud for me! Gets the names wrong but shows me where commas could be usefully inserted.
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I love my George too. Shows up all my silly spelling mistakes.
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Will I have one? I have an old Mac. Or is there an Apple equivalent?
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Don’t know – it’s Windows 10 I’ve just acquired.
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I love my read-aloud facility, and can change readers and reading speeds. I do have a giggle at the mispronunciations, but it really does highlight the little faults often missed.
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Kate replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 8 months agoSounds good @woolleybeans.
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Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Captive No More
Immovable behind a wide table, the five children sat strangely motionless. From tallest on the right to smallest on the left, they patiently faced an audience seated on ten rows of scarlet-topped hotel ballroom chairs.
The tallest child spoke first. “My name is One,” he said quietly, but loud enough. “I am the oldest. I am…[Read more]
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Woolleybeans replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 8 months agoHi all.
Technically, we’re at the end of the 3 weeks for Class 2.
I, for one, am kind of all over the place. I’ve read all the core reading, shared my gleanings from Class 1 at my IRL writing group, done some exercises with them, but not done the exercises for Class 2 at all or really got going on the other elements. I was also meaning to join…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 8 months agoHa! Thanks @Squidge for the Julie Cohen notes, and I see I commented on your blog back in 2013,
(tho’ never went to one of her workshops) But immediately, with this, I see the beginnings of a character emerge. Admittedly, built onto the murderer I was groping for with the various questionnaires, but certainly growing. -
Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 8 months agoThanks @squidge – a great blog.
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