Writing - Moderation

 One of the tenets that my parents used when they were bringing me up.  The thing is does it apply to your writing? Well, the answer has to be yes in certain circumstances.

 The example that comes to mind immediately is the opening scene in Charles Dickens Great Expectations. In that situation, so that the author can grab the attention of the reader, he indulges himself in a very intense description of the conditions of the marsh near Pip’s home, where Pip bumps into what he believes at the time is a convict from a nearby prison ship. 

Abel Magwitch 

If you were writing this yourself, you would decide at what level you wanted to absorb the reader into the story at this point. Dickens seemed to want a full absorption and spent paragraphs describing the weather conditions to the point that you could believe that you were standing next to Pip in the marsh. 

Imagine you have been swimming and have left the water and removed your swimming costume only to be persuaded to get back in the water. The feeling of putting on a soggy costume is wet and difficult to manoeuvre over your body, not to mention cold. It makes you feel even more wet than when you were swimming. That is the feeling that Dickens encourages you to imagine as you read. 

He creates a 3D experience on a 2D medium. 

In your version, you may decide that the glowering appearance of Magwitch is of greater significance than the weather. In my opinion, Dickens is creating a literary memory that you carry with you through the rest of the story. In your story, it is worth spending some time in preparing a 'hook' such as this, which will be better for planning. 

In HMS Ulysses by Alistair Maclean, there is a page and a half of description of the sea conditions in the North Atlantic, and be warned: when reading it you need to have taken seasickness medication. 

It is important that such an element can not only sell your books but can set you on the ladder of literary significance. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 168 - Mind Mouth

The inspiration for this poem was an advert for a brand of chewing gum. It raised the question in my strange mind about that little voice in your head that can provide reminders of the consequences ofbehaviours. 

Mind Mouth

 

If your mind had a mouth what would it say,

would it tell the world your state of play,

divulge each individual whim,

no secrets hidden from  him.

 

Would mind mouth provide useful advice, 

help you avoid risk at any price, 

keep you on the straight and narrow, 

flying to your target like an arrow. 

 

Or has mind mouth loose lips,

will it sink all your ships,

deviously formulating it’s own plans,

taking power from your hands.

 

Is mind mouth a helpful conscience, 

or laden with doom filled scenarios in abundance, 

preparing for you the blackest mood 

to face situations increased stress accrued.

 

Mind mouth is in your control,

both useful and the other end of the pole,

can give you strength in your need,

and restrictions from which to be freed.

©David L Atkinson October 2026

God Bless 

Writing - and Reading

 When writing, we need to keep reading. A statement of the obvious, perhaps, but in my opinion, worth repeating. Even if you are writing technical documents, reading 'other' stuff is important. The importance comes from the variety. Language is continually evolving, and even dry technical stuff can be presented in a more user-friendly way; after all, technical articles are written for humans to read. 

Reading is and always will be a source of knowledge and entertainment. It is also something that needs practice. On occasion, I have had the opportunity to read from the bible in school and in church, and I always ensure that I have practised the piece to be presented. This came as a result of advice from a vicar and from a lecture where it was demonstrated by one of the listeners who was asked to read a piece from a physics text without the benefit of practice. Inevitably, he stumbled over certain factual words, which brings me to the fact that reading aloud is important also. 

Obviously, I have re-read my own work, but it is not my favourite task. I hate editing my own work, being of the 'once it has been done, never to be revisited' school. However, when writing poetry, it is incredibly important to read aloud from the point of view of rhythm and balance. I still relax last thing at night by reading fiction. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 167 - Tick Tock

 A eulogy to those who have attempted to buy online and come unstuck. 

Tick tock

 

 Click goes the mouse tock goes the clock,

times passing it feels right to take stock,

to call a halt and yell stop.

ponder what we get when we shop.

 

Click goes the mouse tock goes the clock,

a lifetime since hickory dickory dock,

and what have we learned in all of those clicks,

that we need to beware of retailers’ tricks.

 

Tock goes the clock and click goes the mouse,

whether we buy for ourselves or the house,

what arrived  may not work, or fit,

you’ll get a refund so what of it.

 

Click goes the mouse and tock goes the clock,

what of manufacture quality shock, 

no control over shoddy goods,

oh yes refunds causing delivery floods.

 

Click goes the mouse and tock goes the clock,

customer service at the bottom of the rock,

like a refund means it doesn’t matter, 

avoiding negative feedback chatter.

©David L Atkinson October 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Unknowns

 In the blogs that I have written so far, I have stuck very closely to what I am familiar with both in my own writing and the types of books that I have read.  That isn’t to say that I’ve never read anything other than adventure books, spy novels, and mysteries. In fact, I remember quite an early age, reading many westerns; also during my teen years I read Isaac Asimov and other well-known sci-fi authors. Having said that, it hasn't given me the confidence to tackle those genre at a personal level.

 This adds more fuel to the statement that we should write from what we know, although I’m sure whoever wrote the first sci-fi novel, or the 1^st western, or the 1st historical novel  had to take a leap in the dark in the beginning to a degree. 

Having said that, it follows that I am limited in the type of advice that I can offer. Analysing my thoughts on fantasy, SciFi, historical genres, it seems to me that when writing in an unfamiliar style, the need for consistency is paramount. I would certainly need to keep re-reading such a work to ensure that I am staying on task. 

A second thought is that the quantity of preparation would be greater than in a story created in normal times. In some of these different genres, the writer creates a different world with its own rules and limits. Think of Terry Pratchett's Discworld or the magical world in Harry Potter that runs in parallel with the 'muggle' world. In both cases, the writers have maintained the new realities they created. 

Really, that last sentence sums up what is required in writing about new worlds. You need to know your created world in all aspects. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 166 - Robin Hoods

 The legend is about six hundred years old, but when you consider the state of this modern world, it seems we could do with his return. 

Robin Hoods

 

Robin Hood and his gang riding in their ubers,

cruising the streets of London looking for their prey,

targeting entitled oligarchs and Sloan Rangers,

as they’re the targeted dish of the day.

 

Robin Hood and Little John Royal Berkshire cruising,

casing joints for opportunities to do law-breaking,

changing sterling silver for loaves of bread,

making sure the beleaguered poor are fed.

 

Robin Hood and his men running through the forest,

laughing back and forth at the stories they’d tell,

of fooling the sheriff and leaving him embarrassed,

over personal enrichment plans and power grabbing as well.

©David L Atkinson October 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Alternatives

 Sources of inspiration can be the source of blocks. There is a well of possible scenarios that are quite easily accessible and open to interpretation. Disney. There are many parts of stories beautifully produced by the Disney Corporation that could give you food for your story-writing journey. 

Robin Hood 1973 

The 1973 version of Robin Hood with animals as the stars may provide snippets that you can utilise. Then there are straight stories like Oliver Twist, from which you could extract and embellish sections. 

Oliver Twist 

There are a number of options; 

1. The Rise of Bill Sykes and Nancy, 

2. The nefarious deeds of Mr and Mrs Bumble. 

3. The demise of Oliver's mother and how he came to be in the workhouse. 

Just a few accessible opportunities. Of course, you don't have to stick to films to derive sources. Almost anything you have read can be of use. I would even go so far as to say that could be true of a technical article; it may stretch the imagination, but nothing wrong in that.

God Bless