Writing - Reality

 Being a writer can be a doorway to many different freedoms. This includes the freedom to stretch the truth beyond breaking point. Remember films involving cowboys in the wild west who carried guns that had six cartridges, they'd get into a gunfight and fire hundreds of bullets without reloading. 

Coupled with the never ending supply of ammunition was the physical ability to withstand the effects of being shot. If you consider the damage a projectile does to the human body as it passes through, tearing flesh, nerve damage, breaking bones and ripping open blood vessels, we ordinary folk would probably go into shock almost immediately. Having said all that, we know it is only 'make believe' and being totally accurate all of the time would be boring, so a little licence can spice up the abilities of one's characters. 

On the other hand, the use of a factual description closer to the truth can enhance the quality of the supportive narrative. It is also more fun to stretch the readers' imagination and build some 'magic' into the characters in your stories. There is a danger in going too far or not far enough. Naturally, the effect of stretching the truth and its influence on the reader is very subjective. For some, too much fantasy can be a turn off, for others, you can't go far enough. 

In fact, it is up to the writer as always. If you feel that the flow you create can stand some embellishment, then go for it, and if the opposite is true, take it easy. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 144 - Awakening

 The political atmosphere around the world is at least disturbed and very possibly volatile. In the UK, there are signs that many people are desperate for a change in the system. I believe that is also the case in other countries, not least the USA. Change has already occurred in Hungary. 

Awakening  

There are signs change is coming,  

mist lifting to reveal a watery sun,  

the promise of a positive dawning,  

generating political fun.  

 

Change from younger generations,   

crying out for something different,  

tired of status quo dictations,  

demanding a fairer way to present.  

 

Beware of youngsters energy,  

take care of dangerous choices,  

no space for rampant apathy,  

avoid vested interest voices.  

 

First reclaim national media,  

don’t be fooled by sponsored bias,  

research all aspects of the area,  

avoid opinions of the old and pious.  

  

 

Don’t be swayed by political decadence, 

it’s time to make your choices,  

having examined all the evidence,   

let the nation hear your voices.  

©David L Atkinson May 2026  

God Bless 

Writing - Balance

 I remember growing up in the 1960s and 70s and seeing a menu of soap operas on TV. I also remember when I stopped watching some of them and the reasons why.  Coronation Street was the first programme of that type, and it was soon joined by Emmerdale Farm and eventually EastEnders. 

I stayed as a loyal fan of Coronation Street for the longest of all three, even though my parents were still watching all three many years after I’d left home. The reason I stopped watching soap operas, I remember telling someone, was that they were too close to real life.

Putting it simply, I think I like to be entertained rather than coached in social psychology and sociology. This side of my nature comes across in the type of programmes I watch these days. I enjoy a good police drama, murder mystery and who-done-it. However, I can easily be put off when the human frailty of the lead policeman seems more important than the crimes that they're trying to solve, and it seems to me that the screenwriters and authors are starting off from the premise that the human frailty is what people are more interested in than the actual crimes being committed.

 So when it comes to the material I like to watch, I look for the crime and hope that the programmes do not have an alcoholic lead character, a Chief Inspector with family problems or a lawyer who is struggling with his sexuality. 

 Now that is not to say that those issues aren’t important, and it is essential to make your characters as human as possible. I’m not into superheroes all the time, but there are plenty of people on the earth who've had problems, lived through them, and are functioning normally, so why not have people with their investigative skills who are functioning normally? These are the reasons behind Patrick Steele, the lead character in my novels. He is not a superhero; he's not perfect, he has had frailties in his life, and one of the reasons why he is engaged in the activities as an adult is because of the issues he had when he was a teenager. The information is described in the earlier books and particularly in book 5, which is entitled Inceptus. 

So the idea of getting the balance right, the title of this blog suggests, is to guide fellow authors away from human failings. Yes, they can be interesting, yes, it's important that for reality’s sake, your characters are showing some human feelings, but to remember that you are out there trying to entertain.

 God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 143 - Children

 Children are our future - stating the obvious - but it isn't always obvious from the way governments pressurise parents to work harder and longer hours. If parents are required to work even more than previously, how can children have the support required to join society as fully adjusted people? Of course, if you observe children over a period of time, they will often astound you as to their resilience in coping with modern-day pressures that they really should not have to face. 

Children

 

From the moment of birth,

celebrate for all you’re worth,

they have the very  kernel of life,

there will be rewards as well as strife.

 

They have the spring of a new mattress, 

tough love but resistant to distress,

yet to be tempered by regular trials, 

firm,  unyielding full of denials.

 

It is always known that things change, 

education softens the edges of range,

experience teaches care and tolerance,

no exact date for adult deliverance.

 

As the fledging time approaches, 

so more evidence broaches,

what has been a defensive order,

changing to something warmer and broader.

 

Until the day evidence bursts out,

potential realised with a hefty clout,

mature actions make observers glad,

confirmed with, ‘I love you grandad’.

©David L Atkinson May 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Educating

 When you choose to write, it is my opinion that you have also chosen to disseminate information. It’s almost like being a podcaster while indulging in creativity. Of course, this is a voluntary role. What is written is entirely up to the author. 

Educating is part of my raison d’etre and so not a surprise that I am saying this. It is an opportunity rather than a necessity. The type of information that I believe may be useful is the correction of commonly held misconceptions. Obviously,  passing information on needs to be relevant to what you’re writing about at the time.

One such misconception is the often trumpeted complaint from the politically short-sighted that immigrants are taking our jobs. As long as I can remember, people from other parts of the world have been invited to the UK to take up job opportunities to fill a gap in the available workforce. The current situation is slightly different in that immigrants are seen as cheap labour by oligarchs and giant corporations, so more accurate to say that the super-rich are taking jobs. As in all political situations, this is very complex, and it is disingenuous to mislead the populace by using trite, emotive statements. Professionals coming to the UK to take up positions are not the problem, as they are fulfilling a shortage. 

Such positions are not always easy to place in your writing and can appear clumsy if not woven into a narrative to feel natural. I’m not suggesting that every writer should always have their ‘soapbox’ on hand, but not to miss opportunities to right wrongs. 

God Bless 

 

 

Poetry Thursday 142 - Screens

 I remember our first TV - 1955. One channel and time-limited. If memory serves, programmes ended around 10.30pm and finished with the National Anthem. If you watched TV for too long, you would develop square eyes. The law, according to mother. 

Screens

A while ago it was all TV,

don’t sit too close or you won’t  see,

your future ambitious hopes and dreams,

but that’s in the past now it’s screens.

 

Screens for shopping,

Screens for gaming,

Screens for navigating,

Screens you can ask, 

Screens for every blessed task.

 

No more talking face to face,

remote communication for the human race,

a generation walking with faces on screens, 

social interaction is for us has beens.

 

And now we need to limit screen time,

protecting children from internet crime,

and now an age limit for social media,

apparently the internet is somewhat seedier.

 

As if we don’t have enough to worry us,

now there is a new source of electronic fuss,

this time we are ceding control  of our lives,

to disembodied electronic AIs.

 

Having square eyes because of TV,

or poor results due to lack of sleep, 

small beer in comparison to,

AI living life for you.

©David L Atkinson April 2026  

God Bless 

Writing - In the Mood

 There’s a lot written about writer’s block, and I believe it occurs as a result of negative external pressures. If you’re desperate to get published, if you have significant others who are negative, it’s not surprising if, when you have a blank page in front of you, your mind goes blank. You need to be in the mood. Don’t forget that you can write whatever you want, and it is entirely up to you. 

Whatever you want to put on the page is your freedom. In moments of desperation, change what you’re writing. That is, start something new, a short story perhaps, or go to a previously started piece. Doing that is a positive move and may provide the impetus to get you going again.

As with anyone suffering a creative hiatus, positive steps can lead to positive actions.

Other, non-writing solutions can be tried, such as a change of scenery, a walk in the fresh air, or a drive. An hour’s personal reading or a different creative activity. It seems that creative people are rarely tied to only one opportunity of exercising that particular gene.

All of the above doesn’t involve other people quite purposefully, for there lies the source of negativity  - possibly. 

 

God Bless