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Athelstone started the topic Rules in the forum Coming Home 4 years, 9 months ago
Some Basic Story Rules and Guidelines
The challenge is to produce a short story, so in the way that the term is usually understood, what is needed is a work of fiction. By all means stretch this definition as you like, to include, for example, an imaginative account of true events, but please avoid essays, reportage, political polemic,…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 9 months ago
It’s that time again. There’s a new group in town. Head on over to “Coming Home” for details of the new Short Story Challenge.
All are welcome. -
Athelstone started the topic Voting in the forum
Coming Home 4 years, 9 months agoOn the face of it, what you have to do is quite simple. However, those of you have been through this before in previous challenges will know that in fact it is extraordinarily tough.
When the writing stage of the challenge closes on 7 February 2022 at 22:00 UK time, the voting stage begins. No doubt most of you will have read many of the entries…[Read more] -
Athelstone started the topic Choices in the forum
Coming Home 4 years, 9 months agoWelcome all.
<e>Home is where the heart is</e> according to Pliny the Elder and a thousand sentimental songs since his time. Pliny clearly had in mind a place where we love to be: where we were shaped. But maybe that doesn’t appeal to our writing souls. Perhaps it’s a place of dread, or contempt, or it’s so unfamiliar as to be unrec…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Welcome PLEASE READ THIS FIRST in the forum
Coming Home 4 years, 9 months agoWelcome all.
Home is where the heart is according to Pliny the Elder and a thousand sentimental songs since his time. Pliny clearly had in mind a place where we love to be: where we were shaped. But maybe that doesn’t appeal to our writing souls. Perhaps it’s a place of dread, or contempt, or it’s so unfamiliar as to be unrecognised. We may n…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Chit Chat in the forum
Coming Home 4 years, 9 months agoPlease post all chit chat here!
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 9 months ago
Unable to login to the Den? You can see the Den but “activity” won’t load: the Den tells you it’s getting your updates but they never arrive? It may be that you are using the free version of Bitdefender which has a problem following the last upgrade. Try another anti-virus solution either permanently, or until Bitdefender is fixed.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition July 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
Libby, thanks for a super topic and the fabulous reviews. Seagreen, a well-deserved win.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Beta Reading Discussion in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
Why do you say you’re a terrible beta reader?
It’s a bit like when I had to read books for exams at school. It was no reflection on the work itself and I’ve read many of the books since with great pleasure. Something about picking up a book for a purpose (a meta-purpose if you like) that isn’t simply pleasure, idle curiosity, whatever, and my…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Beta Reading Discussion in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
Thanks for the topic. May I add that I’m a terrible beta reader. I would like to be more useful and hope to pick up some tips if this discussion develops and hopefully turns into something more.
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Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
What I meant was that we can post images now, providing they are online somewhere. That said, like many things on the Den, it’s a bit hit and miss whether it works.
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A bunch of roses always brings a smile, especially when the ones in our garden are rain battered and looking about as depressed as a rose can.
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Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
Hi – that was a reply to Sandra, just for avoidance of confusion. Yes, there are several very appealing forums available, including Discourse (and I must say as a longtime repairer, I like your forum and the topic). That said, with Discourse, we would need a VPS or similar non-shared server arrangement*, unlike a traditional web-host, so the…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition July 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 10 months ago
Sand
Mum was a good woman. I say was; I mean is. She’s still alive. But since the diagnosis of dementia, well, for a long while before that, I knew she was slipping away.
She sits with me as I work.
I have a phone to repair. A capacitor has failed, a tiny surface-mount component. It is fiddly and the manufacturer won’t replace it. But I wil…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – June 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 10 months ago
Libby: Sound Waves.
A real slice of life. Beautifully portrayed, the violent action all at a distance and the thoughts of the protagonist so quiet so mundane that we just know a bomb is going to explode into the story.Sandra: Another fairy tale.
Ah, becoming an adult. I’m so glad I’m not the only one still waiting for that Corinthians mom…[Read more]-
Thank you @athelstone. I enjoyed writing to the theme. The other entries were so good I’m very chuffed to have won.
I’ll go away and think of a theme for July.
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Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
The garlic will be ready for harvesting in a few weeks.
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Ha, bet it’s nicer than shop bought! 🙂
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How long does it keep for?
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I’ve no idea…hang on…according to google, it lasts about a month just sitting around doing nothing, but if you put it somewhere warm and dry so that the skin-layer of leaves goes papery, it can last for several months.
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I thought you were an experienced garlic grower but I see you’re a novice like us! At least yours has grown. Ours never showed its face!
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The best I’ve managed is chives.
One thing about the weather this year: the patches of meadow pea on the lane’s verges are larger than usual. Rich golden yellow flowers liked by bees.
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Athelstone replied to the topic The Future of the Den in the forum Blogs 4 years, 10 months ago
Well, there’s a lot to think about. And to get started on.
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