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I'm in the middle of writing my third novel and it's getting really hard. I just broke up with my first love, and I'm stuck here writing about love. I've already decided that it won't be a love story anymore, that it will be about codpendence and about finding yourself again after the relationship is over. Regardless, however, I'm still in the love part. I know it needs to be there, and I know it's necessary, but I hate writing about it when I...

Conclude-concoct-contrive- acquiesce...strong words, soft words- convey feelings – denote actions – imply meanings. Words-- the playthings of writers…the tools of the press…the weapons of politics – Words to express - to be understood – to argue the point… We strive for the perfect word…and so it goes as we write – When words flow in perfect communion to thoughts…we are happily creating. If we hesitate – think upon it- or block- Words stall like...

Our next ABCTales reading night is bound for Nottingham! Do join us on Saturday 5 th September at 7pm, The Cross Keys, 15 Byard Lane, Nottingham, NG1 2GJ for prose and poetry in a splendid city. It’s a vibrant reading line up, including Blackjack Davey, Johnshade, Philip Sidney, airy fairy, Bear, Scratch, London Calling, Luigi Pagano, Denzella, Lisa H. If you’d like to read, there are still a couple of slots, so drop me an email as soon as...

I found this site through some thorough research. I wanted a place where my writing would actually be seen, and that's happened. I feel so great about the feedback that I've received about my writing, and even though I'm going through a bit of a writer's block, I feel newly motivated to continue writing. I love how active this community is. Thanks. Audrey

It's always a huge pleasure to read what's been posted on ABCTales - not just the pieces which are so fantastic that they blow you away, but also the works in progress, the long-running series with their own loyal followers, the diary entries - I could go on... Huge congratulations this week to 60units for The Gunshow Loophole which he says is the first thing he's ever posted anywhere for criticism. It's a slick, accomplished three parter (so...

The site has been buzzing with new poetry and prose this week. It has been refreshing to see the variety of work, including tributes to deceased celebrities, grave reflections on Hiroshima and some hilariously light and carefree pieces, too. Poem of the Week goes to EB for a stunningly crafted poem on memory loss. It’s menacing, resonant and shot through with heartache: http://www.abctales.com/story/eb/memory-collector Story of the Week goes to...

The Story and Poem for the month of July have been chosen by one of our longest serving editors. We're so grateful to all of them for the time they manage to carve out of their very busy lives. Here's what he says: Well, this is the first time I've had the mixed pleasure of choosing the Picks of the Month - 'mixed' because of the opportunity to read so many inspiring posts coupled with the agony of having to make a choice. At the end of it all,...

You gave Philip Sidney’s framing device lots of ink and thought this month and as a result, wonderful window poems have emerged all July. Seeing what you’ve done has made a deep and indulgent reading experience. A big thanks to Philip for the idea and here are three notable creations to peek at: Hudsonmoon’s window looks on profound loss and explores, beautifully, the all-encompassing questions of faith, pain and survival in a candid,...

I'm reading the Guardian for the first time in years (any newspaper for the first time in years, really). Only problem being that you only really need one a week. Maybe it was the frustration of throwing away so many daily papers largely unread that put me off the whole idea of newspapers. Maybe it's the "news" bit of the "paper" that I don’t need. Fascinating articles. Still engrossed in yesterday's, which I bought at the station for parking...

It's taken ages to decide on the picks today - so many high quality pieces to choose from this week, but here they finally are: Poem of the Week goes to a.lesser.thing for her fabulous Carnival Ride - a breathlessly paced swoop and dive through a chaotic life, and Story of the Week to Noo for Gleam in which family disfunction and myth are woven together into a thing of true beauty. Congratulations to both! http://www.abctales.com/story/...