@squidge
Active 4 months, 1 week ago-
Clebs replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 12 months ago
The formatting isn’t great – sorry.
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Clebs replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 12 months ago
<p style=”text-align: center;”><b>Behind Closed Curtains</b></p>
‘Jimmy look, that rude electrician is back!’ Marjorie adjusted her glasses and squinted towards the bungalow. ‘And he’s wearing that t-shirt again, you know, the orange one with large red letters saying Bog Off You Nosy Neighbour!’ She poked her tongue out in the general direction of…[Read more] -
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 12 months ago
Brutal
Graham was beside himself. Furious, speechless, incandescent with rage. They had demolished the ancient well in his garden, thrown the centuries old stonework down inside, and constructed a former which showed their intention to pour footings a full twenty metres from where the summerhouse should be. He leaned forward and peered down. All…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years ago
And we’re there. Thank you to all the generous donors. We’re here for another year!
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years ago
One More Year!
Probably daft, bearing in mind we have maybe 10 to 15 members who are even close to regular, and perhaps half a dozen who are. I need to raise about ÂŁ150 this month to keep the site going. It will keep going; it’s just a case of finding as much as I can. SO… please see the donations group for details. Simple as that. -
Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
The Mausoleum
⌠The star broke down as wife Stephanieâs casket was taken into the mausoleum. The stone masterpiece, testament to their love, could have been fashioned by Wren âŚâ
Justin Malloryâs architect had also been proud of the secret panel to facilitate re-entry: stone-clad, freed by hidden lock and latch. Justin pocketed the key. He swiped…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Hi Janette – as discussed, it’s gone. Feel free to post again when ready.
Ath.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Right man for the job!
Half eight, overnight ice on the inside of the windows, me already double Aran-wrapped, my phone rang:
âMissus Blake? Morpeth Builders. Weâve a cancellation. Can come and have a look at your chimney today.â
âThatâd be great. Thereâs some sort of, of ⌠blockage. The boilerâs broke, so lighting a fire the only way to kee…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Congratulations, Libby, and thank you Seagreen for such an enticing theme – I had a dozen possibilities in my head, and it was obvious others did too, strong voices all and I was glad not to have to do the judging.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
I knew from the minute I started reading these that judging would be a tricky businessâŚ
Thanks all for entering! I love that you each took a perfectly mundane experience â like sitting in traffic â and gave me a fabulous peek into the headspace of your characters.
Ath, straight in there with your character reference of the man in the siler GT. T…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sea, for such a good challenge. Congratulations @Libby – a worthy win.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
What is this? I turn my back for TWO days and Iâm inundated!! ????
Please bear with me. Worked a fifteen hour shift today (with the same tomorrow). I promise to come back with a winner by Monday at the absolute latest x
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Car
Look at that bloke. Arm out of the window, cigarette in hand. Marks and Sparks polo shirt that his wife bought him. Revving the engine every five seconds; counting down the time until death. And he got the silver car, the GT model. He chose that. He calls it âmy carâ. But if anybody asks, âWe chose it. Me and my lady.â
How old do you reckon?…[Read more]
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Hand Signals
Molly matched the testy huff coming from the seat to her left, though neither were on account of the tailback as school runs jostled with motorway traffic on the approach to the roundabout. âFor Godâs sake, Jake. Youâll appreciate one day why I put school first, holidays with your father second.â
She ignored his mouthed words;…[Read more]
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RichardB replied to the topic For Those in Peril… in the forum Blogs 3 years, 1 month ago
Since writing this blog I have put my money where my mouth is and become a paid-up RNLI supporter, paying a direct debit every month. One of the consequences of this is that I receive a quarterly magazine. In the latest edition, which came a few days ago, I read that the old Penlee lifeboat station has now been granted Grade II listed building status.
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Thanks, Richard. I hadn’t realised how small the station is. It’s good it’s now listed. I imagine it would be vulnerable to being left to fall apart without a team of dedicated voluteers.
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Yes, when i stumbled across the place two or three years ago, though the memorial garden was well maintained the actual building did look just a little sorry for itself.
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Janette posted an update 3 years, 1 month ago
Apologies for the absence. I have been writing and reading disturbingly little while I’ve wrestled with other things, mainly concerning health and other shit that saps far too much energy, not to mention confidence. Anyway, I had a gentle nudge (thanks, @sandradavies) to perhaps ease myself in with an entry into the Den comp. It’s been ages, so…[Read more]
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And great to see you here. Janette. Hope you are on the mend.
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It’s a long, varied road, but I feel I’m going the right way along it, thanks Ath. I’m learning that I need to keep in touch with the outside world.
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Lovely to read your story @janette . Good luck with your recovery <3
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Thank you, Libby. I loved your story too.
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John T posted an update 3 years, 1 month ago
Sorry for my prolonged absence from here. What with writing a new novel and proofreading two other, as well as all the drama and complications of choosing to self-publish, all my writing energy has been directed in less sociable pursuits. But, I have news. My first book should be published within a month or so, when the wonderful Leigh Forbes has…[Read more]
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Drama and complications, John? Nothing you won’t overcome, I’m sure. Great news about the books, and loving the website.
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Cheers, Athelstone. Since I wrote that, ‘a month or so’ now looks optimistic, at least for the ebook version. Amazon are giving Leigh less freedom to format the book, and what looks perfect on Apple Books or Kobo looks a mess on Kindle. We need two different ebook versions to work around the limited options they now give. The paperback version is…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
âO dolce manoâ another opera
Coming out of the theatre, in the carpark, beeping the car unlocked, you say âIf weâre dropping Judy off, sheâd be best in the front ââ
Because itâs SO difficult to get out of the back seat? Nevertheless, I say nothing. It was Judy â a work colleague âthat offered him the tickets. I bought the third on seeing the…[Read more] -
Daedalus started the topic HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 3 years, 1 month ago
The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition is now open for entries. Up to 3,500 words, set 35 or more years ago, exploring every aspect of historical fiction.
Deadline 1 July
Full details and how to enter: https://historicalwriters.org/awards/ddshwass-award-2023/
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Thanks, Daeds. I’m trying to get a story ready in time. Are you going to enter?
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I was thinking of entering one Iâd already written, thought Iâd missed the deadline but I havenât, so I might go for it. Howâs yours coming along?
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@daedalus
Mine is becoming a more interesting story than I’d thought it was but it needs more time so I’m not going to enter. Good luck with yours if you do enter.
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Seagreen started the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Youâre sitting in traffic. Tell me about the car and the person (people) in the car next to you.
400 words
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Pleasantly surprised by this, especially given the company ☺️
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