-
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
Oh, go on Jane, have a peek.You know you want to.
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
A not-so-idle threat
Even though she knew looking left and right as she opened the discreet dark green door was a dead giveaway for anyone watching, she couldn’t stop herself. Crowds and dazzling Christmas lights made it harder to spot a spy, but surely, after five days at Ivo’s cottage they’d’ve given up by now. Wouldn’t they? The low-level…[Read more]
-
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
The Future
“The future is the time we haven’t had yet,” he said, “simple as that.”
“That may be what the future is but not what it holds,” she responded, “not what’s in store, where it might take us.” Then she got up from the picnic table outside The Black Bull and walked off.He thought about that last exchange…[Read more]
-
John S Alty posted an update 6 years, 6 months ago
How’s this for a weird coincidence? You may remember my story, “Lost and Found and Lost again”, involving a yoyo competition, that won a monthly comp late last year? Well, I slightly edited it, renamed it “the Yoyo” and entered it in the Reflex Fiction winter contest. It didn’t make the list, but another story did – it’s called “The Yoyo”. By…[Read more]
-
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
A belated “well done”, Jane!
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 6 months ago
Well done Jane – very well deserved – and thanks to Janette for the opportunity to try out a scene.
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – December 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 7 months ago
Has the ring of truth, Jane, and lovely with it.
-
Sandra replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 7 months ago@janeshuff Heavens, what a hugely impressive amount of insight. I’m not sure I know that much about my main characters who have been around for four books (but it would be interesting to see what I DO know, so I’ll spend some time with this – thank you, really enlightening.
-
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]
-
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]
-
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.
-
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]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 7 months ago
Well done, Janette, and thank you John for releasing words I’d not anticipated writing. Thanks also for some brilliantly enjoyable reads.
-
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 7 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]
-
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.
-
I love my George too. Shows up all my silly spelling mistakes.
-
Will I have one? I have an old Mac. Or is there an Apple equivalent?
-
Don’t know – it’s Windows 10 I’ve just acquired.
-
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.
-
-
-
-
-
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. -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Patience undoubtedly a virtue (308 words)
In the same way that Christmas cards seem each year to embrace a different theme – last year it was robins, the year before gold-embossed letters and musical notes – this year’s trend in ‘In sympathy’ cards appeared to be fallen leaves. Drifts of them, beneath trees, along kerb edges, gold and yellow sc…[Read more]
-
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 ago@JaneShuff – I haven’t even started the book yet, just 300 words of random scenes … but glad to hear it works for you.
-
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 agoLike Squidge, this is an alien way of working for me, but … I need a murderer. One who isn’t immediately identified as such. (And while I know the (probable) victim I don’t know why or how) so I’ll be attempting to discover him (probably him) with this approach.
-
John S Alty started the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
OK, I realise there is other stuff going on to occupy you, so let’s keep this simple, and seasonal:
About 400 words on “Falling Leaves”
Have fun! - Load More
