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John S Alty replied to the topic Red (short story – 2,600 words) in the forum Critiques 7 years, 7 months ago
Hi L,
I think you could trim most of the paragraphs in the first half of the story, really. The Physics thing (tight pants) early on could go, you use this analogy later on anyway. Watching a film at the cinema, that paragraph could be less wordy I think.
And towards the end – “zipped her hoodie and pulled the hood over her head” etc. I know…[Read more] -
John S Alty replied to the topic Red (short story – 2,600 words) in the forum Critiques 7 years, 7 months ago
I think “Spotting an opening…” needs a new para. The lipstick thing is a little over complicated, I think you could shorten it without losing anything.
The “pills like skittles” analogy doesn’t work for me.
“Small-to-medium-time” seems a cop-out, he’s a small-time crook, I think.
“Anticipated to sit..” should be “anticipated sitting”.I’d take…[Read more]
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John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Market day in town so I’m off to see what treasures I can find at the book stall.
I’ve rediscovered the joy of real books now I’ve ditched my annoying Kindle.-
Nothing beats a good rummage through bookshops/book stalls, does it? But I confess I do love my kindle very, very muchly. 🙂
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Nothing can beat the smell of books.
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Magical, I agree, but then again Pebby’s pie shop in the village has a certain attraction, too.
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OOOOOh! Pieeees! I am rather partial to a pork pie!
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My problem is more with amazon than the kindle per se. I’m happy to read on an ipad, I just don’t want the intrusive presence of amazon.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 7 months ago
The Banjo
The phone rings in the lost property office at Euston Station in London.
“Lost Property, Smith speaking, how may we help?”
He takes a sip from his tea, listens.
“Yes, sir, anything left on a train on this line ends up here. Assuming it’s turned in, like. What have you lost?
“So, a banjo is it sir? Well let me have a look, won’t be…[Read more] -
John S Alty replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Well done, good job as usual, L!
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John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Listening to an old Jimmy Buffett album. Doesn’t have the same impact it did when listening to it lying on the deck of my boat with a glass of rum in my hand, swinging to the anchor in a Caribbean bay.
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Sandra posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Off Down Under for a few weeks – back back end of November. Lots of rooms, and a train, with lots of views. All writing longhand.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Titles in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Tangled Web (A, The, What a, Weaving a,)
Untangled Web -
John S Alty replied to the topic New title needed for 'Snatched' – help! in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Time is sometimes described as a fourth dimension, so:
Fourth Dimension
The Fourth Dimension
Into the, From the, Out of the, Attack of the. (last one was a joke). -
Sandra replied to the topic The disclaimer jar – advice on attitude to one's writing in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
Yes, Thea – that ‘never apologise, never explain’ – I read, many years ago, that to do so was a sign of immaturity, but it’s one I haven’t always managed (not so much about my writing, I’m glad to say).
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John S Alty replied to the topic For Those in Peril… in the forum Blogs 7 years, 8 months ago
Excellent, Richard.
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Sandra replied to the topic The disclaimer jar – advice on attitude to one's writing in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
Phillippa: that sounds a very good attitude to develop,thanks.
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Sandra replied to the topic The disclaimer jar – advice on attitude to one's writing in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
I realised that, when in the habit of being ready and willing to apologise, I was giving myself an excuses to fail.
Joining groups such as the Cloud, partaking in story challenges – stretching myself so as not to embarrass myself, judging my work against the very varied submissions of others, and trusting that my peers will give it the respect t…[Read more] -
John S Alty replied to the topic The disclaimer jar – advice on attitude to one's writing in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
You have to blow your own trumpet, no-one is going to blow it for you.
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Sandra started the topic The disclaimer jar – advice on attitude to one's writing in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 8 months ago
I came across an article by Philip Hensher talking about a piece of attitude-changing advice he received as a schoolboy: ‘Don’t apologise, don’t denigrate something you’ve created.’
Some of the informal writing gatherings I’ve been to share the same attitude – having spent ten minutes writing a piece using given prompt word, those who say, when…[Read more]
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John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 8 months ago
Back from a few days in Mallorca, wonderful, now ready to get down to this month’s competition. Something about a bloke in a greatcoat playing a banjo, lamenting the loss of his spell book, if I remember right.
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