tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28830506045804967282024-02-07T17:14:28.299-08:00Wirral Writers OnlineThis is the online home of Wirral Writers. It is a members-only forum for the sharing of ideas, markets, competitions and words.
Wirral Writers meet at 7.15pm at The Bridge Inn, Bolton Road, Port Sunlight, on the first and third Friday of each month. New members are always welcome.
Contact chrisa.black [at] talktalk [dot] net for more details.Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-26553675088078652852019-06-23T07:21:00.000-07:002019-06-23T07:21:05.848-07:00Maynah Lewis Competition 2019 - Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">We were very lucky, and pleased, that we got this person to judge this year's entrants.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">Gee Williams began her creative journey as a poet. She has had work published in a variety of places, including - <span style="background-color: white;"> The Pan Book of Horror and being broadcast by BBC Radio 4. She has won many book awards including The Book Pl@ce Contemporary Short Story Awards, Pure Gold Fiction Award 2008, and was short-listed for Wales Book of the Year 2009.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The winner of this years Maynah Lewis Competition is, Liz Fisher. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIQ654hoaCXle62LTi77N6aDaBwM7jM5v3l6nhkXuG9AsFQ0yAR-BsSnYiKsnRrY_4jHLJw5NuX6BbkThK0cL_nj83lMYUXyCpdK8osetB81KqM8whtPQbAsilDS6dKZsqJLl63YGO6_w/s1600/WW+Liz+Maynah+Lewis+Prize2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIQ654hoaCXle62LTi77N6aDaBwM7jM5v3l6nhkXuG9AsFQ0yAR-BsSnYiKsnRrY_4jHLJw5NuX6BbkThK0cL_nj83lMYUXyCpdK8osetB81KqM8whtPQbAsilDS6dKZsqJLl63YGO6_w/s320/WW+Liz+Maynah+Lewis+Prize2019.jpg" width="292" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">Liz's story, <i>Checkout Nine</i>, was an amusing tale set in the seaside resort of Blackpool, of singer, River Banks and a chance game of darts. There were two joint runners up - Paul Mann with <i>The Diary</i> and Amy Watkins with <i>The Long Song - </i>both these stories centred on someone's diary and were set in dystopian futures. Gee also gave two commendations for Lynne Quarrell and Chris Black. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">Gee was very generous with her feedback and general advice to writers. She said one could liken the short story form to painting a watercolour, you have to work within much more limiting constraints than the oil painter; or novelist, yet keep the attention of the reader and in the case of this competition - fit an awful lot in! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">We had, Gee said, given ourselves a 'fiendishly difficult' task !</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: inherit;">You can find more about Gee Williams at: <a href="http://www.geewilliams.info/">www.geewilliams.info</a></span><br />
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, UK53.3727181 -3.073754000000008153.2211401 -3.396477500000008 53.5242961 -2.7510305000000081tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-13163535520410176012019-03-15T04:59:00.001-07:002019-03-15T04:59:20.047-07:00Feed & Read<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello writers,<br />
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Just a reminder that tonight will be our first night to try out a new venue. We will be meeting at The Bridge Inn, Port Sunlight Village, as a trial run for future meetings.<br />
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As mentioned at the last meeting, we will be having a meal beforehand - in lieu of our Christmas Dinner - so please attend at 6pm, after which, we will retire to another room to continue our usual club session.<br />
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Information about The Bridge Inn can be found here -<br />
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<a href="https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/merseyside/bridge-inn/" target="_blank"> https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/merseyside/bridge-inn/</a><br />
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And hopefully this map and link will assist with finding the location.<br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bridge+Inn+Hotel/@53.3542099,-3.0007949,15z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sthe+bridge+inn+port+sunlight!3m4!1s0x487adf29ca5c46e7:0x17ec35cdba0fbba!8m2!3d53.352825!4d-2.995032" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bridge+Inn+Hotel</a></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-35529452057326707602018-10-20T07:45:00.000-07:002018-10-20T07:45:12.013-07:00RIP Arthur Adlen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Many apologies for the tardiness of this post.</i></div>
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Wirral Writers is sad to announce the death of one of it's members.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arthur Adlen was a poet, folk singer and song-writer.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Active in Philosophy in Pubs for many years, as well as being very involved in ground level politics in Liverpool, Arthur was proud of his Socialist roots and fought, not only, for equality and respect for everyone, especially 'the workers', but sought to embody the historical fight and plight in his writings that his, and many Liverpool families had and still do undergo daily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He passed away just after the launch of his book on Monday 17th September 2018 - 'Memoirs of a Breck Road Buck and Other Poems'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He was a lovely man - a <i>gentle</i>man - his wry humour, Scouse witticisms, not forgetting a pretty decent singing voice, will be missed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">RIP Arthur.</span></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-44856105792200219862018-08-01T14:32:00.000-07:002018-08-04T02:50:02.719-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">So to follow up on our March post - the winner of this years Maynah Lewis Short Story Competition is, <a href="https://www.mjkewood.com/" target="_blank">Mike Wood</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations</span> <span style="font-size: large;">to Mike on another wonderful story and on winning the cup.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This year's competition was based on postcards - a blind selection. The stories entered ranged from an unusual train journey in Prague to rescue refugees, a murderous painter and the discovery of a vintage postcard that leads the protagonist on a journey to discover the original recipient.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mike's story - based on a picture of a nest of sleeping leverets - called '</span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Indocilis Privata Loqui</span>'</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">,</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> under the nom-de-plume, Pierre Lapin (see what he did there?!), told of a young female magician who entertained at children's parties, who was invited to join The Magic Circle - the world's premier magic society, having previously been refused access on the grounds of being a child at the time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But the young woman magically produces a hat out of a rabbit, makes a rabbit 'appear' in the interviewer's drawer - and finally,</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> fills The Magic Circle auditorium with rabbits - she is no simple entertainer - but a real life magician! And ultimately refuses their offer on the grounds that she would not join a society that doesn't have actual magicians!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The competition was arbitrated by returning judge, Judith Railton, and we thank her for her time given in not only reading and selecting a winner, but providing written feedback for each author.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6f6000; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judith Railton, judge, and winner, Mike Wood</span></span></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-82184823259082193892018-03-13T06:58:00.002-07:002018-03-13T06:58:59.756-07:00Maynah Lewis 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Maynah
Lewis Short Story Competition</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><img alt="Related image" height="170" src="https://www.baaz.nl/sites/default/files/styles/keyvisual/public/Schrijven.jpg?itok=OgPI8qy-" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Now
is the time to start writing for the Maynah Lewis competition; if you haven't already started. Long standing members are familiar with the arrangement, but for newer writers - </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">All
you have to do is write a story in 1500-1600 words about the postcard
you took from the 'Lucky Dip'.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Usual
rules apply:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Printed
on one side, double spaced, pages numbered with title. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Use a font
style and size that is easily read, for example Ariel or Times
Roman, 12 point. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On
separate sheet print title, your pseudonym </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
word count. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Put your own
name on a slip of paper inside a sealed envelope. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Put everything into an A4 envelope
addressed Wirral Writers Short Story Comp 201</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">8.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Handing
in for final pieces is May (exact date to be confirmed). Our judge
will be external; as usual, and will be given the batch of stories to
select 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> places. You too can be cup-holder for a year!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Good
luck everyone.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAerh0Q_xStYzWozYPta57kErP0E5Q2D8S4iVSHqYQUTt9nJRiUcfq_bAZQQiiyY3w60QbbFtkeRqE6-OIQXJl9snbMRj3OvUia6xENRza4FFZB9V6wk2UVjfedyKwVZrs_wdvte0zLTk/s220/IMG_4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Image result for maynah lewis" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAerh0Q_xStYzWozYPta57kErP0E5Q2D8S4iVSHqYQUTt9nJRiUcfq_bAZQQiiyY3w60QbbFtkeRqE6-OIQXJl9snbMRj3OvUia6xENRza4FFZB9V6wk2UVjfedyKwVZrs_wdvte0zLTk/s220/IMG_4598.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Previous
winners include:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Liz
Fisher – 2017</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Chris
Black – 2016</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mike
Wood - 2015</span></span></span></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-85700156676287003782018-02-19T05:00:00.001-08:002018-02-19T05:00:13.681-08:00New Yorker fiction podcastIf you listen to podcasts, this is a good one....<br />
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<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction">https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction</a><br />
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A writer reads a favourite story by another writer, then discusses why it works. Great stuff. I got mine from iTunes, but if you don’t worship at the Apple altar, it’s available on the above link.<br />
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I loved the one where David Sedaris reads Mirand July.<br />
<br />Mick Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17070215118140036938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-15243318604090301012018-01-05T02:42:00.002-08:002018-01-05T03:08:11.634-08:00New Year - New Start<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year everyone.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well the holiday season is over and it's back to work/school/college. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is just a gentle reminder that we start Wirral Writers Club again tonight - </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Friday 5th January.<br />19:30 at Bebington Civic Centre.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bring along your <strike>sacrificial offerings</strike>, ahem, I mean stories, to share and critique. Up to 2000 words. Please remember, if there are many of us, we might need to read shorter sections or miss a go until next time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Even the act of reading aloud is a helpful exercise for the writer, as we can listen to the rhythm of the prose and/or poetry, notice those jarring words, pick up those names that are unpronounceable, and see where we have written a word twice in a row (surprising how often people write and and)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Newcomers are always welcome.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">“It ain’t whatcha write, it’s the way atcha write it.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">—Jack Kerouac, </span><br />
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-28668040451803514612018-01-03T06:59:00.000-08:002018-01-03T06:59:25.671-08:00Writing Advice<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the kind of writing advice I like – something you can boil down into one or two sentences but which will stand you in good stead for all manner of plotting and characterisation problems. It's an article in Clarkesworld magazine by the excellent Kelly Robson.</span></div>
<a href="http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/another_word_01_18/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/another_word_01_18/</span></a>Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-58284102686045512442017-12-19T06:56:00.003-08:002017-12-19T07:02:01.898-08:00'Magic Dan' on free download 18th - 22nd December<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdgvWxZIdW9LJ61_llX_trySuOZoprMg9r_ddv46u-UAv9Gkko0RCx5Z0seG9ETgvKLoWbqUvOt0ZQTXLQOSMMhT3jpvrNowrOI59W4H0m96EvD-9TIsVgADtGHC6PJc_ajKfNYKM52vt/s1600/Magic+Dan+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1058" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdgvWxZIdW9LJ61_llX_trySuOZoprMg9r_ddv46u-UAv9Gkko0RCx5Z0seG9ETgvKLoWbqUvOt0ZQTXLQOSMMhT3jpvrNowrOI59W4H0m96EvD-9TIsVgADtGHC6PJc_ajKfNYKM52vt/s320/Magic+Dan+ebook+cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
My novel about musical life on the road in the 1980s is on free download for a week at <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Dan-Tale-1980s-Wonderland-ebook/dp/B06WWFV55R/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513694652&sr=8-2&keywords=magic+dan" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, if you fancy it for a Christmas read. It follows the fortunes of keyboard player Jonnie Cole as his band tour Europe over Christmas 1985.<br />
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A tale of sex, drugs and synthesisers, it is not for the prudish!!<br />
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Mick Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17070215118140036938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-27963161323707831962017-11-14T03:55:00.000-08:002017-11-14T03:55:33.405-08:00Wirral Writers Autumn Sunday Dinner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Doesn't time fly? </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here we are again approaching Christmas. We had an early Sunday Dinner this year as our 'Lunch Calendar' became a little fuzzy round the edges - like after drinking too many G & Ts.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We ate at our usual haunt; Brook Meadow Hotel, Childer Thornton. This year saw 13 of us, sat down to dinner together; including new-comers/first-timers, Mick and Amy. Some brought their partners or friends, some came alone.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-J8M2m-2AojoiBgZSa_EGaxfdhoIgs7NabailBwF7B1SKu1oiHjLO79ys-fN6w_W0HcSVi5utv1FqFu3YPe8wwY1ovkC2XmYOVJfA7CEbbWjmdvS0JTmcXzVcWhPyPJKfyk6guJrcxUG/s1600/brook-meadow-exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-J8M2m-2AojoiBgZSa_EGaxfdhoIgs7NabailBwF7B1SKu1oiHjLO79ys-fN6w_W0HcSVi5utv1FqFu3YPe8wwY1ovkC2XmYOVJfA7CEbbWjmdvS0JTmcXzVcWhPyPJKfyk6guJrcxUG/s320/brook-meadow-exterior.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Brook Meadow Hotel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As is our custom, we all brought a piece of Flash Fiction - 200 words on the theme of Sunday Dinner. This year we had an interesting mix including poems from Nick, Mick and myself (though not a natural poet, I like to flex my rhyming muscles on occasion!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After dinner we read our offerings then played a written version of the Exquisite Corpse -</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"> or by being allowed to see only the end of what the previous person contributed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The results were interesting and in one case, hilarious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We were missing a couple of people; due to illness (get well soon) and in one case, swanning off in his caravan to enjoy warmer weather elsewhere! </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white;">I believe everyone enjoyed themselves and it was lovely to meet those who were supporting their partners and friends in their writing endeavours.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vmstRdtoBbZGEzJcRYQyAqbN-d4ZoONliWZndB1m_O1gdPAnrAQzfINYb18sSu5Jc_rv4J2-aCOPwkG_eCTDbiIHQDrmBwsJG07DsqCnbWfATkiT_3joyaVHO0mvdK7RNhs4oM5pTpgB/s1600/WirralWritersSundayDinner2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vmstRdtoBbZGEzJcRYQyAqbN-d4ZoONliWZndB1m_O1gdPAnrAQzfINYb18sSu5Jc_rv4J2-aCOPwkG_eCTDbiIHQDrmBwsJG07DsqCnbWfATkiT_3joyaVHO0mvdK7RNhs4oM5pTpgB/s400/WirralWritersSundayDinner2017.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Wirral Writers and friends</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com1Wirral, UK53.3727181 -3.073754000000008153.2211401 -3.396477500000008 53.5242961 -2.7510305000000081tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-51051858416737557352017-11-07T05:44:00.002-08:002017-11-07T05:44:31.929-08:00Asterisk Anthology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thought I would let the local writing community know of my latest good news.<br />
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Asterisk Anthology: Volume 1 has just come out. Published by Nosetouch Press; a Chicago based publishing house, this is a horror anthology with four themes.<br />
Nosetouch ran a series of four competitions with a 'heading' for each section - Halloween, Ghosts, Nautical Terrors and Cosmic Horrors. I was runner up in two, so have two stories published ! Most gratifying.<br />
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You can read 'Apples to Ashes' and 'Tombs in Space' online at:-<br />
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<a href="http://www.nosetouchpress.com/apples-to-ashes-alexandra-peel/">http://www.nosetouchpress.com/apples-to-ashes-alexandra-peel/</a><br />
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and<br />
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<a href="http://www.nosetouchpress.com/tombs-in-space/">http://www.nosetouchpress.com/tombs-in-space/</a><br />
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or buy the book at:-<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asterisk-Anthology-1-Alexandra-Peel-ebook/dp/B076ZB9KR6">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asterisk-Anthology-1-Alexandra-Peel-ebook/dp/B076ZB9KR6</a><br />
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Nosetouch Press is run by editors David T. Neal and Christine M. Scott, both successful authors in their own right. I have to also comment, out of all the submissions I have made to various publishers; online or other,(and there have been many) Neal and Scott have been the most communicative and encouraging.</div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-39475325728119371822017-10-10T05:20:00.003-07:002017-10-10T05:20:45.165-07:00National Novel Writing MonthYou may not have heard of <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/dashboard" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a> - It's a website that attempts to help writers get their novel done and in the bag. It's quite good as it provides the motivation to keep the word count rising towards your completed targets.<br />
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They set off each November (i.e. next month!!) and the object is to reach your goal by the end of the month and feel good about yourself all through December. I found it very helpful and fun when I did it a couple of years ago<br />
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There is a <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/forums/europe-england-liverpool/threads/415329" target="_blank">Liverpool support site </a>and they don't seem to mind us Wirral folk. Worth a look (you might have to set up an account to access this site). I'll be participating this year in an attempt to finish the novel I'm currently writing. You've heard a couple of chapters at the WW meetings. It's a multi-threaded story and I'm hoping to finish a couple of strands that should complete it.<br />
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Hope to see some of you there.Mick Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17070215118140036938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-89506092844868061552017-09-26T04:16:00.001-07:002017-09-26T04:16:41.602-07:00Updates from Mjke: Book Bundles and Anthology<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Writers of SciFi have another great</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">bundle of FREE books and stories to offer.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">It's available now through to the end</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">of September. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/writersofscifi/iims23gl2h" target="_blank">Click here to access your free downloads.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Launching in November is The Jim Baen memorial Award: The First Decade. It's an anthology of 16 optimistic short stories that present a plethora of futures beyond Earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My own story, A Better Sense of Direction, was the first winner of the award back in 2007. It's a story I've included in my own collection, Power for Two Minutes and Other Unrealities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm super excited to be included in this book. All the stories are from past winners, and I get to rub shoulders with some top award-winning authors. The anthology has been edited by Nebula-award-winning author, William Ledbetter, who has administered the Jim Baen Award right from the start.</span></div>
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Here's a pre-publication review by <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4814-8281-3" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a> which should help the book to hit the ground running on launch day. I've had a sneak preview of the proofs, of course, but I decided to wait until I have the book itself in my hands before I read the other stories. I can't wait.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In two days I'm off to Peterborough, for Fantasycon, the annual bash of the British Fantasy Society. It's a great place to meet up with fellow writers, and has been a regular event on my calendar for several years now. I'm very much looking forward to it. But with all fun things there comes a penalty: I need to get ahead on my word count for The Spherical Trust (Book 3 in the <a href="https://www.mjkewood.com/" target="_blank">Sphere of Influence series</a>) so that I'm not having to play catch-up when I come back. Hey ho!</span></div>
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Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-13474767090972519902017-09-23T00:50:00.000-07:002017-09-23T00:50:28.880-07:00Free Online Courses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say nothing in life is free, well I say, what about love? What about the freedom to think what you like? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or the freedom to learn?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuL0uOn68aLuwFhPBChHnnkDznd1O4v0npibR86g6IlmllZb9zjTBglYnyETvR-uQd4UnYeVfE1YdTS6xRDsRT0LviC0fwRSm4cbfZWQHmB8sqGjEi4w2noOxl0lXxS-4RLhLQZ1Xt7gX/s1600/How-to-choose-the-right-online-course-FutureLearn-explore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="1300" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuL0uOn68aLuwFhPBChHnnkDznd1O4v0npibR86g6IlmllZb9zjTBglYnyETvR-uQd4UnYeVfE1YdTS6xRDsRT0LviC0fwRSm4cbfZWQHmB8sqGjEi4w2noOxl0lXxS-4RLhLQZ1Xt7gX/s320/How-to-choose-the-right-online-course-FutureLearn-explore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories" target="_blank">Future Learn</a> is a site where the Open University runs <i>free online courses</i> - yes, free. If you want to get a certificate as proof of learning, then you can pay for one to be posted, or simply download the image to your work files. It is really simple to use - even for the not so young, you are guided through each week, at your own pace and check off the list as you go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courses range from -<i> Introduction to Writing Short Stories,</i> or, <i>An Introduction to Screen Writing</i> to <i>Biochemistry the Molecules of Life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most subjects are covered and for a writer an opportunity to possibly delve a little deeper into a theme you may want to write about, but currently have too little information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go to </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories">https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories</a></span><br />
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-80200319068355481072017-09-16T02:25:00.001-07:002017-09-16T02:25:50.778-07:00WoooooHoooooWoooooHooooo Thaenks Alex, finally got this page figured, well I can at least access it and post, so I suppose thats about 90% of it :) Now for a little play, not A play, but play.Paul G Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930884214801380194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-55295471670979475562017-09-04T11:36:00.002-07:002017-09-04T11:36:53.460-07:0081, Renshaw Street PlaysHi Everyone,<br />
This is a little reminder that I've got two nights of plays on at 81, Renshaw Street in Liverpool next week. Here's the programme. It starts at 7:30 for both evenings. £6 for one night or £9 for both.<br />
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Liz xx<br />
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You can buy tickets on Eventbrite at this URL or pay on the door.<br />
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<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/theatre-five-in-a-bed-in-liverpool-tickets-34133202327" target="_blank" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/theatre-five-in-a-bed-in-liverpool-tickets-34133202327"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/theatre-five-in-a-bed-in-liverpool-tickets-34133202327</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13<sup>th</sup> September 2017<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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by Phil Morris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Going Concern by
Scott Davenport<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q-Tips by Paula by
Paula Pritchard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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E J Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11895136615408286593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-67519513120223438412017-08-03T06:44:00.002-07:002017-08-03T06:44:33.796-07:00Alternatives to Microsoft<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDlmd80-NEA_juaM0DC9C66gImpkOnzZlZB6nXb65GD1at3caA1CrAW0sLWBU-dJUe_CJG8gBYKsiSdN1gDipat_C3XLBOXn_0njN2jE-_tfPKtDPlkNMJ_b1De4Eqnp7fHOTXT8gE-bW/s1600/windows_sucks_wallpaper_by_hockeygeek21-d34czpp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDlmd80-NEA_juaM0DC9C66gImpkOnzZlZB6nXb65GD1at3caA1CrAW0sLWBU-dJUe_CJG8gBYKsiSdN1gDipat_C3XLBOXn_0njN2jE-_tfPKtDPlkNMJ_b1De4Eqnp7fHOTXT8gE-bW/s320/windows_sucks_wallpaper_by_hockeygeek21-d34czpp.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello fellow Writers,<br />
<br />
<br />
I think some of you may be aware that I have had 'issues' with my computer over the past year or so. I ended up having a new hard-drive installed; Windows 10 is gone as I went back to Windows 7.<br />
I can't say there is much improvement.<br />
When there are updates to install, it takes time, and then, it gives me a message saying: Installing Incomplete, Windows is Reversing the process - which then takes anything from 4 to 24 hours!!!! Really Microsoft?! I pay for this?!!<br />
<br />
<br />
So, I scoured the online FAQ's and Help Desks and Forums etc.<br />
I even did some of the stuff people said worked. One was a trial to see where the malfunction was occurring; it appeared to be in my Windows Word docs! Hm, so I decided to look around and see if there was anything else to use.<br />
I am fed up with the stranglehold that massive corporations have on products, what am I paying for if it keeps going wrong?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogGPGeEOlh5gHyVNhYjDfAjO5fwVbmdaBGCTa1WhMSz9SqmAKCHVqXgGkXLlo31gulnrWTJEYTwblpjPvAgv7E9HuGwkM9SC_r3xoe9VxU1xKqlpFrbTpB4hiaYL40yxMcKzT14rfCB6S/s1600/windows+sucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogGPGeEOlh5gHyVNhYjDfAjO5fwVbmdaBGCTa1WhMSz9SqmAKCHVqXgGkXLlo31gulnrWTJEYTwblpjPvAgv7E9HuGwkM9SC_r3xoe9VxU1xKqlpFrbTpB4hiaYL40yxMcKzT14rfCB6S/s200/windows+sucks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have discovered a plethora of alternatives - in no order of preference, they include -<br />
<br />
Deep Blue Diving<br />
LibreOffice<br />
WPS Office<br />
Google Docs<br />
Apple iWork<br />
Calligra Office<br />
Dropbox<br />
<br />
But how do I know which will suit me? How do I know that I will be able to open up all the work I have done previously on Word.docs? Will I be able to open up the work on another computer?<br />
<br />
My husband uses Ubuntu - software that uses LibreOffice - he has NEVER had an issue with it. It has security updates every couple of weeks, this takes around 30 minutes. It does everything Microsoft Word does, but at a 'lower level', he says. Also, Ubuntu and LibreOffice are FREE!<br />
<br />
So why am I not rushing to install it now? Because I am terrified that if I undo all my Windows and install something else, then the whole computer will come crashing down around my ears.<br />
<br />
<b>It would be great to hear your experiences of an alternative to Windows; what you use and why you like it. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD_zO_ciMlG9vUs1WudTuXukJPThBNdfOjXzQm5FfBPVqxrgtu1LCk3vjigrWaELxfzfjgiRk2vL75xUydPHQLkIOFyaGdZ2K_0zDhaagAn2xw16iVoXi4AnD1RFipk6y-yHBaodsEVMA/s1600/Well%252Bone%252Bof%252Bthe%252Bmany%252Breasons%252Bwindows%252Bsucks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="375" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD_zO_ciMlG9vUs1WudTuXukJPThBNdfOjXzQm5FfBPVqxrgtu1LCk3vjigrWaELxfzfjgiRk2vL75xUydPHQLkIOFyaGdZ2K_0zDhaagAn2xw16iVoXi4AnD1RFipk6y-yHBaodsEVMA/s320/Well%252Bone%252Bof%252Bthe%252Bmany%252Breasons%252Bwindows%252Bsucks.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-53007046089671665322017-07-22T10:14:00.002-07:002017-07-22T10:14:45.462-07:00Maynah Lewis Cup 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUhcUY7l4aJbzhE8yxZf0OJBTGZrLvpTbcJddmGv4YyTR-xlxAWiJ5ECpaDFGapDhNnZvNeHhlksi1YF9Qe0wxXfu3R-BTpHFelSKVwWdOc2cAnX7D7TAK_iA7U6nTRhFyFSbeWN8PU4/s1600/20170721_195007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUhcUY7l4aJbzhE8yxZf0OJBTGZrLvpTbcJddmGv4YyTR-xlxAWiJ5ECpaDFGapDhNnZvNeHhlksi1YF9Qe0wxXfu3R-BTpHFelSKVwWdOc2cAnX7D7TAK_iA7U6nTRhFyFSbeWN8PU4/s400/20170721_195007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3>
Congratulations to this year's winner of the Maynah Lewis Cup - Elizabeth Fisher.</h3>
<div>
Liz's story was a chilling tale called The Stone Birds. Josephine is hungry and so is her new-born. So are the gulls.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The runners up were:</div>
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2nd Chris Black with New Beginnings</div>
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3rd Nick Rose with Silver Shilling</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Our judge was Di Morrow. Unfortunately she was unable to attend the award night, so a big thank you to David for doing a fine job of the presentation and announcing the winners.</div>
Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-19395306818000640212017-07-05T02:01:00.001-07:002017-07-05T02:01:56.927-07:00Book Launch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XRliDfm6fWQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XRliDfm6fWQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Book Two in Mjke Wood's Sphere of Influence series - The Lollipop of Influence - launches on Saturday, 8 July. It is available now, for pre-order on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073G7CJ54/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_i%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and most other platforms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">Here's the book trailer to get you in the mood</span>.<br />
<br />Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-27611524929904783222017-04-11T03:36:00.000-07:002017-04-11T03:36:01.345-07:00Tick Tock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> So Wirral Writers anthology finally came together. What a team effort. I hope everyone is as happy with the resulting book as I am. I think we all learnt something from the process and from my own point of view, it was a lot harder than compiling a single author's works. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There was so much to agree on; theme, title, word count distribution, cover and more. I am sure the next one will be better - oh yes, there will be another one.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It would be great to hear some feedback from readers, in the meantime, you can obtain your copy of Tick Tock at - </span></div>
<br />
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1541013514/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490358223&sr=1-1&keywords=tick+tock+lynne+quarrell<br />
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Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0Wirral, UK53.3727181 -3.073754000000008153.2211401 -3.396477500000008 53.5242961 -2.7510305000000081tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-39293284065533017062017-01-27T00:26:00.000-08:002017-01-27T00:26:16.219-08:00Deconstructing Back Cover Copy<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We've been talking a lot about cover blurbs at recent meetings. It's a topical subject for us as we move into the last stage of finalising the layout for <i>Tick Tock</i>, our anthology.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week I shared an online course on writing a blurb. Here's an article that offers a different approach, by deconstructing the blurbs from two big selling novels and analysing the elements that go into creating a compelling and enticing blurb.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.betternovelproject.com/blog/back-cover-copy/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.betternovelproject.com/blog/back-cover-copy/</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've also shared the link to the website where I found the article. Some of you may also find this to be a useful resource.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://sumome.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://sumome.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy writing!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mjke</span></div>
Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-39840696723821884862016-10-26T03:18:00.001-07:002016-10-26T03:18:59.773-07:00NaNoWriMo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">National Novel Writing Month</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
Members may be interested in this event/site.<br />
I have just signed up for it, only took 2 minutes. The idea is that authors get 1 month - November - to come up with a 50,000 word novel! I know, it's a lot when you're doing other things like, bringing up a family, doing a job, or enjoying retirement!<br />
<br />
But I thought some might find it a useful tool if nothing else. I personally could do with having a kick in the pants as far as writing goes - don't get me wrong, I love writing; I'm just so damn lazy.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="color: #93c47d;"> <b>NaNoWriMo,</b> 'na-no-RY-moh' is an annual, Internet-based </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_writing" title="Creative writing"><span style="color: #93c47d;">creative writing</span></a><span style="color: #93c47d;"> project that takes place during the month of November. NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write 50,000 words, from November 1 until the deadline at 11:59PM on November 30. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing and keep them motivated throughout the process. The website provides participants with tips for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer%27s_block" title="Writer's block"><span style="color: #93c47d;">writer's block</span></a><span style="color: #93c47d;">, local places writers participating in NaNoWriMo are meeting, and an online community of support. The idea is to focus on completion instead of perfection. NaNoWriMo focuses on the length of a work rather than the quality, encouraging writers to finish their first draft so that it can later be edited at the author's discretion. NaNoWriMo's main goal is to encourage creativity worldwide. The project started in July 1999 with 21 participants, but by the 2010 event, over 200,000 people took part and wrote a total of over 2.8 billion words.</span><br />
<br />
I personally spend far too much time doing research, I get side-tracked, bogged down in minutiae, plus I don't type too well! This could be an opportunity to get some real bulk down on paper. If others are watching, so to speak, it might be the impetus needed to just get on with it.<br />
<br />
People get published too, if that is what you're after. See, 14 Published Novels Written During NaNoWriMo;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/53481/14-published-novels-written-during-nanowrimo">http://mentalfloss.com/article/53481/14-published-novels-written-during-nanowrimo</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nanowrimo.org/">http://nanowrimo.org/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<sup></sup> </div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981215894964905594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-84479659483014589342016-09-17T03:00:00.001-07:002016-09-17T03:00:27.965-07:00Maynah Lewis Cup 2016<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cNF7-kpcD8kLNRRwjAh5yX-HHl3HC-VexgH19Jffg8QihBbk7T9L_pa8jgLNHN1DdVw8t0Z-mfA3N53Qiu_JGLl_8AgiAHjUmCxla_50K0yVTlSHVhVWfhMCgiGYJyTb3KSg_dWDuLE/s1600/20160916_194951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cNF7-kpcD8kLNRRwjAh5yX-HHl3HC-VexgH19Jffg8QihBbk7T9L_pa8jgLNHN1DdVw8t0Z-mfA3N53Qiu_JGLl_8AgiAHjUmCxla_50K0yVTlSHVhVWfhMCgiGYJyTb3KSg_dWDuLE/s400/20160916_194951.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judith Railton (Left) presenting the cup to Chris Black</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The winner of the 2016 Maynah Lewis Competition is Chris Black, with her version of the Hare and the Tortoise fable in a modern setting. Congratulations Chris, on a well deserved win!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A big thank you to Judith Railton for judging the competition this year, and for providing detailed and encouraging feedback on every story that was entered.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Maynah Lewis Cup has been awarded each year since 1989, and is a key event in the Wirral Writers' calendar.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i>Wirral Writers' meet every first and third Friday in the month, at Bebington Civic Centre. Prospective new members are always welcome to come along and find out what we do.</i>Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-18673140410361230702016-07-31T01:17:00.001-07:002016-07-31T01:17:54.187-07:00Let's all help Nicola<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Well I’m old(ish), with no dazzling smile and I certainly don’t ooze charisma from every pore. I’m catagorised as severely disabled, as I am quite badly autistic (ASD). I don’t believe in giving in, and I </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">WON'T</span><span style="font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> let it spoil my life, but in order to do that I need your help - each and every one of you.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span style="font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">I have put this into medical, as </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this is a campaign to save my life... </span><span style="color: #333333;"> (</span></span><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/2hbb4amk" target="_blank">Please click here to read more)</a><br />
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<br />Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883050604580496728.post-14928397584492503712016-07-05T13:04:00.002-07:002016-07-05T13:05:18.605-07:00How to Write a Bio<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Wirral Writers’ anthology is nearing completion. Now is the time to set aside our famous British reserve and modesty, and get writing some bios. Here’s some tips.</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; line-height: normal; text-indent: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Always write in the third person. It is the expected form and it is easier to say nice things about another person than to say them about ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Cochin; line-height: normal; min-height: 17px; text-indent: 18px;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Start by introducing yourself and your writing. <i>Joe Bloggs has had a passion for writing short fiction since leaving school.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mention your biggest achievements first. If you feel you have none you are probably wrong. All writing activity is an achievement in itself. <i>Jo has entered several writing contests and regularly submits work to her favourite magazines. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix up the third person use for variety, sometimes using your name, sometimes he or she.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have any relevant qualifications, mention them. An MA in English literature might be more relevant than a swimming certificate, unless of course your story is all about a long distance swimmer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Include some geography and non-writing interests. These often work well as a closer.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Joe was born in Sicily, but now lives on the Wirral with his wife, Annie and seventeen cats. When not writing he collects antique firearms.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You should save your bio on your hard drive and keep it up to date, because you never know when you might need it again. It’s a good idea to have at least three different lengths of bio, short medium and long, but you should also be prepared to customise each one for specific markets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Look at other people’s bios. You’ll find them on the back of books, in online magazines; or just google your favourite writers with the word bio after their name. See what works and what doesn’t.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now go and write one. </b></span></div>
Mjke Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364056147914070231noreply@blogger.com1