@sandradavies
Active 1 day, 22 hours ago-
Sandra replied to the topic Where to start? in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 11 months agoWhat a brilliant set of answers and examples to a most important question, I’ve been writing fiction ten years now but still forgetting how this one works. Thaks fir asking it, Andrew. And well done Jane for mentioning Emma’s blog – taught me so much.
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Sandra joined the group
A place for Stupid Questions 5 years, 11 months ago -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago
Midsummer Madness
The ambush had been crueller for the glory of a wiped-clean sky, slowly coloured-in by a northeast Scotland, half-four sunrise, just three days past the solstice. It side-swiped the pleasures of his journey down, dulling the pearly greyness of the North Sea which had sheened pink then gold as it prepared itself for day. The…[Read more]
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 5 years, 11 months ago
I’ve a ‘picked up because I haven’t read and ought’ ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’, but didn’t get very far. Think I need to have another go … sometime.
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Despite being a big fan of stripped back writing, I’m not a Hemmingway fan (although I’ve only read one :Farewell to Arms). But this extract is really fabulous. Perhaps I should try some of his short stories.
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@katemachon you could do worse than start with ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ which is a full novel but at 27,000 words, definitely more novella length as things are reckoned these days – and a short(ish) one at that.
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Thanks, Ath. I’ll give it a try.
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I once tried reading _The Sun Also Rises,_ but couldn’t keep my attention on it. It just seemed like people endlessly talking…his short stories, though, are so engaging.
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I haven’t read ‘The Sun Also Rises’ so maybe I’m talking out of my backside, but I can’t help thinking that dialogue can reveal a lot. I mean, Shakespeare didn’t do too badly out of it…
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LOL dialogue certainly worked for Master Tolkien in Lord of the Rings, too. It was many years ago, maybe it’s time I gave Hemingway’s novel another chance. Maybe listening on audio?
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Hi all,
Since I listen to a lot of audiobooks, I thought, why not give _The Sun Also Rises_ another chance, this time on audio? So I tried it last week.
Well I finished it this time, all right. And it left me dazzled. Stunned, even–he truly was a master. I like to think I’ve matured as a reader and a writer since years ago, and maybe I have a…[Read more]
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Sandra posted an update 5 years, 11 months ago
Congratulations to @Philippa, who’s ‘Little white lies’ has been long-listed for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger award.
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More great news on the Den! Congratulations, Philippa. Long may the success continue!
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Way to go!
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Brilliant news x
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It is great news. And those of us subscribed to Jericho Writers Online Festival can see Philippa talking about her road to publication on 10 June
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Hello everyone, this is my first post as a new member and it is fitting seeing as I learned of the Den through that Webinar with Philippa East at the Jericho Festival. I was inspired by the journey she described and it has been the best event I have attended so far.
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Welcome to the Den, Andrew.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago
Well done Jill – you came so close to winning on YWP that it is only justice you come first here.
And thank you Libby for setting a theme which sent me back to all of these small stones and properly gather them in one place (now up to #94
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years ago
Send it over Jane – I know and enjoy your writing. Let me know if there’s anythig specific you want me to look for.
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years ago
Applause from me – been there done that, AND emerged triumphant, but no matter how often the solution is found, there’s always the fear it never will be again!
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Between 2011 and 2013, for some eighteen months, I participated in a ‘Small stones’ project; a daily moment of intense observation. Many were made during the twelve minute walk (six there, six back) to buy a morning paper. This is a 396 word selection.
Autumn
Stepping stones of yellow sycamore
stuck to the rain-damp roadAnd the sky this mor…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Thank you Raine – both for setting such an interesting, informative and though-provoking challenge, and for picking my favourite as winner. Well done Libby.
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Sandra posted an update 6 years ago
@libby, I loved, loved, loved your comp entry – the agonising over the purchase and then the description – sounds a wonderful piece of inspiration to have in sight.
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@sandradavies Thank you!
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@libby I agree with Sandra, your descriptions are stunning. I’m not quite certain where to post my comment, as I didn’t want to put it on the comp thread. I’m still working my way around… 🙂
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years ago
Giselle, be warned – Orkney is dangerously addictive! We first went there in 1981 and this is the first year we’ve missed (not as it happened because of Covid19) There are SO MANY sites there, and heavily influenced the printmaking I was doing at the time .
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years ago
Skara Brae, also uncovered having been buried in the sand (though a very different climate!) has similar tools, which one used to be allowed to handle – Your vivid description brought that 1980s pleasure back to me – thank you.
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Thank you for your mention of Skara Brae, Sandra. A new prehistoric site for me to add to the ever-growing bucket list. There’s something about these ancient dwellings that stikes a primordial nerve. 🙂
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Giselle, be warned – Orkney is dangerously addictive! We first went there in 1981 and this is the first year we’ve missed (not as it happened because of Covid19) There are SO MANY sites there, and heavily influenced the printmaking I was doing at the time .
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Bringing a little light
I suspected, on reading the rules, if I did submit anything it would be something of a cheat, because there’s not a lot that’s actually old in itself in this room. Not much in the way of ‘things’ really, anywhere in the house (although I do have, in the loft, my great-grandfather’s two writing boxes such as Jill describes…[Read more]
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years ago
So long as it’s not bared teeth and false promises!
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years, 1 month ago
“sea glass” – such wonderful connotations.
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No swallows as yet but in the evening the beach (forbidden to humans) is full of birds congregating along the water line. It is getting light enough after supper to slip past the ‘interdit’ signs and watch them dart in and out of the little frothy waves or stand still on the sand and watch the sun set behind the islands.
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What a delightful picture you paint, Raine. No, I have not seen any swallows yet, but many other birds visit our garden, as we have countryside all around our home. We are a long way from the sea and beaches, but we do have terracotta bowls of such items as you describe in our home – many dating as far back as when we lived in Cyprus! Have a…[Read more]
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Looking out for swallows here. We only moved in in January, so not sure what the avian fauna are like, except there a rooks/ravens plucking twigs from trees and then flying off to build nests, and seagulls doing their squawking thing, and since we started putting food out the sparrows, tits and similar have been very enthusiastic, also the rats…[Read more]
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Yes @raine, What is a sea brick?
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😂 It’s a brick that’s been washed up by the sea so it’s all eroded and smooth. We get a fair few normal ones but a white one was special! Sea tiles are my fav – bits of broken and smoothed ceramic from all sorts of things. Old decorated plates are the best.
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years, 1 month ago
Thanks for the catch-up Kaz – and brilliant (and not undeserved) news about the residency. Fingers crossed all will come to pass … whenever.
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Fingers crossed from me too @kazg. A lovely boost though.
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Retreat sounds amazing Kaz – and I am totally not surprised they were won over by the Needlies!! Love them so much. On the + side, by the time this is all calmed down a bit, you will be in SERIOUS need of a bit of time away, so it’s nice to know there is that waiting for you. How is Book2 going atm?
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Thanks @janeshuff, @sandradavies and @raine! Sorry I didn’t see this Raine, I’ve been a bit erratic on all fronts lately. Book 2 is crawling along, it needs much more attention than I seem able to give it, unfortunately! I had so much great beta feedback and I know what needs to change to make the book stronger – but getting my head in a fit state…[Read more]
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I don’t think you’re alone in suffering from scattybrainitis @kazg. Sending reinforcing hugs.
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Thank you, gratefully received @janeshuff (I MISS HUGS) x
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Sandra posted a new activity comment 6 years, 1 month ago
@Raine – sounds liberating. Long may it continue.
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