Stuart Aken's Blog, page 177
January 21, 2017
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #22
One day late: sorry! This series offers writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners some insights into the peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#22
January 18, 2017
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
A short progress report. The week has gone well, with some new research done (there’s a lot happening regarding Mars at the moment!). I’ve added 13,345 words to last week’s start, making the total word count 18,145 to date. The story continues to flow and the characters are developing. I wake up at night sometimes … Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in theMaking.
The Fallen, by Clay A. Kahler, Reviewed.
I don’t like to write negative reviews: writing a book is hard enough, and getting people to read it is even more difficult. But I review, honestly, as an aid to other readers, so here goes. Is this a bad book? Well, it’s full of typos and errors that a good piece of editing would … Continue reading The Fallen, by Clay A. Kahler,Reviewed.
January 14, 2017
A Day for Celebration
Today marks 2 years in our new home in the Forest of Dean. The move away from East Yorkshire, family and friends, was planned and chosen, but none the easier for that. But it was the right time and, we hoped, the right place. Somewhere to settle for our retirement. A place where we could … Continue reading A Day forCelebration
January 13, 2017
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #21
Considering the date, perhaps I should look at usage for triskaidekaphobia? But I suspect everyone now knows it simply means a morbid fear of the number 13. This series offers writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. It also gives language learners some … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#21
January 12, 2017
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
You really should have had this update yesterday, as I do them on Wednesdays. But I was actually writing (and, tell the truth, the heavy cold that had me in its clutches throughout Xmas and the New Year celebrations had returned to turn my brain to mush for most of the waking hours). Today, I … Continue reading Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in theMaking.
January 11, 2017
The Majat Testing, by Anna Kashina Reviewed.
This fantasy short introduces readers to a new series, The Majat Code, which, on the basis of the writing here, I may very well explore further. For a short piece, this book develops the characters well and presents an imagined world in surprising detail, without boring the reader with unnecessarily lengthy descriptions. The story involves … Continue reading The Majat Testing, by Anna KashinaReviewed.
January 7, 2017
The Midnight Clear, by April Taylor, Reviewed.
April Taylor has her soprano sleuth, Georgia Pattison embroiled in another murder mystery. A shorter work, this one, it packs in all the emotion, action and mystery of her longer works. Great light detective fiction that concentrates on character as a means of solving the crime. We have a new police detective here to deal … Continue reading The Midnight Clear, by April Taylor,Reviewed.
January 6, 2017
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #20
A series offering writers help to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. Also giving language learners some insights into the peculiarities of English. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#20
January 1, 2017
Submit, Publish, Repeat, by Emily Harstone, Reviewed.
This little eBook is worth its modest price for the links alone. It’s a basic journal setting out the process, pitfalls, opportunities and rewards relating to writing for literary journals. With chapters on Why You Should Submit…, How To Know When Your Work is Ready…, Basics of Submitting, and many others, it provides useful information … Continue reading Submit, Publish, Repeat, by Emily Harstone,Reviewed.
