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Athelstone posted an update 3 months, 1 week ago
Some very sad news for old Cloudies, which I suppose is most of us. I’ve just heard that Barb (Barbara Dawn Ettridge) died in Australia just over a week ago. Barb was funny, sharp, a great writer, and a good friend. Details are here:…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic January 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 1 week ago
Terrie, I had a tricky January but that’s no excuse. Sorry for missing a super monthly comp. Well done Libby, a really great entry. Well done all.
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Athelstone replied to the topic The Sweat of the Workers in the forum Blogs 4 months ago
I know that feeling. I was also a government employee who found himself parcelled up and sold to the highest bidder, or at least the one that made the most empty promises and said the things that our betters at the high table wanted to hear. I recall now how our managers queued up to tell us what a good thing it was and, yes, they used that exact…[Read more]
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John T replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 4 months, 1 week ago
We must venture that way. We’re at the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog near Abergavenny.
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John T posted an update 4 months, 1 week ago
Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I’ve written very little in the last three months for health reasons, but I’m slowly winding back up again. I’ve found a (hopefully acceptable) way to take part in September Song, and I’m returning to blow the dust and cobwebs off my WIP.
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Good to hear you’re feeling stronger, John. Still battling with my September Song entry – good to hear you’re onto it too.
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Janette posted an update 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Gosh, I almost forgot about the monthly comp, and a worthy winner you chose, Ath. Well done, Terrie, and thank you, Ath, for the prompt. I can’t promise anything in the coming weeks but will try my best in among the prep work for publishing.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Right, here we go.
Is there anybody who hasn’t had at least a small part in the production of a nativity play? Jill, that’s just how they go. A perfect evocation. And your story has a Christmas miracle as well – or was it a mischievous young actor?
Janette, I was there in that supermarket. No, really, I was actually there I think, barging past…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
OK, it’s a fraction after midnight so 2026. I’ve read them all. They’re annoyingly good. So sorry, you can all wait until tomorrow is well and truly underway. Happy New Year!
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Wouldn’t be Christmas without the occasional disaster.
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Janette posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
Would you know? A cancellation gave me space to knock out a story for December. That’s it though until next year.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 months, 1 week ago
Running the Christmas Gauntlet
Brace yourself, girl. Everywhere is going to be madness today. Most of the throng will be feeling much the same way … which means shouting and kids screaming; means shoving and pushing … but take a deep breath. Concentrate on the list. You’ve successfully run the Christmas shopping gauntlet before.
The veget…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
Christmas is coming, The Goose is getting fat, please to put a penny in the old man’s hat, If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do, If you haven’t got a ha’penny then enter the December monthly comp. Ten days to go.
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I’ll try my best but the diary is pretty full at the moment.
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Janette posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
So sorry for my absences. I have made the decision to self-publish my books after careful consideration, reading how some trad friends have fared, and revisiting notes from my last (self-publishing) workshop in York. I’m very wet behind the ears regarding publishing, especially self-publishing, so I am deep into swatting about it before I make any…[Read more]
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Good luck. Please let us know how you get on. I’d like to piggy-back on your request for tips. I am part of a group currently ready to publish a non-fiction book. We’re trying a few pitches via the traditional route just in case it lands but it’s quite likely we may end up self-publishing because we don’t want the book to languish, unpublished, for ages.
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Hi Bella. So far I’m deep into reading the Writers and Artists Guide to Self Publishing, which is very ‘involved’ though gives lots of advice. I have also signed up to David Gaughran’s free self-publishing course (on his website). I also found this: https://justpublishingadvice.com/publishing-companies-to-avoid-and-nasty-new-author-scams/
I’ll let…[Read more]-
Janette (and Bella), one tip I didn’t mention earlier is that it makes very good sense to set your page size for composing to Blurb’s trade book size. Makes it, in my opinion, a lot easier to read on screen too. Blurb’s page size is 13.02cm x 20.95cm. Select mirror margins , set top margin 2 cm, bottom 2.25 cm, inside 1.75cm, outside, 1.75 cm…[Read more]
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Hi Janette, I’ve never self-published but am in contact with editors and proofreaders who work with self-pub authors. This tip usually doesn’t apply to experienced writers so I just add it as a general comment. When self-pub authors approach editors for a proofread or copy edit, often what’s needed is a more substantial developmental or…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sandra and Libby. All taken on board, but the novel has had three beta readers so far, plus an agent’s when she almost took it on. Better luck this time, eh?
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You are well prepared, Janette! Good luck with the self pub.
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat! For the December competition, I would love a Christmas story. The theme is Christmas in any way, shape, or form. Make it sad, make it happy, naughty or nice. Make it ghostly if that tickles your fancy. Make it commercial or spiritual. Feel free.
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Athelstone replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Ah, thank you Terrie. After reading the others I feel very lucky! I’m a bit late arriving – so apologies. I’ll get right to the December comp.
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Athelstone replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months ago
Percy.
Percy was old. I knew that because everybody knew that. I went to see him because I was invited, and young, ambitious journalists don’t refuse invitations from Percy Fullbig’s people. The man who had seen it all, and predicted much of it. Predicted the Second World War, Vietnam, various troubles in the Middle East, the Financial Cra…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I’ve added a few pieces to the Profile settings. The new entries are all entirely optional, but I do encourage you to take a look at what’s there. It’s nice to know a bit about your Denizen friends, and it can be useful sometimes. So, if you have the world’s largest collection of rare Tupperware, or are secretary of the East Kent Hare Coursing…[Read more]
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Thank you, Ath. A good idea. At the moment updated profiles aren’t necessarily being mentioned on the activity page, but you may well know that already.
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I didn’t know, Libby. Have you done an update recently? There’s a full change log in the admin menu, but I didn’t see anything. I haven’t looked at how the Activity Page is built; I know it’s complex and occasionally flakey, so I’ve tried to steer clear.
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Oh, or did you mean that my post about the changes has slipped down because of subsequent posts? That can be a nuisance sometimes. There’s a banner headline facility that I also avoid.
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Thanks, Ath. Some profile updates are mentioned on the Activity page, e.g. Richard’s and Janette’s, and others aren’t, e.g. Sandra’s and mine. Perhaps it’s just an example of its flakiness.
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Exactly that. I’m not even certain whether the activity page is a WordPress thing or one of the plugins that makes it a community site.
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It sounds as though it presents frustrations. Thanks for keeping it all going and working with its idiosyncracies.
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I sometimes feel a bit like the man who asked for directions and was told, ‘Well, I wouldn’t start from here.’
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Athelstone posted an update 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I’m going to update some of the software used on the Den. It should be invisible, and I’ve already done it on our test site, but if you spot anything odd happening please let me know.
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Yes, Athelstone I well remember the lovely Barb. Sad news, but thank you for posting it. May she Rest In Peace. Jillx