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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – February 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 4 months ago
4 fab entries.
Sandra: a mind tortured by contemplation of an almost-certain affair and a child on the way that may not be his own. But which betrayal warrants the biggest shiver? What a deliciously twisted tale.
Seagreen: what an terrible tale – but writing as sharp as February frost. It isn’t the weather that makes the reader shiver, but an…[Read more]
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Squidge replied to the topic Monthly comp – February 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 5 months ago
Just Another Night at the Theatre.
Suspenders. Check.
Stockings. Check.
Corset and lacy panties. Check.
Stilettos.Check.
Pearl necklace. Make up to die for. Check.
Lab coat. Check.
Rubber gloves. Check.
Rice, torch, water pistol, newspaper, confetti, party hat, rubber gloves. Check.
Sense of humour. Check.
Willingness to participate.…[Read more] -
Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 5 months ago
Dear Denizens,
I hope you are all well and not too discommoded by the present restrictions on movement and fraternisation in your various locales.
May I draw your attention to the date. I observe that there are 6 days and some hours before the February Monthly Comp closes. So far we have two superb entries, and there is plenty of room for more.…[Read more]-
Seem to be on a roll producing shorts at the mo – I’ll see what I can do. No promises… 😉
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Phew, didn’t think I’d find the time for this one, but squeezed in (sideways) a quick effort today.
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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 5 months ago
The countdown begins. Including today, just 10 days left to enter the monthly comp and win the FABULOUS PRIZE of being picked!
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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 5 months ago
Still February. Still time. Not a leap year. Be quick.
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Squidge replied to the topic Comments from an Editor in the forum Blogs 5 years, 5 months ago
Oh – and contractions? Bunkum! If you have a distinctly voiced character, they will ‘think’ and describe in contractions just as much as they use them in dialogue. I’d have no luck with this editor cos I often write voice with contractions…makes it more real to me as the writer, and immerses the reader in the story, in my experience.
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Squidge replied to the topic Comments from an Editor in the forum Blogs 5 years, 5 months ago
Is it worth having a look at how you’ve used ‘I’, Doug? If you’re using it frequently, then yes, definitely worth looking up psychic distance. There’s a big difference between ‘I sit at the table near the window. Outside, I see a man fighting to keep his brolly up in the wind and rain’, and ‘I sit at the table near the window and watch the man…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Good news on the lyric writing front in the forum Podium 5 years, 5 months ago
That is amazing news. Well done, indeed!
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Thank you, Ath
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Squidge replied to the topic Good news on the lyric writing front in the forum Podium 5 years, 5 months ago
Congratulations! Fab news!
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John S Alty started the topic Good news on the lyric writing front in the forum Podium 5 years, 5 months ago
John Schofield (my real name) has won the Lyrics Only category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2020 with his song “It’s Later Than You Think.”
The UK Songwriting Contest directors and judges include top award-winning producers and songwriters who have worked closely with many of the world´s major artists. There were almost 10,000 song entries from 8…[Read more]-
Oh, big WOW John – not that I didn’t doubt you, but against 10,000??! Will anyone be taking the lyrics up going ahead, for recording? Are we allowed to see them? This is brilliant news for such a cold, icy-blast sort of day. Many congratulations.
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Congratulations, John! What a fantastic achievement 🙂
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Thanks, Thea
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Thanks, Janette.
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and I’ve just bumped in!! Hooray, now for the reading 😅
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly comp – February 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 5 months ago
Can’t believe it’s February already. To quote Don McLean, February made me shiver. Cold, love, anger, heat, fear, excitement, illness, happiness – 400 words maximum on absolutely anything that caused a shiver one February.
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Ooh, thank you, Ath – you’ve enabled me to tackle another tricky scene.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 5 months ago
A small field but some fab entries and I’m very happy to be picked!
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Squidge posted an update 5 years, 5 months ago
My Bump story’s up at last. Been pondering it for weeks, with no real ideas coming together, then it all came through in a rush this weekend. Phew.
(Loved reading the other stories that’ve been posted. I never start on them til I’ve posted my own…)
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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 5 months ago
A MESSAGE FOR ALL “THINGS THAT GO BUMP” ESSAYERS. There is an update in the group’s activity stream.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 6 months ago
Occasional rough language
Prat’s Key Wood
Prat’s Key Wood was as old as the hills. No, really.
Well, seeing as the hills are billions of years old and forged in the countless aeons before organic life, that’s a stretch. But, I mean 1) it was ancient to the max and 2) it took Jacko and a team of ten, and a bulldozer, and chainsaws, just one…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 6 months ago
Is it just me, or is the commercially produced garlic from supermarkets and greengrocers feeble old shite compared to the stuff I cooked with a few years back? I’ll swear it used to have some bite and tang to it, but these days I could stick whole bulbs in and hardly taste it. Going to try growing a few different types.
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No it’s not just you! Supermarket garlic tastes quite bland compared to the stuff I’ve cooked with while self-catering in France – though our local farm shop sometimes has decent bulbs.
Sounds a great idea to try growing it yourself.-
Definitely true. The garlic in the box I get from the organic farmer in the next village is ten times tastier than supermarket stuff.
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I agree. It has gone the way of so many other foods, so bland when mass produced. My France holiday (a distant memory) showed just how much.
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One of the first and most obvious changes is that after preparing a meal with garlic I’d have to scrub away at my hands for a good ten minutes and they’d still be poor company next day. These days a quick rinse is all that’s needed.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly comp: December 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 6 months ago
Well done Libby. Excellent entries from all.
Happy New Year! -
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp: December 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 6 months ago
A very happy new year to all Denizens! The advent competition didn’t have 25 entries as I hoped, but by way of compensation, those that were submitted are all gems that I would be happy to find behind a calendar window.
Janette: A New Opening
A truly positive response to the Covid restrictions. This was beautifully written with a powerful feeling…[Read more] -
Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 6 months ago
Are there any more takers for the last monthly competition, in the final hours of the year? We have three super entries so far, but room for more.
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Thank you, Ath, for the prompt, and for the nice comments. I’ll go and put my thinking cap on now.