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John S Alty replied to the topic Story idea in the forum Coffee Shop 6 years, 10 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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Kate replied to the topic Story idea in the forum Coffee Shop 6 years, 10 months ago
What a great crucible of an idea. I can see it as a film too.
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John S Alty started the topic Story idea in the forum Coffee Shop 6 years, 10 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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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 1: Getting Started: Memory, Obs in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 10 months agoI believe there’s a chemical released in your brain during traumatic (or very happy) events that fixes the memory. Probably some sort of survival learning mechanism I would guess. But this does mean our I Remember pieces are like to be tear jerkers. I had a go yesterday and was reduced to sniffling. I’m going to a conference on UK GAAP this…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Class 1: Writing Exercise, Hilary in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 10 months agoSo poignant, Hil. He sounded like a lovely person.
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Kate replied to the topic Class 1: Writing Exercise, Bella. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoFrom a child’s perspective, this is quite a scary, stomach churning tale. Nicely evoked. I’m glad it had a happy ending.
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Kate replied to the topic Class 1: Writing Exercise, Sea in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoThere’s a big ouch in the middle there with the dentist! My teeth are aching at the thought of it. You really conjure up the childhood feelings beautifully (and painfully).
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 1: Getting Started: Memory, Obs in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoI’m with you on all that @Raine.
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Kate replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 6 years, 11 months ago
Here is the link to the Corrugated Sky Urban Fantasy book my short story Changing Gabe is included in. Some of you will have come across it in Athelstone’s Room with a View writing challenge at the beginning of the year.
The theme for the anthology was Sass and Magic. If that tickles your fancy, I hope you will go and take a look.
It feels a bit…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 1: Getting Started: Memory, Obs in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoI enjoyed the Burroway chapter. There were lots of great suggestions to kick start ideas and, like Woolleybeans, I think I shall have to summarise them before they slip away. I’ve seen free writing suggested many times but never tried it. Perhaps now is the time to give it a go.
I struggled to understand the gorgeousness of the pieces in the Le…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Class 1: Writing Exercise, Raine. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoWhat a fab idea to use the I remember exercise to find a character’s voice. I shall do that in future. Your ‘I remember’ is very lovely and conjures up so many scenes and senses. It needed several reads to take it all in.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly comp – October 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
Lost and Found and Lost
Arthur was rooting through a drawer in the garage, the one reserved for plumbing parts, searching for a tap washer. His gnarled hands scrabbled through off-cuts of plastic water pipe, white nylon fittings, a flushing mechanism still in its packaging, old tobacco tins holding copper olives, bolts, nuts and split pins. No…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Syllabus and course materials. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoThanks, Wooleybeans, this is all looking great. Just waiting on the books before digging in.
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Kate replied to the topic Syllabus and course materials. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoI should have ordered mine earlier, but they’re on the way now.
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Libby replied to the topic September 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 11 months ago
I very much like your story, Ath, exactly because of the problems you comment on. The twist worked really well for me, and I often don’t really enjoy such stories because the twist feels tacked on. This one, though, feels integral to what’s gone before. I also enjoyed it as a horror story but that was secondary for me. I could be over analysing…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Syllabus and course materials. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoGreat analysis @woolleybeans. Thanks for the work. I’d better go get those books.
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Kate replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 6 years, 11 months ago
Fabulous Elle – well done.
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Kate replied to the topic Syllabus and course materials. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoI agree with Bella that a bit of structure would be nice. It would give me a bit of a push to get going. I also think feedback is invaluable and am always willing to try and supply some.
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Libby posted an update 6 years, 11 months ago
I’d recommend How Not to Write a Novel to anyone. It’s helpful and very funny. However the lack of index is annoying, unless newer editions have one.
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PS the author’s new novel has had rave reviews too.
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That was the first book about writing I ever read – bought it for my daughter – and one of the very, very few whose advice I remember well enough to follow.
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Me too. Is that because it also pointed out how writing could go horribly wrong? I remember, ‘Wearing only his underpants, she watched her boyfriend swim across the lake.’ :-))
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It’s all the substitute for ‘he said that so resonated with me.
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Oh, yes.
‘Funny?’ she interrogated.
‘Hilarious!’ he expostulated.
‘Surely not!’ she declared.
‘But how to you know?’ he exclaimed.
‘Says you!’ she objected.
‘That’s the last thing I’m willing to say,’ he concluded.And that’s just some of them.
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I love the book. It was reassuring to see mistakes I knew I was avoiding – and be gently reminded of some that I WAS making, without realising!
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Kate replied to the topic Syllabus and course materials. in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 11 months agoA daunting amount of material, but nobody said writing would be easy.
Thanks for setting this up Raine. - Load More
