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
Category: Blog
“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…
March ’17 – Quick Review
Occasionally - at various and irregular points in time - I like to stand back and review where I am with my writing. This normally happens either a) when nothing has been going on for a while(!), or b) after something significant has actually happened! So, with the completion of my submission yesterday to the PS … Continue reading March ’17 – Quick Review
Instant Inspiration
At Ripon Writers' Group (28th February) there was an 'Instant Inspiration" exercise. The idea was that from a number of objects / props / photographs you selected one thing, wrote about it, and then read to the whole group the end result. Once you had chosen your item, writing time was about 25-30 minutes. I picked … Continue reading Instant Inspiration
Competition time!
I have just submitted a 53-page manuscript for the Prairie Schooner 2017 Book Prize. Prairie Schooner is a long-established magazine based out of the Nebraska in the US. Part of the first prize is to have the winning entries published - hence them needing to be 'book sized'. And - hey! - if I don't … Continue reading Competition time!
“All For Nothing”
by Walter Kempowski. In many ways a remarkable book. I always find myself wondering, when reading something in translation, just how close it is to what the author actually wrote / actually wanted to say. It is inevitable that something is added / taken away because of the translation. #Reading
Is there really “Writer’s block”?
The only reason I ask the question is that I've been struggling with an unfinished story in my draft "Secrets and Wisdom" collection. And that struggle has seen nothing much added for a while - and created a roadblock for the whole thing. And now I think I recognise that I don't actually care about … Continue reading Is there really “Writer’s block”?
All Joined Up?
In a shameless attempt at self-/book-promotion, I have now linked this website with my Facebook page, a new Twitter account (@BigFrogTheory), and a dedicated LinkedIn account. Posts from Writeral will appear in all locations - so apologies to anyone who might think my writing irrelevant... But you can't blame a fella for trying..!
When is a Copy not a Copy…?
I have just watched the 2016 remake of the 1960 classic, "The Magnificent Seven", [56 years - really?!] and I was struck by the question as to when a copy ceases to be a copy and becomes something else. Something original. In "The Magnificent Seven", although there are echoes of the earlier film's music and … Continue reading When is a Copy not a Copy…?
Ian Gouge - Writer 