Stuart Aken's Blog, page 179

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #16

Read this post and you’ll be in good company. Today’s Google search for ‘Writers Help’ brought up 72,300,000 results. One post from this series was the 4th in the list and a second was 9th! The series offers help for writers to make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective by exploring similar … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#16

Letters From Hull, by Linda Swift, Reviewed.

This collection of letters written by an American novelist to her family and friends whilst living in Hull, England, during 1999/2000, is, essentially, a very personal book. Having said that, it’s also a book for everyone interested in the cultures, habits and attitudes of both nations. I came across it via Facebook; one of my … Continue reading Letters From Hull, by Linda Swift,Reviewed.

Dreagan Star, by Nan Klee, Reviewed.

Set on the Moon in some unspecified future, this science fiction novel presents the reader with complex characters that live on the page. For me, as both a reader and a writer, character development and presentation are key to the enjoyment of a book. Here, we have a well-constructed story set in a credible world … Continue reading Dreagan Star, by Nan Klee,Reviewed.

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #15

If you read this post, you’re in good company. I recently did a Google search for ‘Writer Help’ to answer a Quora question. The search brought up 270,000,000 results. 2 of the posts from this series were listed on the first page in the 1st 10 results! A series offering to help writers make their … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#15

Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

Here’s your usual monthly reminder that the writing contest table is continually updated. Make sure you get your entries submitted in plenty of time, there are some spectacular prizes to be had. Some of these are free to enter. And think of the kudos! The table updates each time I save it, which is frequently, … Continue reading Creative #Writing #Contests TableUpdated

Fantasticon 2016 and Other Treats

A book launch, where we sold out of the publisher’s stock! A meeting with Royd Tolkien and lots of other authors. A gathering of enthusiastic and generous people at an event celebrating science fiction, fantasy and gaming. Plus: Visits to relatives and friends in various locations. Visits to Family Research Centres to gather facts for … Continue reading Fantasticon 2016 and OtherTreats

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #14

A series offering to help writers make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective by exploring similar and dissimilar words. A good thesaurus provides substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all suggestions are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to see if they actually … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#14

Today’s Definitely The Day!

What better place to launch a new science fiction novel than a convention devoted to scifi and fantasy? Well, today (19th November) I’m here at Fantasticon 2016, in Hull, signing copies of my latest book, Blood Red Dust. Set on Mars before the end of this century, it follows the lives of a set of … Continue reading Today’s Definitely TheDay!

Looking for the Best Word? Tip #13

A series exploring similar and dissimilar words for ways writers might make their work more varied, accessible, interesting, accurate and effective. A good thesaurus gives substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all are true synonyms. Context is vital. Placing alternative words in the same sentence to see if they actually make sense … Continue reading Looking for the Best Word? Tip#13

Blood Red Dust Gains Great Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

From Glen Donaldson on Goodreads: Enjoyed? I positively feasted on this book! It opened a door to a behive-world of thoughty concepts and high-res imagination the likes of which I have rarely seen. The ‘frolicksome’ character of Jannine deserved a book all on her own! You really have dynamited the vault and poured out the … Continue reading Blood Red Dust Gains Great Reviews on Goodreads andAmazon.