Chrissy

Yes, it was partly extraordinary luck, partly John’s skilful setting of the tone and throwing up some ideas before things got started and linking text after the selection, and partly in the selection and ordering of stories. (As I was going to write the opener, I got to see all the stories. It’s true to say there were a few that while being dec…[Read more]

Sorry to hear that @jeand – I can’t say I have a clue why it’s doing that but with luck one of the more tech savvy Denizens will be able to offer a solution

Btw if you want to create a new topic with this question, try going to the main ‘Lifeboat’ page https://www.denofwriters.com/forums/forum/den-of-writers/the-writers-lifeboat/ and scrolling to…[Read more]

Thanks Squidge, Sea and Kaz! Just to say a bit more about this, Hell’s Empire is a linked anthology based around the premise of a demonic invasion of Victorian Britain at the end of the 19th century. I’d suggest ‘War of the Worlds’ but with demons in place of the aliens’ as an elevator pitch, but that wouldn’t really do it justice, as there’s a…[Read more]

This had a wonderful energy and so many great observations. I loved the quirkiness of phrases like ‘lean forward talker’ and laptop caresser’. I’m going to try and keep this style in mind next time I have to describe something. It was my bedtime read, and most enjoyable. Thanks Gerry.

Yep! And turn sub-clauses into separate sentences then merge them again.

I think you have to activate reply threading, but I don’t know for sure.

Yes, I like all of those. I never really understood the Cloud thing of ‘comment on the person’s wall but not on the thread’. This thing is pretty informal anyway. So Perhaps we can allow, indeed encourage, comments, with the slight caveat that people don’t go heavy on crit or be negative.

Guidelines suggest not posting on the thread with the entries, until after judging is complete, but you can make a general discussion comment tagging the appropriate person. I think I have that correct.

Sorry I was MIA recently – thanks to all for contributing and it looks as though you’ve all sorted things. Well done, going to look at new comp stuff now

Sometimes professional book reviewers complain that creative writing graduates have a CW style. I haven’t spotted it myself and perhaps am being dense. If any Denizens can describe it I’d be grateful!

I do notice trends and fashions but they seem to apply to most trad published novels.

Re the workshop style, there must be a danger that if you’re…[Read more]

Untitled

The pirogue nudged its way between the cypress stumps, lily pads parting in its path and reuniting in its wake. The only sounds came from the rustle of leaves in the slight breeze and the occasional slap and roil of a feeding bass. It was late afternoon; a low sun dappled the brown surface of the bayou and the shadows pointed like…[Read more]

A well deserved win, Raine. The voice is wonderful and the whole piece captivating.

Well done, Raine!

The same sort of appalling victim-blaming appears to have been prevalent in the much more recent Yorkshire Ripper enquiry. According to a recent documentary, the police assumed the ripper, Sutcliffe, was punishing prostitutes when, in fact, he was preying on their vulnerability. At one point they failed to “credit” a victim to him because she…[Read more]

🙂 I think we’re all fairly cracked already, Philippa, to keep doing this writing thing to ourselves!