Ewan's blog

A while back, I put a chapter or so of the very old Smokescreen on ABCTales. It started out as a Nanowrimo attempt sometime before 2009 (I can't even remember which year, it was so long ago). Anyway, after Nano, I tidied it up a bit and printed it via Bubok.es, as I was living in Spain at the time. It was a first effort at self-pubbing, when it was only just a thing, really. As for Bubok.es, think KDP (Amazon's Publishing Arm) but without any of...

As always there were hard choices to make. Story of the Week Story of the week is Marandina’s not-quite-Shaggy Dog Story, Holodog . In three parts, it is a fine example of near future sci-fi. Do use these links to read the first two parts if you haven’t already. Pt I Pt II Honourable mentions go to: Mark Burrow’s Doolally , with its teenaged narrator showing us the view from the bottom. Celticman’s Goatie 5 , another surreally funny slice of...

Here are the picks of the week. Poem of the Week is Ralph's 'Any Old Jerusalem' a reworking of an old poem. When you can picture the people and the places, it's a sign that a piece is as near perfect as anything has any right to be. You can read it here Story of the Week is TJW's 'The R Word'. A very strong narrative voice tells us a gritty, yet heartbreaking story. You can read it here This weeks IP is here

Never easy any Friday to choose, but I'm going to plunge straight in with the picks this time. Story of the Week is newcomer Steve Hoselitz's 'Eavesdropping' . A strong voice and quirky story makes for an excellent read. I'm sure we are all looking forward to reading more from Steve. Speaking of quirkiness, one of the most distinctive voices on ABCTales belongs to Lavadis. His work is always identifiable and his latest poem is as remarkable as...

People have done very well indeed, when one considers that most of the week has been Twixt-mas - or as the Scots have it "The Daft Days". Story of the Week Maddan's final monthly ghost story rounds the year off with a belter, "The Glitch". Poem of the Week I've chosen Onemorething's December Ravens as poem of the week, it's good to see the word 'bister' being used. Reading this kind of poetry is like watching the pastoral linking shots in '...

Goodness these seem to come around very quickly. Still, no complaints here: some very good writing this week. Story of the Week In the prose department, I should name check monodemo’s Imagine , Charlie 77’s Behind 1 & 2, Mark Say’s Ghost Village and CSquirrel’s hilarious The Community Water Officer 1 & 2. However, I do have a particular fondness for Maddan’s sequence of monthly horror stories and so this week’s Story of the Week is his...

As chosen by Ewan As usual it’s very difficult to single pieces out, because, as always there is a great deal of excellent material to choose from. Story of the Week Celticman’s Ugly Puggly continues to entertain and shock in equal measure. Check out the latest – at the time of writing – here . The '70s Look And The Battle For My Soul , Lou Blodgett’s account of a 70’s childhood in the US, and its effect on him is wryly funny. However, the Story...

If you are wondering when you can (or can't) use an image you have found on line, this is an excellent article laying it all out in simple terms. It is important, as there are legal and possible monetary consequences for the use of material in contravention of copyright laws. Anyway, take a look here. And the terms for use of the accompanying image are here [then click on view terms at bottom right].

Story of the Week Longer pieces seem to be in vogue at the moment, who says the novel is dead? Some very good prose writing this week. Celticman’s Uggly Puggly is sharply observed and hilariously dark-humoured, Part 71 is here . I also enjoyed the first three chapters of CliffordBen502’s Exotic Illnesses, the first of which was last week’s Story of the Week. So, since I must pick only one, this week’s Story of the Week is Lou Blodgett’s The...

The weeks seem to be flying by. I hope you all survived the heat. No moaning about today’s rain, please. Story of the Week Story of the Week this week goes to not-so-cosy Cotswolds-set “The Bounds” by Charlie77. The start of something longer, this first part is gripping, chilling and blessed with a narrative voice that is very strong indeed. Do check out Rosalie Kempthorne’s latest, too. Discovery is as off-kilter and unsettling as all her work...