The power of punctuation.

As a writer, one of the many things I have trouble with is punctuation. Just when I think I have a handle on where I should place a comma, colon, semi-colon etc. I then over think the whole thing and end up putting them where I shouldn't, giving a whole new meaning to what I have written.

The following is a prime example of this:

More news.

Just over one month ago, I was invited to join the editorial team for WRITELINK'S Christmas E-zine, 'WRITELINKERS'

Naturally, I jumped at the chance to work along side the more experienced members of the community's elite, Maureen Vincent-Northam and David Robinson, eager to glean what knowledge I could. And what an experience it turned out to be!

I'm back!

Forgive me, for it has been many, many months since my last post  / confession and much has happend during this time.

Firstly, I have had some competition success with a variety of my poetry. The most significant of which involved a CASH prize. (Yep...that's right, real money with the Queen's head, watermarks and everything!)

Another sample from my forthcoming book  ENCOUNTERS:

Oblivion

I sit alone,

as the world walks by

oblivious to my pain,

as am I...now.

Financial Elder Abuse - A case history.

The following case study focuses on the repeated ‘Financial abuse’ of an elderly woman.

A definition of financial abuse:

 ‘Stealing from, defrauding someone of, or coercing someone to part with goods and or property.’ (Action on Elder Abuse.)

Case Study  Mary

Mary is now 88 years old and lives alone. She has a variety of medical conditions that reduce her ability to mobilize without the aid of a wheeled trolley. She also suffers from severe hearing loss. This has the added effect of causing further social isolation. She refuses to attend any of the available Day Centres, as she feels unable to communicate or join in conversations.

Writer of the Month submission - Elder Abuse

If I mention the word ‘Abuse,’ what springs to mind?

I am willing to wager that ‘Elder Abuse’ was not your first thought, which is hardly surprising considering it remains largely unreported in the media.

What constitutes ‘Elder Abuse?’

On a lighter note

Like many, I regularly take part in the National and Euro lotteries. Being a bit of a superstitious soul, I always play the same numbers and whilst I won the occasional £2.50 or £10, the frequency of these 'Little windfalls' were few and far between.

A moment of contemplation

I have a sneaking suspicion that waking up to a damp, miserable and rain laden morning, is responsible for my contemplative mood. 

It brought to mind the lines of a poem I once heard as a child. 'The clock of life.' 

I was never able to remember the whole version or who had penned it, as a result developed my own version from the lines that I could remember.

Joining the twitterati

You can now follow me on Twitter  @TheAccidentalPo

Dealing with rejection

As writers, this is something that we have to get used to. Whether it is the numerous rejection letters from Agents and Publishers or simply not winning that competition.

In the beginning it can totally deflate you, leaving you feeling like a complete idiot for thinking that you could write successfully in the first place. The urge to throw pen and paper in the bin is very strong at this stage. DON'T!

Writer of the month - Me!

Good afternoon everyone.

I had a wonderful surprise in my in-box from Maureen Vincent-Northam last night, an invitation to become Writelink's 'Writer of the Month' (WoM) for August.

I've been a member of Writelink for quite a while, but never expected to achieve this honour, so once I'd picked myself up off the floor, I said  "YES." 

As the retiring  WoM for July, Maureen passed the baton by way of an interview. To view these questions and my responses, click on the link below.


 Writer of the month - August 2011

Book Review - Heir to a Murder (STAC Investigates)(Kindle edition) by David Robinson

Joe Murray is the owner of the ‘Lazy Luncheonette’ in Sanford, a business that he inherited from his father. He is also the Chairman for the Sanford Third Age Club (STAC) supported by long time friends Sheila and Brenda. 

He has a keen head for business, keeps his wallet padlocked and his pockets deep when it comes to spending any of his hard-earned cash. A point that Sheila, Brenda and any regular customers are quick to mention in jest, when the opportunity arises.

Book Review - A death at the seaside (Kindle edition) by David Robinson

This is a very engaging and enjoyable read.

Eddie Roberts is the newest member of Sanford Third Age Club (STAC). His sudden disappearance during one of the club’s quarterly trips, leads to the inevitable police investigation when his fishing equipment, coat and wallet are located. Initial suggestions indicate that Eddie may have fallen into the sea whilst fishing off the breakwater and been carried away by the currents.

Writelink launches latest writing challenges

Writelink is a friendly online writing community.  It caters for writers with a wide variety of experience, from those who are just starting out and those who do it for fun, to those who have been published, wish to be published or those who work within the industry.

Missing in Action again!

But it has been a pretty productive MIA on the writing front and one or two other projects.  Setting up and managing blogs for others and actually taking time to polish up some writing that I hope is of competition standard.

A Little Poetic Seduction

Embrace

Your eyes
invade
my innocent soul.
I wait,
  enraptured 

by Love's strong embrace,
as passion ignites, 

I fall from grace.

Variety is the spice of life

Or so the saying goes.

So I have decided to put that theory to the test by trying out different forms of writing.  My recent literary  ventures have been focused around Comedy Scripts for television and radio.

Not a total washout.

Yesterday threatened to be a creative drought, until some lateral thinking headed that notion off at the pass.

When writer's block threatens, one of the suggested options is to write....anything. Don't think, just write. It doesn't have to make sense, but it might just jump start that creativity vibe.

This is a first...

"Ssshhhh! Sshhhh!  It's oh so quiet....It's oh so still! Sshhh, sshhh!"

It has just turned 07.00hrs BST and I'm up before the baby, sorry toddler for once.

Little Miss is still in the land of nod, I've done the bins and nearest and dearest left for work at daft o'clock.  So... here I am, coffee to the right of me, laptop on my knee, fingers poised to create a masterpiece only to find that my Muse has buggered off to the sea-side again!

"And so peaceful until... "

Ahhh ...and there goes Little Miss, normality descends, rapidly.

Poetry Post

This is another excerpt from my forthcoming book  ENCOUNTERS.

Hot Latin Flight

You tempt and tease

me with your eyes,

Pixar under siege?

Following close on the heels of Maureen Vincent-Northam's animated success comes yet another challenger for Pixar's crown.(cough, cough!)

If you enjoy a good murder mystery, you need look no further than the STAC casebooks.

The Accidental Poet...: Writelink launches new writing challenges

The Accidental Poet...: Writelink launches new writing challenges: "Writelink, the on-line writing community, has just launched its latest writing challenges. These challenges are now open to non-members, so ..."

Move over Pixar...

There is a new kid on the block in the field of animation...Maureen Vincent-Northam.

It's good but I don't think Pixar should panic JUST yet., they're safe for now. (lol)...  All joking aside, I would heartily recommend buying this book. It has definitely proved to be a valuable addition to my library.

Writelink launches new writing challenges

Writelink, the on-line writing community, has just launched its latest writing challenges. These challenges are now open to non-members, so if you fancy giving your creative skills a whirl, select the following links for further details.

Summer Sunday - quarterly challenge - fiction

Time to Muse - monthly poetry challenge.

Good Luck!

Final read through.

I have just taken delivery of my friends manuscript 'North Star.'
Aimed at the Young Adult  market it sits comfortably within the Fantasy Fiction genre.
I'm giving it a final read through before she slaps it's arse and packs it off to the editor. 

So exciting.

Finger's crossed.

Aaarrrggh....computers!

So...you think poetry is stuffy? Think again!

When my links don't work
despite trying my best
'404' keeps appearing
and causing me stress

Oh, for the love of Mike!

Sod's Law has been making it's presence felt again.

Just when I have finally managed to get my derriere into gear on the writing front, something always appears to make life just that little bit more challenging and prevent my plans from seeing the light of day.

Now what?

Good morning everyone,
I trust you have all slept well.

Me? Well I've had a short blast of coma before

Good morning all.

What a gloriously sunny day! Just the occasional fluffy cloud floating by and a bit of a breeze. A perfect day to complete a very important task...Lara's sand pit.

Making a start.

Life is moving at a pretty erratic pace at the moment. It is either 'Full speed ahead' or 'dead stop.'

With the current success of '100 Stories for Queensland' and a few other literary successes under my belt,