I found myself wondering just how much of a story could be conveyed within a strict limit of 100 words (excluding any title) - so thought I would give it a try... As a Young Man As a young man he was attracted to girls on the fringes; pale, troubled, unique. He called them 'quirky' and later, … Continue reading The 100-word challenge
Author: Ian Gouge
As a compulsive writer, I have authored nearly thirty books: novels, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry, and some non-fiction. As an independent publisher (using my Coverstory books imprint), I have also produced a number of books for other writers, plus anthologies in which many contributors have had their work showcased - some for the first time. All of which is somewhat irrelevant without you, my readers. Please check-out my sites - including the links to my podcast. I would be delighted if you found something you decided you would like to read.
“Tomorrow” by Graham Swift
Just finished reading another tremendous Swift effort. Believable, well-paced, humane, just about people. For some, Swift is apparently a bit like Marmite. If so, I love Marmite... Reading
I need a new word…
...because it occurs to me that, in spite of its formal definition, 'Found' Poetry is too derogatory for some of the poetry I write. It implies a kind of laziness, of putting in no effort, of simply stealing. In the early, raw days that may have been pretty much what it was: lift and put … Continue reading I need a new word…
Countries I have slept in…
As part of my ongoing thinking about "Near Enough", I came up with this list. Not too shabby is it? Australia Belgium China Denmark England Finland France Germany Greece Grenada Guernsey Hong Kong (pre- and post-China acquisition) India Indonesia Ireland Italy Japan Kenya The Netherlands Northern Ireland Scotland Sierra Leone Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland USA … Continue reading Countries I have slept in…
1966 and all that..!
Yesterday I visited the resplendent Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. 'Only in England’ is a temporary exhibition of black-and-white photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr. In the case of the former, the images were predominately set between 1966 and 1968, many captured on the beaches of southern England. This was my era and my … Continue reading 1966 and all that..!
Forwards or Backwards?
Question. If you set yourself the task of writing a single blog entry / post every day and had these two options, which would you choose? You could only write forwards, in anticipation, at the end of previous day / very early on the day in question - and only cover what you were expecting to … Continue reading Forwards or Backwards?
Updated ‘Home’ page…
I have just updated the Writeral 'Home' page. Some additional words, and the insertion of links to the individual pages to make navigation easier / faster. That's it. Writeral Home
“Near Enough” – a snippet
Taken from first scribblings, and the putative second 'chapter' called "Ancient History"... Of my mother’s five siblings, I knew her sisters - my aunts - best of all. My recollections of Ernie are sketchy and probably limited to imperfect recollections of the Isle of Wight (place again!). Cyril I never met thanks to the intervention … Continue reading “Near Enough” – a snippet
“Near Enough”
"The approximate biography of a man who still hasn’t given up on literary glory..." Fact or fiction? It's an idea... “Near Enough” – a snippet
Making a start…
Because this was too good not to get down... Let's see where it goes. “Life,” she said, “is a bit like peeling brussels sprouts.” He had been sitting at the dining table worrying at a jigsaw puzzle that had too much sky. Increasingly blurry, uniform blue shapes stared back at him defiantly. The space he … Continue reading Making a start…
Ian Gouge - Writer 