Census

Don't forget to complete and send in your census form from today. It is an offence to ignore it.

A Book I Just Had To Buy

I recently purchased a book entitled "On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft" by one of my favourite authors, Stephen King... yes THE Stephen King author of Carrie, The Shining, Misery and Tommyknockers etc.,

King's  non-fiction book "On Writing" is excellent. The first part entitled CV is a fascinating humorous  account of his life as a writer (he wrote his first story at the age of six entitled Mr Rabbit Trick),  and there is a section entitled Tools covering straight forward and  valuable tips for aspiring writers. The book also includes the winning short story from the ON WRITING competition.

I read it in one day. I couldn't  put it down. I loved it and learnt a great deal on the craft of writing and will have pride of place in my extensive reference book collection.

I can only agree with the following testimonials displayed on the back cover:-

'Not since Dickens has a writer had so many readers by the throat...King's imagination is vast. He knows how to engage the deepest sympathies of his readers... It is part biography, part collection of tips for the aspiring writer. In the final chapters, King tells, in graphic detail, the story of his recent accident... a bizzare and absorbing story, told brilliantly by one of the greatest storytellers of our time' Guardian

'The childhood memoir is a triumphant display of wit, storytelling and guts. His advice t writers is hard-nosed, pratical and level-headed in the classic journalistic Orwell-Hemingway tradition' Evening Standard

'Absolutely fascinating... basic instructions...sensible advice'The Sunday Times

'Illuminating' Independent

'Energetic, vivid and observant' Daily Telegraph


If you can get hold of a copy (W H Smiths (UK) currently have it in stock at a discounted price), I thoroughly recommend it and just wish I'd bought it when it was first published in 2000.

Happy reading and learning...

Just a quickie!

I haven't written anything on my blog for a while. This has been due to working on the second assignment of my writing course. Added to that I've been assisting one of my writer clients with his new book. I have also been working on building up my business  - being self employed I still have to earn a few bucks to eat! So there hasn't been a great deal of spare time to add to my blog.

But, I am still here, and read all the blogs I am following and I just wanted to say thanks to all those who have signed up to follow me since my last post.

Have decided to enter a couple of writing competitions - who knows I may get lucky.

Speaking of luck... I did have a win on the UK Lottery last week - Yippee!

Have to get back to editing my client's work now, as they say time is money.

Speak soon...

Have a fabulous day everyone and....

Keep smiling, keep laughing and keep writing.

A1Writer.

The Bottle of Wine

For all of us who are married, were married, wish you were married, or wish you weren't married, this is something to smile about the next time you see a bottle of wine:

"Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road.

As the trip had been a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.

Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail,until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.

'What in bag?' asked the old woman.

Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.'

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder,she said:

'Good trade!'"

Hope you enjoyed the above. My ex husband didn't... he thought he was worth at least a bottle of Jack Daniels!

Have a great day.
More later...