Writing - First Steps

So you have your source of inspiration and want to write something quickly to pass on a moral standpoint to your readers. How do you start? Let's have a go. 

I'll be back!

Starting 

I received a phone call, a cold call, and it gave me a good starting point for a poem I wrote last week, and it could also be used in a short story. So, my message,

'beware of the rapid rise of AI' 

The first paragraph would begin with the initial conversation:- 

"Hello," 

pause "My name is John. I am your local energy consultant." 

"Sorry - not interested." 

This is the point at which the imagination is fully engaged, and choices will be made as to what happens next. I hesitate to give examples, or I may do myself out of an idea! Suffice it to say that what comes next needs to be engaging for the reader. Something to take into consideration is that a 'cold call' ignored once will probably be repeated and will likely offer opportunities. 

AI cop 

Once the beginning is set to your satisfaction, how the story develops is the writers' choice. I include the AI cop as a prompt to the imagination. In this scenario, you may end up with a visit from the AI policeman, which then leads to a need for explanation and further story development. 

During this middle phase, a writer must manage an argument while describing actions and relationships. The argument is the alternative moral viewpoints you hope to convey to your readers. Obviously, you will come down on the side you wish to convey in your conclusion. That is the clarity with which you would hope to conclude the story. 

God Bless 

 

Poetry Thursday 163 - My Name is John

 Companies producing AI warn that civilisation as we know it could end within 10 years! That's a worry. It conjures memories of HAL, 1984, Terminator and other films where the technology takes over from us humans.

My Name is John

Slouching on the sofa wearing vest and jeans,

surrounded by tinnies, eating toast and beans,

Overgrown garden full of screaming kids,

Eldest in her bedroom watching music vids.

 

Prospects for a job few and far between,

Incentive set at zero wallet contents lean.

Her indoors working checkout keeping wolf from the door,

Stop the fucking noise making my head sore.

 

We used to be a proud country building stuff and making things,

Then that cow comes along and it’s  let’s find out what  selling brings,

Sold everything from massive companies to smallest house,

Now the only jobs involve clicking a bloody mouse.

 

Trickle down economy promoted as ideal,

in fact a divisive tool used to protect what they steal,

keeping us in our lowly place with threats of them leaving,

when they contribute very little instead of aiding growing.

 

Now AI’s insinuated into our lives with warnings portentous,

already replacing us as employable resources,

arrived on my doorstep through the telephone,

announcing in soulless voice,

‘my name is John’

©David L Atkinson September 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - A First Kiss

 Writing is an opportunity to dive into freedom, it is also a chance to reflect on incidents that have occurred previously in your life. The exercise allows in-depth reflection and re-evaluating feelings which can open opportunities to use incidents when writing longer stories. 

A First Kiss

 

Sixty seconds doesn’t seem a long period of time but if you consider the events that can occur in that period every minute of our lives should be valued. An example would be the fact that sprinters should be able to run one hundred metres six times! In a flooded part of the UK 10 tons of water was being pumped from the Somerset Levels in the same period of time.

It is often the case that when you encounter a new situation your first impressions formed in the early minutes tend to colour your opinions and reactions thereafter. This was the case when I made a visit to Amsterdam when still at school.

The six of us had been walking for hours exploring the city but then the time came to return to the hostel. Amsterdam is an intriguing place with streets arranged in a semi-circular design, Dam Square at the hub. The hostel we were staying in was on a street with an unpronounceable name at number 39. The buildings we were hurrying passed were in the high two hundreds and industrial, we knew that we were going to be late and needed to rush. That was the mistake. Perhaps if we hadn’t been in so much of a hurry one of us would have noticed that the word ‘Nieuw’ was placed in front of the street name. Effectively we had walked to the wrong end of a parallel road and once we’d corrected the mistake and returned to the place in which we were staying we were exhausted. We’d certainly seen more of Amsterdam than most of our friends!

Our little group consisted of three of each sex who didn’t really know each other that well because we were in different year groups. The girls were in the year above us lads. I think they’d been selected to chaperone us! There was this one girl about the same height as me, with a peaches and cream complexion, long brown hair usually tied in a ponytail, brown eyes and brimming with confidence.

The six of us had been thrown together rather and so while we were panicking slightly about being lost in a foreign city there was no time for attractions between the girls and boys to begin to develop. On the other hand the six of us being somewhat in adversity broke down some of the normal barriers that exist between the sexes in the mid teen years.

Teachers have exquisite skills in admonishing pupils but being away from home they were actually quite gentle with us, when we arrived at the hostel thirty minutes late. Everyone else had eaten and we were banished to the girls’ bedroom to eat a packed meal that had been prepared for us. I ended up sitting on the same bed as Celia. I remember thinking it was an old-fashioned name but she was quite relaxed and pleasant to talk to so we ate and chatted. The packed lunch contained a boiled egg, still in its shell!

What happened next took place well within a minute but influenced the next three years of my life. Don’t ask me why but fourteen year old me decided that it would be a good idea to crack the shell of my egg on Celia’s head! I know it was stupid, childish and likely to propel me to the teachers once again for punishment. The disturbing thing was that as soon as I had done it I knew that I’d hurt her, I knew that I’d done a stupid thing and I was apologising before she’d finished reacting.

Our eyes met at that point and her gentle, brown orbs were brimming with tears but not just as a result of the pain. I reached out and put my hand on her head, her hair felt silky and apologised as sincerely as I knew how. The next minute was electric. Celia could have screamed at me to ‘Get out!’ and sort comfort with her female friends. She didn’t!

We were sitting quite close, facing, and leaning in towards each other. The quality of the following sixty seconds was nothing short of dream-like. Celia completed the distance between us and we kissed. I remember wonderful feelings of warmth spreading throughout my body. It was almost as if we had become one person. Everyone else in the room disappeared into an indistinct haze. I don’t suppose that this first kiss lasted more than a few seconds before the wonderful moment was broken by our cheering friends. I wasn’t tremendously disappointed because I knew it would happen again.

 

I wasn’t wrong. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 162 - The Darkness

 Even the most sceptical of client change deniers have come to realise that the situation in the world is so serious that everyone, no matter how small, should be doing their bit to improve the treatment of our Earth. 

The Darkness

 

Hello darkness on which we depend,

that reliance must come to an end,

the fragile Earth cannot withstand,

much more of your poisoning brand.

 

In spite of giving medicine and plastic,

providing energy at levels fantastic,

giving employment to thousands,

you cause many of Earth's desecrations.

 

For the sake of future generations,

to protect the Earth's renewing systems,

humans must abandon the ubiquitous darkness,

and move towards restorative greenness.

 

Influence of the darkness is well ingrained,

powers-that-be are of entrenched mind,

frightened to take the necessary steps,

rip off the plaster without the forceps.

 

Time is of the essence,

 gone is opportunity for acquiescence,

the toxins need to be removed,

and now, for Earth to be improved.

©David L Atkinson September 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Environments

 As with conflict, environment is totally under the control of the writer and is every bit as complex. It is also infinite in the range of types. To put the tin lid on this area, there are levels that vary in size and importance to the story. 

When a tale is under construction, the initial site of action is linked closely to the story. These sites could be a forest, caves, a cityscape, a rural village or urban sprawl - in other words, almost anything - but within that there will be smaller sites of action that are significant. 

This is where personal experiences may be a source for such places. 

For example, a launderette. This was something I experienced many years ago. So picture a quiet Sunday morning in the slightly damp, steamy atmosphere of such a place. There are two male customers sitting in different parts of the shop. They don't know each other and are not talking; one, in fact, is reading a book. The noise of the washing machines and tumble dryers would have precluded conversation held at normal levels. 

The street door bursts open, and a young man runs into the shop, charges across to the customer not reading, attacks him violently, and when the victim is on the floor unconscious, the attacker runs out just as quickly as he arrived. 

No words had been exchanged, and the incident lasted less than a minute. When it was over, the reader left the shop. 

A true story, but adaptable to fit in a variety of stories. As we travel through life, incidents occur, and we need to store these happenings for future use. Of course, the type of story you are writing dictates the nature of the environments you decide to employ. The description of the site of action adds to the fabric of the work you are producing. 

It is obvious to state that the description produced needs to be constructed carefully and not just a vehicle for wordy paragraphs where we indulge ourselves. It is always important to engage audiences. 

God Bless 

 

Poetry Thursday 161 - Win v Lose

 You are never too old to learn is a treatise oft repeated by my mother when I was growing up. Unfortunately, I hear myself saying the same words to anyone I can target. In fact, 'you never stop learning' may be closer to reality. 

Win v Lose

 

When we were young it was about acquiring,

talking, walking, sitting,

later we learned the glories of play,

the joy of seeing friends every day.

 

Life was about loads of gain,

opportunities to advance without too much pain,

but there is some heartfelt testing,

that can lead to some unexpected losing.

 

As life proceeds the winning becomes tougher,

opportunities for wins significantly rarer,

losing happens more frequently,

with the resulting trauma felt deeply.

 

As the days of life grow shorter,

learning remains a constant winner,

but the losses seem to occur daily,

shedding layers as skin that’s scaly.

 

The resultant gaps of missing pieces,

memorials of significant accomplices,

an indicator of increasing solitude,

silence growing in amplitude.

©David L Atkinson September 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Conflict Resolution

 The conflict type I haven't dwelt upon, nor have I gone into style, and probably innumerable aspects of stand-offs between characters. In a sense, that is the nature of conflict: too many variables. The aspect I'm addressing today is how it comes to an end. While I'm writing, it is popping into my mind that this may take a couple of weeks to deal with adequately. 

Conflict can, of course, end unsatisfactorily, with a situation whereby there is no really identifiable conclusion. In the context of a story, this may be a useful 'beginning' of another element within the tale. That may have been your intention in setting up the conflict. There are many examples where two protagonists may end up working together, in enmity, but towards a mutually desired conclusion. 'Cop shows' use this frequently, where the lone detective fights authority over having to work closely with a colleague. (eg. Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock in Heat). The alternative successful conclusion is just as useful but tends to point towards a closed ending and follows the direction of the main story theme. 

The conflict may lead to a romantic relationship, as for Steele and Naomi in the Steele novels. Again, this has been used in stories before. 

In constructing the conflict, the purpose has to be clear from the outset for the writer, and less so for the reader. Such conflicts can spill over into following stories, and the life of such scenarios has driven the development of TV series and film franchises. I'm thinking of the relationship between cops like Starsky and Hutch, and Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon. 

The point being that the purpose of the conflict needs to be kept in mind throughout its use. Of course, the full range of emotions can be the outcome of conflicts. Referring back to The Heat, this is a spiky, aggressive, and violent film, which I found hilarious, and is full of conflict from beginning to end, from McCarthy parking her car to fights with a criminal gang. The use of humour in conflict can actually deepen the affect that the serious, aggressive aim of the story. Even Victor Hugo introduced lighter moments with the innkeeper and his wife, which was fully explored in the stage show of Les Misérables. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 160 - Read! Read! Read!

 Hitler destroyed books; Trump has taken money from libraries and tried to dictate reading materials in schools. This is a very brief summation of one aspect of controlling social groups, but can be summed up further by stating that 'knowledge is power'.

Travel the world from a chair

 

A book holds a story that will never die,

it is there to entertain forever.

The story is your transport to times gone by,

or a rocket hurtling towards the future.

 

The people inside are fallible like you,

but with help may foil the danger,

or follow a path taken by few,

and perhaps find a babe in a manger!

 

You may travel the wide world from your chair,

and never leave this wonderful land.

Change your colour or perm your hair,

without the risk of wearing a new brand.

 

The sky’s the limit every time you try

the same story read a dozen times.

Let your imagination be free and fly,

in the words of stories and of rhymes.

© David L Atkinson March 2015 

God Bless 

Writing - Conflict 2

Following on from last week, I've been thinking about the can of worms that is conflict. It ranges from toddlers nipping at each other to all-out war. 

 Like all processes, there are beginnings, developments and outcomes. The beginnings are virtually anything because conflict arises from reactions of individuals, which in turn are dependent on personality and learned personal preferences. When we write conflict into our stories, these are factors that can bring about a flashpoint. So there is an initial stimulus, which can vary according to who is the recipient of that stimulus. 

Then there is some type of reaction, which, once again, can take almost any form and doesn't have to be extreme, but for the players is significant. The fighting toddlers may cry and shout, young adults may indulge in a fist fight, or gangs may carry out more serious crimes. The explosion can take a myriad of forms. Within the explosive behaviour, there are opportunities to explore how such conflicts develop and then are resolved. 

Then the resolution may be a handshake, a hug, or a social gathering. Again, almost anything, depending on those involved. 

When we are developing situations for the entertainment of our readers, there is no limit to what we can imagine and include. At the same time, you can use real events that have occurred, like 9/11, an accident, and so on. The process is under the influence of the protagonists and the resulting narrative needs to be consistant. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 159 - Brain Power

 A simple question with a plethora of answers, few of which are wrong. How do they con people into voting for them? (Fill in the names from your own experience).

Lucy

 

If we could use more of the power

of our brains, increasingly by the hour,

would our lives be any easier,

or would existence be a little trickier?

 

Some would pay to use that much!

Their ‘off’ behaviours demonstrate such.

Knowing there is more use to be had

suggests they’re perhaps not doing too bad.

 

But then living on the Earth are those

whose brain activity is set at doze,

and allowing them to engage with us

is risky if not dangerous.

 

We all go through our lives hoping

that our bustling brains are great at coping,

and if we strive to keep them busy

we may end up as bright as Lucy.

© David L Atkinson September 2014 

God Bless

Writing - Conflict

 Seems simplistic to talk about conflict in a blog about creative writing. Conflict, with all its elements, is an inevitable part of story writing. Even the most sugary love stories will have moments of disagreement – conflict. Superhero tales are packed with conflict; disaster movies have it; Christmas stories have conflict and resolution. 

So what is conflict? It is defined as –

a disagreement or argument about something important

 

In all examples, there are at least two opposing positions. Emotions, people, countries, and so on. There are stages in conflict, which I am not an expert in, but like education, we all have some experience of the processes involved in conflict.

For example, there is usually an initial low-level issue, not always, but often.  This is followed by some negotiation, but quite often it is inadequate in arriving at a solution. This may be because the levels of emotion and attention may not be fully invested. The cycle is a descending situation. It may happen in this way because the antagonists are jockeying for dominance. Eventually,  the situation may descend into violence of the tongue, or even physical violence.  At every stage there are opportunities to break into the process and effect change.

 

So conflict, to some degree, is flexible even though protagonists are apparently intransigent. These facts are an indication of openings for communication. As such, opportunities for dialogue, from the writers’ point of view, are useful in the production of stories. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 158 - Did God Paint You?

 Another nudge in the direction of global survival. An earworm in the lugholes of big pharma, big corporations, big business, and all those who believe that they are bigger than the rest of us. 

Did God Paint You?

 

Your green is so green and petals that bright,

I wonder if I’m getting it right, 

surely cannot be an accident - did I misconstrue,

did God paint you? 

 

With wings so fine and white,

working efficiently in haphazard flight,

darting, soaring, riding thermals into the blue,

did God make you?

 

So many creatures in the world to see,

from enormous leviathan to tiniest flea,

each with an encyclopedia of behaviours to accrue,

did God design you?

 

Yet there’s one that struts upon the earth,

displaying a myriad of talents from the moment of birth,

claiming a planet stewardship they may some day rue,

should God take the blame for you?

©David L Atkinson August 2026 

God Bless 

 

Writing - Observation and Atmosphere

 If you have read any of my work before, you will have observed that I believe in serendipity. Happy accidents, in short. Probably an oversimplification, but adequate for today. Such occurrences can supply moments that may be useful in your writing. If you have your power of observation fully activated as you go about, such moments will present themselves.

 

At the time of writing it is August, school holidays in the UK, which influences traffic flow in our towns and cities. I had to journey into Bradford, something I do perhaps 2 or 3 times a year. Well, today was different. The motorway and major roads were as busy as ever, but when I arrived at my destination, it was as if Armageddon had occurred. Streets were deserted of traffic and pedestrians; there were parking places, and some businesses were boarded up. Really unusual but logical, as some businesses close during August. But the atmosphere was bleak. 10.45 in the morning, and it was quite chilling.

 

This type of experience lends itself to imaginative descriptive writing and may fit into a story you’re writing.  It could simply be a period of the day when deserted streets are usual, or something more fanciful. I remember deserted places during Covid in 2019. What use you put it to is up to you, but following my mother’s advice – don’t go about with your eyes shut! 

God Bless

Poetry Thursday 157 - Brain Fizz

 There has always been plenty of examples of older generations whining about changes that have occurred in their lifetime. It will probably always be the same. It seems this time with technology and in particular AI. 

Brain Fizz

 

It seems to me since 2023 and possibly for some time before

there is a greater incidence of brain fog and possibly much more.

It seems to me this may come from over stimulations

the need to make quick choices and more rapid accommodations.

 

It seems to me like driving a car and arriving at a junction

 not allowing oneself adequate time to make the correct decision.

It seems to me like coke shaken violently in a bottle,

brown bubbles charged ready to burst forth at full throttle.

 

It seems to me what we really need is time for thoughtful reflection,

time to weigh up pros and cons and make the right selection.

time to carefully consider the reason for our choices,

time for someone to listen to the older ones voices.

©David L Atkinson August 2026 

God Bless 

Writing - Elders

 When I used to think of 'elders' I would have a default picture in my head of a little old guy sat in the shade of a tree, dispensing wisdom to anyone willing to listen. A scenario that may be true in a small number of places in the world these days. More frequently, elders are shuffled away somewhere quiet so they can do little harm. 

When creating the team that is at the centre of the Steele novels, I felt that the sagacity of years needed representation. I introduced a couple of older people there to dispense wisdom and moral standpoints where relevant. 

When writing stories, the inclusion of wise counsel can add depth to the story and engage more readers. It allows people to empathise with the actions that are included in your writing. To agree or otherwise with the actions taking place. 

The characters you introduce to play this role will come from your own life experiences. We have all known of or met this type of sage person and how we embody them into stories can be a fun exercise in itself. 

God Bless 

Poetry Thursday 156 - Poor Kids

 It's August already. In the UK, the month that spews forth exam results mostly for 16 and 18 year olds. I remember receiving a brown envelope. I was home alone, and the dry-mouth feeling on reading that my results were inadequate for my initial applications to college. I was ok in the end. This is not an uncommon scenario and will be re-lived time and again. It still creates stress. Seven years ago Covid was an additional problem. 

Poor Kids

 

At least seven long years inside,

booby traps being part of the ride,

working as hard as you feel you can,

towards the goals that will make you a man.

 

The bully sharks are hunting intake prey,

the playground a tarmac sea of grey,

adults enormous hurdles to negotiate,

groups with whom you should not associate.

 

Subject to a myriad of others’ opinions,

just one of a tranche of newer minions,

where to fit to succeed in this place,

and become a full member of the human race.

 

Through the years one finds a slot,

it may be uncomfortable in life’s plot,

but short-lived discomfort leads to progress,

based on your examination finesse.

 

However, in 2020 along comes a virus,

catching it is in no way desirous,

school on hold for an extended period,

number of after effects a significant myriad.

 

Exams come round with every year,

regular as clockwork instilling fear,

in many of the teenage reluctant takers,

and controlled by national question writers.

Not this year due to virus attack,

children at home - efforts are slack,

but next steps in the future still there,

 will the exam establishment be aware.

 

Results Thursday came and went,

the children were sad or perhaps content,

an algorithm was applied to predicted scores,

grades were reduced causing great uproars.

 

The establishment had scored another own goal,

Ofqual regulator had failed in its role,

assuming that their solution had been correct,

resulting in many young futures wrecked. 

 

Where are the shoulders to take responsibility,

who will resign due to lack of capability?

Suddenly the talking heads spouting wise,

are no longer available irrespective of prize.

© David L Atkinson August 2020 

God Bless