-
Squidge posted an update 3 years, 8 months ago
Dipping in to say hi… ridiculously busy at the mo with Life, so barely time to breathe, let alone write! How is everyone doing at the moment, following the Queen’s death? Whether you’re for the monarchy or not, it seems to have impacted nearly everyone I’ve spoken to in some way, shape, or form. Sending hugs if you need them x
-
Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 8 months ago
Any more takers for the annual Short Story Challenge? There’s still time to join the “All You Need” group and make a couple of simple choices. The group closes and becomes private on Sunday evening, 22:00 UK time. It’s an easy way in for 6 months of fun and anticipation.
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Choices in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoConiston
Yes there is
-
Woolleybeans replied to the topic Choices in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoCala Bridge
No there is not
-
Clebs started the topic Monthly Competition – September 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 8 months ago
I am attending a gathering of sorts next week and am aware that when the attendees leave they will have different thoughts and emotions. The event will evoke different memories for them.
In 500 words or less please write a piece entitled ‘After the Gathering’. With the exception of the title and the number of words there are no res…[Read more]
-
Clebs replied to the topic Monthly Competition – August 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 8 months ago
Reading the other entries I didn’t expect that! Thank you. I really enjoyed this competition.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – August 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 8 months ago
Well done @clebs. I said it’s excellent – and it is!
-
Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 8 months ago
Another reminder to all Denizens. The annual short-story challenge is awake once more. If you haven’t joined already, you only have until 11 September to join the group ALL YOU NEED and make a couple of choices.
And to those who HAVE joined, choices must be made by that same date in order to enter the challenge. -
Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoAh, I see.
Cf. my choice
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoFor me the town is the sticking point, as whatever I go with will necessarily narrow down what kind of story I can write a fair bit. That’s what comes of writing across a range of genres I suppose!
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly Competition – August 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 8 months ago
Burn
The day the power went off for the last time, Dad started on about the country again.
“When did this country change?” he growled. “Things never used to be like this. This is Britain, how did it get so the electric doesn’t work?”
Gemma didn’t understood when he talked like this. It was like he felt the whole island was somehow the same. G…[Read more]
-
Clebs replied to the topic Monthly Competition – August 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 8 months ago
<p style=”font-weight: 400;”><b>Upwards and Downwards</b></p>
<p style=”font-weight: 400;”>An unexpected ray of light pierced the blanket of cloud which hung over the otherwise dull cemetery. A plot empty of earth with planks and ropes ready to lower a coffin screamed yet another death.
</p>
<p style=”font-weight: 400;”>Had the reaper taken…[Read more] -
Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoI think the choices this year are kinder than they have ever been, really. In there impact on a possible story that is.
-
Raine replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoI think I’ve suffered more indecision over my choices this time than any previous comp! Ah well. Posted now so will just have to ride the chaos wave…
-
Raine replied to the topic Choices in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoTortuguero, Costa Rica
Yes, there is.
-
Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 8 months ago
Still today and tomorrow left for a crack at the monthly comp. GO ON! You know you want to really. Give Alex some work to do with his judging.
-
Knicks replied to the topic How to reach out to a speculative fiction editor? in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 3 years, 8 months ago
Thank you both, @richardb and @katemachon; Kate, the info on your process, experience and end results was especially illuminating. Thanks so much! ✨
-
Daedalus replied to the topic The Price of Coal: Senghenydd, 1913 in the forum Blogs 3 years, 8 months ago
I was just reading up on Gresford following this and noticed one striking coincidence. The name of an MP who castigated the mine’s management during a debate in parliament following the inquiry’s mealy-mouthed conclusions:
David Grenfell…
-
Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 8 months ago
An apology to some of the more active users of this site. The absolute last thing we need is your posts going astray, but that has happened. A while back we had some anti-spam software that blocked posts with internet links embedded, but this has been removed. Unfortunately, unknown to us, the same function is buried in the very plug-in that…[Read more]
-
Janette replied to the topic Choices in the forum
All You Need 3 years, 8 months agoRough Lee
No there is not.
- Load More

Doing well (I think). Similarly busy, especially yesterday when I was included in a tale of lost keys which necessitated a drive from Worthing to London and back.
Even for a republican like me it does feel like the end of an era. Thinking about how as a Scout we had to make promises to do our duty to the Queen etc, and every time you see a post box or a coin, or hear The King, it feels strange. Very few people have known anything different – @athelstone that sounds like an incredibly trying day, was it all…[Read more]
Yes, no harm done, thanks.
Oh blimey, Ath…can imagine that being rather stressful.
Busy here too, but yes, life seems to feel ‘on hold’ as we witness the end of an era. While not being an ardent Royalist, I did have a lot of respect for a queen who was the unwavering anchor for her family, showing how publicity could be done properly without scandalous revelations. I think I shall miss her.
I had a very strong (and somewhat unexpected) emotional reaction to the death. She has always loomed large in my life as my father is an ardent royalist. I’d expected to feel a bit sad, as I did when Prince Philip died, but I burst into tears when I heard the news. We were in Scotland and very nearly passed the cortege from Balmoral to Edinburgh…[Read more]