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Athelstone replied to the topic The Enemy Within in the forum Blogs 1 year, 1 month ago
I remember as a young child of nine or ten learning about the coal mining industry in Britain. The teacher confidently predicted that there was enough coal to keep Britain self-sufficient for as long as the next thousand years. Most sane, or I should say morally-sane people know that exploitation of fossil fuels in a way that releases pollutants,…[Read more]
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RichardB started the topic The Enemy Within in the forum Blogs 1 year, 1 month ago
Today is the fortieth anniversary of the start of the 1984-5 miners’ strike. Living where I do, this resonates strongly with me, so it seems appropriate to post this piece, which I originally wrote some years ago.
Advisory: contains strong political opinions.
‘Galtieri and the Argentinians were the enemy without. Arthur Scargill and the…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Fabulous! I loved each and every one of these. Sandra, very well done. I’ll remember this as I tuck into my light supper tonight.
Thanks for the prompt Seagreen.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Wow, Sea, that is a surprise, especially as I felt completely out-classed by every other entry – but challenged too, which was a Good Thing. I’m away from home at the moment but will aim to post March’s compTuesday evening. Thank you all for the several inspirations.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
I was mooching around the bookstore with my daughter when I read the dedication in Onyx Storm, and it immediately brought to mind my eleven-year-old self – pink, NHS framed glasses, front teeth that I still had to grow into, and a passion for escaping into some book or other, looking for adventure. I posted the dedication as the monthly comp in…[Read more]
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Thank you for your kind comments, Sea. However I think such a subject would maybe better suited to @johnt3, or perhaps another Welsh writer whose genre is children’s stories.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
This is my second attempt – lesson learned in posting too hastily without allowing time to edit (not that this one fared much better). Please feel free to disqualify if this is outside of the rules.
Snuffle and the Tylwith Teg
Brittle scales fell from his body as he staggered to the edge of hanging rock. Laughter rang out all around, but I…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 1 year, 1 month ago
Some of you may remember Gary Steward from the Wordcloud days. I see that he’s just published the book he was working on way back then. I *think* it was called “The Lemon Grove” back then, but you can find his book on Amazon, kindle or paperback, as the similar sounding “Where Lemons Grow”.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Katherine is typing…
JohnG91 19:44
Hi Kath. I’ve been thinking about what you said. You know, about being decisive. I’ve made a decision. You’ve bullied me into it.
JohnG91 19:57
Just read that back. The bullied thing was supposed to be a joke. Well light-hearted anyway. You’re not a bully. I know when you talked about people who don’t mak…[Read more]
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
A Draconian Call in the Dark
(400 words, excluding title)
“I don’t want anything. That’s how I survive. I will never want anything again.”
I wring my head, trying to force the memories leaking out of me back down my spine. I hate the wet upon my face, the ache in my throat, the hollow in my chest. I hate so many, many things.
“YOU WILL NEVE…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Oh, for goodness sake!
Bilbo, not Frodo. Where is my head at? -
Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
We have a week to go.
Still time to access your inner burglar and be the next Frodo Baggins ????
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
And it looks well worthy of continuing, Terrie!
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Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Although this started out as a response to the monthly competition and is probably moving at a much slower pace that the challenge might have intended, it has blossomed into an opening for something larger. I’ve written a lot more than 400 words and tinkered with a plot line and title too.
The old man stared into the flames. ‘There…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Somehow I missed this entire comp – sorry Richard – but am nevertheless rewarded by being gifted four marvellous pieces of writing – thank you each and all.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Dilemma
So, last night’s message warning that the Wimps were planning some sort of revolt had been genuine, despite the unlikelihood. As Jack had said, delivering it, something must’ve fired them into action, provided them with a Warrior script instead of the Wimp one their biology merited.
Frey’s eyes sharpened on noting my arrival (We’d a…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Including figurative dragons, of course ☺️
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RichardB replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Late, Seagreen? Not really. It’s only the second of the month, and I didn’t post my judgement yesterday until the middle of the afternoon. No apology needed.
A strong field indeed.
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Seagreen started the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
This is the dedication from Onyx Storm (new book from Rebecca Yarros)
To the ones who don’t run with the popular crowd,
the ones who get caught reading under their desks,
the ones who feel like they never get invited, included, or represented.
Get your leathers. We have dragons to ride.
400 words or less on if, and how, you or your MC would…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
Apologies for being late back to this.
Richard, thank you for the comp and for your kind words. I did try to steer clear of that particular subject matter but, ultimately, it was the only thing that remained front and centre when all the other ideas had scarpered.
Strong field this month and all so marvellously different!…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic What if I'm a bad human being? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 2 months ago
Oof. Yes. Gaiman. I think a lot of people I know are particularly hurt by that one because he appeared to be a writer of such humanity. I didn’t read anything of his that I didn’t like, and connect with in some way. At first, I did allow myself to give him the benefit of the doubt. Not for very long, and I’m not sure there’s any doubt now…[Read more]
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