@whisks
Active 6 years, 8 months ago-
Athelstone replied to the topic Influences in the forum Blogs 2 years, 10 months ago
The only writer who I enjoy and where I can see similarities in style with my own, is Kurt Vonnegut. That’s not to say we write in similar ways. Vonnegut was a master of prose and I’m not drawing a comparison. However, he made an effort to keep his writing plain and clear and advised others to do the same. Certainly there are subtleties in…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs 2 years, 10 months ago
Fabulous blog, Richard. Chanson is so little known outside of France. People think they know it because they’ve heard a recording of Non, je ne regrette rien or maybe they know that Seasons in the Sun is a translation (sort of) of a Jacques Brel number. It’s hugely popular in France. Travel to any town and go out and about on market-day. Every…[Read more]
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RichardB started the topic Richard's Musical Byways: Pete Who? (No 2) in the forum Blogs 2 years, 10 months ago
There is a genre of French music known in English as chanson – ironically, since in French chanson simply means song, any kind of song. You might call it popular music with brains, for its distinguishing characteristic is articulate lyrics that set out to say something actually worth saying. In France it has a long and noble tradition, its best k…[Read more]
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Clebs replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 10 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, 10 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, 10 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 2 years, 10 months 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 2 years, 10 months 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 £150 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. -
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 11 months ago
Hi Janette – as discussed, it’s gone. Feel free to post again when ready.
Ath.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 11 months ago
I knew from the minute I started reading these that judging would be a tricky business…
Thanks all for entering! I love that you each took a perfectly mundane experience – like sitting in traffic – 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 2 years, 11 months ago
What is this? I turn my back for TWO days and I’m 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 2 years, 11 months 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 “my car”. But if anybody asks, “We chose it. Me and my lady.”
How old do you reckon?…[Read more]
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RichardB replied to the topic For Those in Peril… in the forum Blogs 2 years, 11 months 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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Daedalus started the topic HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 3 years 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 I’d already written, thought I’d missed the deadline but I haven’t, so I might go for it. How’s 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 ago
You’re 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 ago
Pleasantly surprised by this, especially given the company ☺️
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Wow! They were all classy little pieces of writing. Seagreen, I really enjoyed that. Well done.
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Kate replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Thank you all for a fabulous batch of stories.
Seagreen – you had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was in that letter.
Sandra – such a lovely heart warming tale.
Athelstone – I love that kind hearted Brenda got the reassurance she needed.
Alex – oh! Such a tale of mystery and deceit. Thus feels like the basis for a longer story.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
The Unmarked Letter
It’s a circular, sitting there on the mat. Or is it? It doesn’t look like the sort of envelope they use. And they usually say To the Householder or something like that. When Arthur was alive, he’d say, ‘That’s me. The householder,’ as though I didn’t count. This one has nothing on it.
Right, that’s Edith at the door. I’d b…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
UNTITLED (321 words)
On Thursday, I wrote a letter. Not to send, you understand, since it wasn’t really to someone, and not to keep either, because once I had written it, and re-read it in that way that people do when they are shocked by their candour, I felt embarrassed by it. Embarrassed by the uncontrolled rage and disappointment that I had…[Read more]
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