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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 11 months ago
Disaster has struck. Mrs Athelstone has confirmed that she will still buy me a valentine, wish me a Happy Birthday, and give me a bottle of wine. BUT, she bought me a Nintendo Switch with some games and my daughter added even more games. I may never write again!
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Barny joined the group
A place for Stupid Questions 5 years, 11 months ago -
Athelstone replied to the topic Where to start? in the forum
A place for Stupid Questoins 5 years, 11 months agoShowing and telling is a tricky one and there are many situations where telling something is 100% right and others where showing is 100% right. The reverse is also true.
Jake was acting suspiciously when I met him at the cafe. He looked cagey and only told me about Jane when he was sure nobody else could hear him.
Jake sidled through the cafe…[Read more]
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Jules joined the group
A place for Stupid Questions 5 years, 11 months ago -
Athelstone joined the group
A place for Stupid Questions 5 years, 11 months ago -
Athelstone replied to the topic That old enemy, Perfectionism in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 5 years, 11 months ago
Am I allowed to agree with all of you? When a writer like Stephen King just says something and it works, it’s because he is utterly confident with his voice. I’m not his biggest fan, but I have read a lot of his work and I do appreciate the extraordinary flow of his prose. I’m willing to bet he’s not on the heavy side when he edits.
I’m terrible.…[Read more]
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Mad Iguana replied to the topic Fantasy Anthology in the forum Podium 5 years, 11 months ago
Great news Kate – well done!!
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Mad Iguana replied to the topic That old enemy, Perfectionism in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 5 years, 11 months ago
Perfectionism is a curse. But the desire for perfection is necessary, if we’re ever to get to be as good as we can be.
Every time I re-read anything I’ve ever written, I find myself changing a word here, a phrase there. A sentence can be cut completely and rewritten, and in the next rewrite, it comes back again.
I found comfort in the quote from…[Read more] -
Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 11 months ago
Brilliant “webinar” by @philippaeast tonight. Really interesting insight into the her road to publication. Certainly had me thinking about what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Fantasy Anthology in the forum Podium 5 years, 11 months ago
Huzzah, Kate! I shall keep my eyes open for it.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Tilda and the Mines of Pergatt in the forum Podium 5 years, 11 months ago
I’m SOOOOO late in saying a huge “WELL DONE”. I’ve bought the Kindle edition and hopefully I can get a signed paperback in future – even if I have to wait until York next year.
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Mad Iguana replied to the topic Sorry not sorry in the forum Blogs 5 years, 11 months ago
Beautifully written, but so infuriating!
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Thanks Mad – I know, I’m BOILING with fury!
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I gather now, from the Guardian, that it was a ‘misunderstanding’ on the part of RTZ. I feel this probably makes things worse.
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Athelstone started the topic Sorry not sorry in the forum Blogs 5 years, 12 months ago
This link is to a marvellous but heart-breaking blog by our very own @KazG. Maybe wait a bit before reading if your blood pressure is high right now.
Linked with permission.
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Unbelievable! Well done Kaz for highlighting this.
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It IS unbelievable 🙁 Thanks Kate.
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And also Ath, for sharing it.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Richard's Literary Byways: Arthur Machen and the Angels of Mons in the forum Blogs 6 years ago
Excellent blog, Richard. I fear my “to be read” list has acquired some new items.
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Gerry Fenge replied to the topic Richard's Literary Byways: Arthur Machen and the Angels of Mons in the forum Blogs 6 years ago
Great stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Must look out for The Hill of Dreams
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Loved the entries this time round. Very well done Libby. Raine, great topic. Came so close to telling you about my green rug, but it wasn’t to be.
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Can’t imagine you with green hair, Ath.
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Never been green – although it suffered a great deal of henna back in the 70s. These days I’m approaching the age where hair-loss is expected, if Paul McCartney is to be believed, so maybe a rug is on the cards. Or my head.
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Giselle replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Thank you @Raine for the lovely feedback and for a comp idea that allowed us to think beyond our times, much needed at this point!
Congratulations to @Libby, yours is beautifully written and a well-deserved win.
Hapy May Day everyone! -
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Well done, Libby, thoroughly deserved.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Chasing the Dream in the forum Blogs 6 years ago
I don’t remember this blog in detail, but I do remember thinking what a lucky individual you were to find such a wonderful spot.
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Giselle posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
@katemachon, Thank you! It’s great to see you. It was an exciting moment. I belong to a pre-history association, and am tempted to ask them if they can date it. What’s amazing is that all those tools are buried in the sand, then uncovered, as the dunes shift with the wind. What are the chances that that particular scraper would be temporarily…[Read more]
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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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Great to ‘see’ you too @giselle. I love that feeling of time and serendipity. Mind boggling indeed. I’ve been quite interested in flint knapping since reading the Clan of the Cave Bear series. The author goes into the method in quite some detail. I have a flint blade on my mantle piece. Not old but from a knapping demo. Incredibly sharp and I use…[Read more]
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:O
I had that particular birthday on the day my daughter got married in Scotland. The attending piper was prevailed upon to play a certain tune…
Nothing of such significance happened on my birthday, unless you count the assault on my writing with the gift of a Nintendo Switch and a pile of games. In fact, I’d forgotten it even was my birthday and I was busy making plans to do things around the house until my daughter pointed out that Mrs Ath had invited the in-laws round for afternoon fizz…[Read more]
Not quite as thought-provoking, I contend, as the birthday I had a month ago. I have reached my three-score-and-ten, and am now officially An Old Man.
Well, many happy returns. Definitely a landmark – positively biblical.