@gerryfenge
Active 4 years, 8 months ago-
Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 8 months ago
“The Book of my Enemy Has Been Remaindered”
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am pleased.
In vast quantities it has been remaindered
Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized
And sits in piles in a police warehouse,
My enemy’s much-prized effort sits in piles
In the kind of bookshop where remaindering…[Read more] -
Barny replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Captive No More
Immovable behind a wide table, the five children sat strangely motionless. From tallest on the right to smallest on the left, they patiently faced an audience seated on ten rows of scarlet-topped hotel ballroom chairs.
The tallest child spoke first. “My name is One,” he said quietly, but loud enough. “I am the oldest. I am…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – November 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Steps of passing ghosts
‘Trees are at their best when they’re turned into timber,’ said Norman as he picked the large golden leaf from his decking, crushing it in his hand. He had searched for ages to find this house with no trees in sight. There had been a spruce in the garden when he moved in, that the previous owner said had been a Chris…[Read more]
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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! -
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well, there’s a pleasant surprise for a Sunday morning! Thanks, Ath, and thank you fellow Denizens.
I’ll ponder a new prompt and put it up later today. -
Barny replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well done, John. And thanks Ath!
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Oops! Sorry all – got my days mixed up, but anyway, super quality this month.
Sandra – Time to play
Yes! That’s exactly the feeling: that unexpected memory. There’s a lot in these few words. Oddly enough I was thinking about the ‘play’ that’s so often missing from writing, quite recently. So easy to assume that a reverential approach will produc…[Read more] -
Hilary replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 9 months agoHappy so far, but I’m aware there’s a lot more I could be doing – and will be doing…
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Hilary replied to the topic Class 1 – Writing exercise, Kaz in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 9 months agoGorgeousness: My favourite bits were ‘afternoons draped in honey’ and ‘as cleanly as she peeled old skin from a white potato.’ I have been told I overwrite too sometimes. But what does it really mean?
I liked your I remember, too. Many of us chose to capture a single incident, or linked series, in our I remembers. I’ve also done it with…[Read more]
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John S Alty replied to the topic Bumbling Round the Citadel in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
Fascinating tale, Philippa, well done for sticking it out to a triumphant end. Looking forward to reading the book.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Story idea in the forum Coffee Shop 6 years, 9 months ago
I couldn’t do this idea justice. The right person could really build the tension and explore the changing relationships of the three characters as the story builds. Interesting project for someone, but not me.
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Athelstone started the topic The truth about – back then (part 2) in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
Well, I got away with the last one so this is another blog from the Word Cloud. Apologies again to former Cloudies who remember it. To repeat myself, it’s worth saying straight out that I’m also sorry if they seem too locker-room in style. The male gaze is overused and far less important than male writers suppose. But the blogs are who I was…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Bumbling Round the Citadel in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
Well the story of the book is seriously interesting, so I can hardly wait to get my copy.
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party? -
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Hilary replied to the topic Class 1: Writing Exercise, Raine. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 9 months agoYES about the detail. So evocative.
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Hilary replied to the topic Class 1 Writing Exercise, Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 9 months agoSorry you’re feeling that way, Jane. It’s great that we can support one another with or without feedback – glad you posted anyway.
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Hilary replied to the topic Class 1: Writing exercise, Squidge in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 9 months agoI love the bit of dialogue about the peas.
I found the listening exercise very hard. Tried it again the other day. I would need to be very close or the speakers would need to be very loud!
Interesting about trying to write ‘gorgeous’ when you don’t feel you normally do. A good exercise, though, to try a different approach. Scary dream! -
John S Alty started the topic Story idea in the forum Coffee Shop 6 years, 9 months ago
I woke this morning with an idea for a short story/novella. It’s not something I’d tackle so I thought I’d put it out there for anyone looking for a new project:
Two women have taken on the challenge of rowing across the Atlantic for a charity – say, breast cancer awareness – and have acquired the necessary sponsorship, had a boat built and have…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic The truth about – back then in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
I’m not sure. An I remember exercise about a particular relationship would be something of a curiosity I think. I enjoyed writing these short pieces because they helped me remember the taste of the time rather than focusing on every intense flavour.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Chaos and Catastrophe: Radstock, 1876 in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
It’s really hard to believe that somebody could send deliberately ridiculous/obstructive messages like Herbert John when lives were at stake (and I know he was only 18). That said, it’s a level of managerial incompetence and hubris that almost defies belief. Sadly, as the years go by it’s clear that more than cream floats to the top.
Another…[Read more]
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RIP
Now I know why.
I met Clive James once. I had long been a fan of the least known – but which he once said was ‘the closest to my heart’ – of his many endeavours, the songs he wrote with Pete Atkin and which Atkin performed. When I first got internet access I discovered and started participating in a mailing list of like-minded souls called Midnight Voices, and…[Read more]