Content warning: implied child abuse. “Knock, knock!” Madeleine listens at the basement door, her Shell-coloured pigtails dusting its fading, Ceylon wood. She smiles at a reply no-one else would hear, and twists the brass knob, carefully, quietly. Beyond the door, the space below yawns in Oolong Black. She checks her surroundings, but the Guild Grey … Continue reading Sister
Welcome to another month of the Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop, where we ask all the writing questions, pretend to know the answers (or not), and generally be supportive. Thanks for joining us. This month the awesome co-hosts are Jemima Pitt, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard. Do … Continue reading Draw the Line (IWSG Oct)
I thought I met a dog todaywith manky paws and fur astraywith black bead eyes and lolling tonguehe came up like I was someonehe came up like he wished to talkand wagged his tail and gave a squawkI jumped and said you’re not a birdare you? although that was absurd,and dog said meow and then … Continue reading Who’ll Come Waltzing?
How I critique As a writer, I love reading other peoples' work. My love of reading aside, it is a great way to learn about the craft of writing and how other people put words together. I didn't realise how much I had changed my reading technique until recently, when I was describing a book … Continue reading Beta Reading
It could have gone better. She could actually have turned up, for one thing. The band played on their makeshift platform and the guests chatted on the rented chairs, and murmurs rose to grace the ivy-wrapped rafters. Finally, Luc had to ask, “Where’s Molly, then?” He joked about it, grinned even, but we both knew … Continue reading Unrequited
