F is for FLYTING (ancient and modern)
Flyting is an abusive slanging match in verse, usually between two poets, usually between two Scottish poets. Although the language was violent, there was also a grudging professional respect. True … Continue reading
E is for the LETTER E
E is the most common letter in the English language. A Void, translated from the original French La Disparition (The Disappearance), is a 300-page novel written in 1969 by Georges … Continue reading
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers THE BLOOD RED PENCIL
Safari = Swahili for long journey. I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a reader … Continue reading
D is for DIALOGUE TAGS
A dialogue tag identifies who is speaking. Used too often and they becomes irritating to the reader with an almost childish repetitive pattern of he said, she said. Too few … Continue reading
C is for CYBERPUNK
The word cyberpunk was first used as the title of a short story about teenager hackers in 1980; you can read it here The science fiction genre was developed by … Continue reading
B is for BOAT DRINKS, BUCKWHEATS and BACK STORY
All from the 1995 film Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead. BOAT DRINKS was the good luck phrase used by a group of ex gangsters when they said … Continue reading
A is for ALL IN A DAY
We tend to think of a novel having a big landscape with a great sweep of characters and the story told over weeks, years, even centuries. But some writers have … Continue reading
MONDAY CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE because it’s a good way to start the week — Banishing Cliches
‘The most original authors are not so because they advance what is new, but because they put what they have to say as if it had never been said before.’ … Continue reading
Can you judge someone by the books on their shelves?
If I’m in someone’s house for the first time I can’t help but look at their book collection. My husband used to do it with records. It’s not so easy … Continue reading
Amazon News
Amazon has bought Goodreads, the social media book review site with 16 million users worldwide. The San Francisco-based company should provide Amazon with another way to get readers to buy … Continue reading
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers WORLD WIDE WORDS
Safari = Swahili for long journey. I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a reader … Continue reading
INTERNATIONAL ghost story competition
The Fiction Desk is running a short story competition for all English-speaking writers aged 16 or over. There’s a first prize of £500, and a second prize of £100; both … Continue reading
Ever been rejected by an agent? This will make you feel better. Ever had a bad review? This will make you feel very good indeed
Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith is in the news a lot right now because of his controversial welfare reforms. Among his severest critics are two archbishops and 43 bishops, all … Continue reading
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 