Chris A

Great blog, Richard. While I didn’t get past the first few pages of Earthsea, I did discover a fondness for City of Illusions, and it may be that I need to explore The Dispossessed when I have some time to appreciate it.

UNTITLED (321 words)

I remember the first time we kissed. An unsatisfactory blending of my pickled onion Monster Munch and his chips and curry sauce. No tongues. We stayed in the shadows at the side of the house so my mum wouldn’t see us from the kitchen window. He wiped the drips from his nose on the sleeve of his Harrington jacket and tried t…[Read more]

Bonjour

When we lived in La Rochelle, my governess tried to make me say ‘Bonjour,’ to people we met in the street. It was polite she said, I would never be a gentleman if I did not learn to be polite. But I was shy, and after our morning walk she would scold me, and shake me impatiently. Papa was away at the war and Maman was – distant. I knew s…[Read more]

Might I request that the warning above be amended to highlight the offensive nature of the post? Thanks.

Yes. I much prefer the start of this.

The easiest way to protect your writing from unwanted attention is to set up a private group. Explain what it’s about in the description and then people can ask to join or you can invite them.

That’s one reason why the writing challenge group A Room with a View will be changed to a private group as soon as writing begins.

If you are really…[Read more]

Make time for day-dreaming. Fifteen minutes of doing nothing, except thinking about a particular scene, can help you visualise better.
Atmospheric music helps. As does wine. Or gin.
Okay, maybe not gin.

Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt! Amazing news! So pleased for you!

Hey, Kaz – fantastic. And really well-deserved!

Ding ding ding – nope, still true! Brilliant news, Janette. Well done. And yes, it sounds very unusual.

Maybe a comp on the theme of ‘New Beginnings?’