Blogs

Staycation Writing Flood

Posted by ice rivers on Tue, 08 Sep 2020

Sometimes, I identify myself as a "writer". I've published a book. I've taught creative writing. I've got 716 stories on ABC tales. I've got hundreds of other fragments waiting around to be developed. I write every other day usually for about two hours. I've been wondering lately what it would be like if I took a week and just wrote as much as I could. Finished up a few fragments and just kept going. Ya know, the kinda thing that "real writers"...

Story and Poem of the Month

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 06 Sep 2020

Our Story and Poem for the month of August have very kindly been chosen by hudsonmoon: August proved itself difficult—as usual. Hot and sticky and sprinkled with a most uncomfortable political climate. Throw Covid-19 into the mix, shake vigorously, then pour yourself a tall glass of Why Did I Even Get Out of Bed this Morning? But I have to say that the writers around here never fail to pump a lot of heart and soul back into the atmosphere. That...

Matt Gaw (2020) Under the Stars: A Journey into Light

Posted by celticman on Fri, 04 Sep 2020

Matt Gaw’s son mused that we spend 26 years of our life asleep, or if you’re my sister who is apt to like her long lies, 50 or her 60 years asleep. Gaw gives us a wake-up call in six chapters that begins in moonlight and ends in darkness. His family remain largely, unimpressed by his journey that takes him from his home in Bury St Edmonds, Thetford, the bright lights of London, Oban, and Isle of Coll, which is designated a Dark Sky Community. I...

2020 POETRY BOOK AWARDS - GOOD NEWS!

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Tue, 01 Sep 2020

It's always great to share good news, so when I saw this today I thought it definitely deserved a place on our front page. Our very own Ewan has just found out he's made it to the long list for the 2020 Poetry Book Awards! You can read about it here: http://www.poetrybookawards.co.uk/winners-2020/ Published by Cerasus Press, 'Last night I Met John Adcock' can be bought here: https://tinyurl.com/y3qu9oaa (Amazon link) Big congratulations to Ewan...

THE INTERNET WRITER

Posted by jacques on Mon, 31 Aug 2020

'Guy De Maupassant'

Inside the Bruderhof, BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC iPlayer, Director Emma Pentecost and narrator Katherine Jakeman.

Posted by celticman on Sun, 30 Aug 2020

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00071xr/inside-the-bruderhof The end of the world is nigh. That’s not religious dogma, but the science of global warming. Hundreds of millions will die. Perhaps billions. The mass extinction of non-human species on land and sea has already begun. But Inside the Bruderhof is a joyous look at communal living in a religious community. But then again, I’m a big fan of utopia. The flip- side of Brave New World...

GAIA'S ANGRY DAUGHTER BY SYLVIA CLARE

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 30 Aug 2020

Gaia's Angry Daughter is a new collection by Sylvia Clare - sylviec on ABCTales. Here's what she says about it: 'My new volume of poetry focusses on nature and the politics of unkindness to humans and climate alike, ecocide. But as well i celebrate the beauty of nature and how it influences me through the year, how important it is to us all and how much love is at the heart of everything, or should be. When it is not then things go wrong and...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 28 Aug 2020

Posted by airyfairy on Fri, 28 Aug 2020 Lots of marvellous writing on the site again this week and, of course, our first Zoom reading event! Many, many thanks to all the wonderful writers who came to read and listen - the variety of voices and material was a complete joy. And a special thank-you to Mark Burrow, who organised it all and compered on the night. One comment referred to our Poem of the Week as 'stonkingly good', and I can think of no...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by airyfairy on Fri, 28 Aug 2020

Lots of marvellous writing on the site again this week and, of course, our first Zoom reading event! Many, many thanks to all the wonderful writers who came to read and listen - the variety of voices and material was a complete joy. And a special thank-you to Mark Burrow, who organised it all and compered on the night. One comment referred to our Poem of the Week as 'stonkingly good', and I can think of no better way to describe 'Salamander' by...

Grave Expectations - the further misadventures of Josiah Oakshott and Archibald Thurble

Posted by philwhiteland on Tue, 25 Aug 2020

Thanks to ABCtales, I've been able to try out my short stories about my two undertakers, Josiah Oakshott and Archibald Thurble, over the past few months. My thanks to all of you who have very kindly commented on the stories and have encouraged me to continue with them. As the stories I've published so far this year link together quite nicely, and make a nice 'narrative arc', I've decided to group them together in a book (see above). This will be...

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