northie

My kettle died the other day, just as I was desperate for that morning hot drink. Irritating, but easily solved by buying another one. When my laptop died yesterday evening, that was something else again. Even my not very technical brain could understand something serious had happened from the error messages that appeared on the screen. Fortunately it's still under warranty, just. A phone call to the seller's helpline confirmed my suspicion that the hard drive was fried. Great ... It is repairable under warranty but doing anything about retrieving the data would cost me. At this point, I breathed a sigh of relief. Although a lot of my data and photos are synched through my Google account, up 'til a couple of months ago, this didn't apply to my writing. That had to rely on me manually uploading my stories to Drive. Did I do it regularly? No - about every 3 months or so, if I remembered. By some coincidence, a previous scare happened at about the same time Google was sending reminders about its new way of synching photos from a pc or laptop. Turns out, this works just as well on designated documents or folders. Phew ... So everything's safely backed up - it's more a question of what happens now. My laptop will be away for anything up to a month (I hope it's sooner). I do have a older standby; I've spent a lot time in the 24 hours getting it upto date. It is hardly a great replacement, having a useless battery, but more importantly a very poorly lit screen. Better than nothing ... The effect on my current stories have been noted in their respective story topics. I'm taking the opportunity to spend more time writing my antho story. Hopefully, normally service will be resumed soon.

This'll be my fifth, so not a veteran number-wise, but I've done every anthology so far since I became an author. So perhaps more a serial contributor or something ... I've not really settled down to my current attempt. I've decided this weekend'll be spent pushing it on, hopefully.

We can only hope ...

I'm glad this thread is no longer archived. There may only be comments intermittently but they're all interesting. I watched a fascinating documentary on TV the other night. Ice skating normally has zero interest for me, but this study of John Curry was both enlightening and sad, often focussing on him as an openly gay athlete in the late 1970s, early 80s. The Ice King is worth finding online.

Err ... Nope. No way.

Yes. When we first met her in the supermarket (book 1), you'd have thought she was an interfering busybody. Now she's coming into her own: standing up to Joy, and offering a helping hand to Geoff. Definitely more grist for the plot mill. As to who might be there? Who knows ...

You're mean ... Or maybe more grist for the plot mill.

Neither is Geoff, or Tony, to a lesser degree. They don't seem to have much in common with the other man, from their first encounter,, and so much depends on that. I think. We'll see.

The two men were relaxing over an early mid-week supper when they heard the phone ring from the front room. Geoff's head jerked round: the only person who used it – apart from marketing scammers – was his mother. “What the …?” He jumped to his feet and hurried down the hallway, determined to get there before the answerphone kicked in. Anxiety mixed in with the adrenalin, and a cold sweat formed at his hairline. He had no idea what he was going to say if it was her. When he grabbed th

Yes, indeed. Though he had an earlier session with her (Book 1) so maybe he's building on previous experience?

Neither would I if I had to write about 'stuff' every time I posted. It's a writing blog so most of the content is that, with help from Parker. Essays are fairly few and far between, plus the occasional link to someone else's blogpost.

Thanks, Val. I appreciate your interest.

Like @Mikiesboy, I appreciate all comments. Some of my favourites occur when the person is moved by my writing to tell me (and others) something about themselves while also commenting on the story. Here's @Carlos Hazday commenting on Willpower: My thanks to him and everyone else who takes the time to comment on my, and other people's, stories.

About this time last year, I announced the start of my off-site blog, A Pencil Is Best. it's anniversary time, and I thought I'd report back. Is it still going? would be my first question in your shoes. Yes, it is, and doing pretty well. When I started out, I had no idea how I would generate enough material to keep a blog going. Although I have to say, part of that came from the idea that I had to post x number of things over a certain period for the blog to justify itself. I'm over that now, thankfully. I still post regularly, but without the edge of I have to do this. I am helped in creating content by @Parker Owens. Parker followed the blog even before it really got going, and it wasn't long before I recruited him as a 'staff member'. He adds some of his wonderful poetry into the posting mix. I am grateful and so happy that he does so. One thing the blog does on a regular basis is to promote GA. Occasionally it's a piece that refers directly back to this site, but more often we include pointers. When I post material that was seen here first for example, there's always a link back to the site. I can't pretend it's created a noticeable flow of traffic direct from the blog, but I'm pleased to have an opportunity to promote the site which started me writing. This brings me back to creating new content. Maintaining my writing commitments here doesn't leave a huge amount of time for other things. Fortunately, I was introduced to YeahWrite, a blog that hosts a weekly prompt challenge (amongst a whole host of other writing-related material). I started out by thinking this was fairly easy. My mistake. It isn't; it really isn't. To include two prompts within a maximum of 750 words, making a complete story out of it, and writing well, is hard work. And it has to be done in 4-5 days. What was I saying about not having much time? I don't take part every week, but it has stretched my writing in all sorts of directions: voice, genre, incorporating single words or actions into unlikely scenarios ... The other thing that makes me grow as a writer is the feedback. We are all encouraged to give feedback on other entrants (something I still find rather daunting), but it's the crit from the volunteer YeahWrite editor that usually hits home the hardest. He always finds something good to focus on first, then he zeroes in on everything else. Some weeks there's very little wrong; others, he points out some of the holes and failings in that week's attempt. There's little hedging - he doesn't have the time. At first, I had something of a WTF reaction. Now, I accept his crits, grimacing when he highlights something I know to be weak, considering other elements which I liked and he doesn't. It makes the times when he gives out nearly unqualified praise very special. 'Very nicely done' always makes me smile. In fact when I've posted this, I'll have to get back to the next challenge: Write a first-person story in which you use the first-person pronoun (I or me or my) only two times. And include an amulet. Ideas, anyone?

Indeed. You'll just have to keep on reading, won't you.

I had exactly the same conversation with @Parker Owens, though he kinda knew it already, Anglophile that he is. 'Dessert' is something you're more likely to find on a menu, though some do use 'Pudding'. The vagaries of English. Don't forget 'Afters' and 'Sweet' as well.

Possibly ... On the one hand, any sort of ice cream is probably in the unaffordable luxury category to him; on the other, don't forget in the first book, he branched out into pasta. Wait and see ...

The last two sound fine; not sure about the avocado ... In a good way, I think. 'Interesting' over here can mean bad or problematical, or worse, depending on context.

Yes, indeed. I enjoy spending time with them. Not as much as with Eric perhaps, but it's good to write about love, relationships, and planning for a life still to be lived.

Now that is

My mum used to safely hide away Christmas presents ... Usually rediscovered sometime later in the new year.

I don't know ... . I'd be prepared to give them a go. Salt with sweet things can be good.

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Why should they spend money on inessentials? Though a fridge is more useful than some things ...

Somewhat. Previously he may have gone out of his way to avoid his neighbour. This time he has the conversation, though it's pretty much one-sided.