airyfairy's blog

Two very different pieces for this week! Story of the Week is a real treat - Noo's mini-collection of four short pieces entitled 'I will change. I promise.' Subtle and rich, each piece draws the reader in, and the whole stays with you long after you've read it: https://www.abctales.com/story/noo/i-will-change-i-promise Poem of the Week is winking_tiger's deceptively simple 'Anecdote'. It's part of a series of linked pieces dealing with a break-...

ABC TALES READING NIGHT IN YORK SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER! We shall be having another of our fantastic ABC Reading Nights, this time at The Black Swan pub in York, on 22 September. It’s a wonderful chance to put faces to names, talk about writing and, best of all, hear our authors’ work read in their own voices. We start at 7pm, it’s free for the Readers and £5 entry for everyone else. You’re welcome to bring friends and family members, but remember...

Our Story of the Week is london_calling79's introduction to his series 'I'm Not Disappointed, I'm Just Angry'. It's funny, it's touching, and it's shot through with rage at the state of things in the UK education system. Do read it, and the chapters so far, if you haven't already: https://www.abctales.com/story/londoncalling79/im-not-disappointed-im-ju... Poem of the Week is ralph's 'Going Out for Cigarettes', which gives us a whole novel's...

This week's choices are two wonderful and totally different examples of how an assured voice and an eye for detail can bring a place and time alive. Story of the Week is proudwing's And He Called It The Devil (Part 1). Rich, evocative and distinctly malevolent. Note to author: hurry up with Part 2! https://www.abctales.com/story/proudwing/and-he-called-it-devil-part-1 Poem of the Week is Histories Of A Small Town In Ontario by Agnosticnun. A...

Castle Pillock is a bit of a connoisseur of hospital emergency departments. I am always incredulous to hear that some people, people who have reached a fine age and who have had children, and parents, have never seen the inside of A&E. On the one hand I envy them. On the other – when you do end up in one, there’s nothing like knowing your way around. I have an inbuilt advantage at our local hospital, because I also used to work there. In...

Our Story of the Week is a two-parter, Kilb50's marvellous 'Something Hard Inside Him'. Beautifully observed and written and, despite my own wish to know what happened next, with a perfectly judged ending. Part One: https://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/something-hard-inside-him-part-1 Part Two: https://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/something-hard-inside-him-part-2 Poem of the Week is another of our Inspiration Point entries - the prompts have...

I’ve been watching a TV programme with David Attenborough and the Queen talking about trees, because I would watch David Attenborough talking about toilet cleaners or earwax, given the chance. The Queen, meh. I’m not a monarchist and I don’t go for the Nation’s Granny nonsense, but it’s nothing personal. It’s good that she’s interested in preserving trees throughout the Commonwealth and wants to see a ‘Queen’s Canopy’ of forests, second only to...

My little Princess is planning her first Glasto. Not this year, next year. Last year, when the tickets came out for this year, she wasn’t poised over the computer with her fingers ready to ‘apply’ within ten seconds. This year, for next year, she and her friends will be hunched over the keyboard with the whole thing on a trip wire. However quick you are with your application, there’s still no guarantee you’ll get a ticket. Before long you will...

I must admit, I was sorely tempted to award Pepsoid everything for this: https://www.abctales.com/story/pepsoid/larry-and-mick-hope-cherry-abc-tales In the end though, Story of the Week goes to Ed Crane's sharp, satirical and frighteningly believable 'Wai Peipei Comes Of Age'. A cautionary tale for our times: https://www.abctales.com/story/ed-crane/wai-peipei-comes-age Poem of the Week is Alfie Shoyger's beautifully constructed 'My First Love,...

There has been some really thoughtful and moving poetry and prose on the site this week. Story of the Week goes to Richard Dobbs' 'Sunrise'. Immensely readable, its insight into one of the saddest wartime situations is deeply felt without being sentimental: https://www.abctales.com/story/richard-dobbs/sunrise Poem of the Week is elsie katz's 'Shifting Sands'. Funny and sharply observed, it asks questions about what 'home' is, and how we fit into...